Questions about Portola Springs

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[quote author="frank69m" date=1240388883][quote author="It?s a dry heat..." date=1240301150][quote author="bltserv" date=1240296830]Thats the sweet sick smell I got this morning. Its like a little fermented

over the normal garbage smell. I think its from all the moisture dripping

out of the trash trucks that drive through Sand Canyon. Especially between

Portola and Irvine. It must be a couple hundred trucks a day.

Normally its only when your next to a trash truck. But this morning it was ripe

without a truck next to you.



This is afterall one of the largest landfills in the United States.

"Number 9" in 2007.



<a href="http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/rankings/landfills_ton2008.html">http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/rankings/landfills_ton2008.html</a></blockquote>


You guys sure it's not just fertilizer (no pun intended)? I drive up the 133 every morning. Whenever I get to that patch of fields just north of the 5, I smell the sweet, sick smell o' decay. (Okay, not decay - fertilizer.) It's every morning and every evening too, actually. And it's only just that stretch, so I figure it's the fields. As I get past it up the 133 to the 241, it goes away.



Logic being: further away from the fields, closer to the dump, smell goes away. Smell therefore does not equal dump.</blockquote>


Fertilizer? Do you fertilize your plants every week? That smell comes and goes every week.</blockquote>


I ain't no farmer. Don't know when or how often to use fertilizer. Don't know what they're planting, or how often they do it. Do you? I'm just supposing.



I DO know that the garbage cans I used to lug out to the curb every week smell a hell of a lot worse than that earthy smell on the 133.
 
[quote author="frank69m" date=1240388200][quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1240281196][quote author="bltserv" date=1240279940]The 405 was a mess this morning so I took Sand all the way to Portola

and then Jambo to work in Orange. The intersections of Irvine and Portola

with Sand are getting pretty Fragrant. Especially this morning when it was getting hot.

All that trash truck traffic is leaving some residue buildup on the road surface.

I could sure smell it this morning with the top down in the car.



No Thanks.</blockquote>
You're sounding like frank69m.</blockquote>


Hey, i take offense to that.</blockquote>
Hehe... no you don't. You love posting those "Do you smell that?" threads!



I still think Warner between Harvard and Jamboree wins the Worst Smell in Irvine award... it's one of the reasons why we didn't buy in Alexandria.
 
[quote author="ocma" date=1240334354]Hi, I was following this thread on Portola Springs and was just wondering if anyone knew how much the TCE plume affects PS? I read the other threads and viewed the map of the plume flow, but PS seems to be "outside" of the path. It worries me because Portola is in such close proximity to the old El Toro base. My family was interested in buying a home in Irvine in the future and we were considering Portola Springs. Thanks.</blockquote>
I was doing the same thing as you before I registered, and did a lot of research on the TCE plume and El Toro toxic base just because I was thinking about giving up the purchase I made in PS which escrow will be closing in May. I guess PS is just the same as any other new villages in Irvine, good and bad depends on personal preference. First I liked there because it wasn't that crowded as in the central area but some people say "it's out of nowhere". Then I did concern a lot with what you are concerning now, but after seeing some resale home on current market, I couldn't find anything that's OK move-in condition within my price range. I think I'll probably deide to move to PS although the HOA is high but many people say the HOA will keep increasing in newer villages in the future. Who knows?? We are all controlled by Irvine Co. since we're in.
 
By the way, the sales finally got back to me with the current HOA I'll be paying after escrow close. The amount is like $50 more than the builder's fact sheet when she was selling to me. Is it normal? Although they circled the amount of HOA and told me this is how much you'll be paying while ignoring "WHEN BUILT OUT" when they were selling. They kept saying they were not trying to lie or hide anything just thing are subject to change and they didn't know...blar blar blar. However just some information sharing with any future new home buyers.
 
[quote author="hesitating" date=1240408349]By the way, the sales finally got back to me with the current HOA I'll be paying after escrow close. The amount is like $50 more than the builder's fact sheet when she was selling to me. Is it normal? Although they circled the amount of HOA and told me this is how much you'll be paying while ignoring "WHEN BUILT OUT" when they were selling. They kept saying they were not trying to lie or hide anything just thing are subject to change and they didn't know...blar blar blar. However just some information sharing with any future new home buyers.</blockquote>


Ah, they do know and if they don't disclose that to you i would not buy. Period. The builder subsidizes the association till about 75% of the homes close as to keep the HOA low and help sales. There is an addendum to the CCR's for every phase and it should show the final association amount without build out and it should be in the white report for that phase. I think they are afraid of sharing the bad taste of an association that will be 3 to 400 dollars a month or more and there is nothing requiring the builder to continue to building the rest of the condos. They could sell them to some other builder and then you stuck with a super high association and if you have foreclosures or other expenses you are the lucky one who will be levied along with your other stuck owners paying the unexpected bills. And think how lucky you will feel trying to unload this turkey if you try to sell as the next prospect will pass a brick looking at the high HOA dues...
 
[quote author="frank69m" date=1240388962][quote author="ocma" date=1240334354]Hi, I was following this thread on Portola Springs and was just wondering if anyone knew how much the TCE plume affects PS? I read the other threads and viewed the map of the plume flow, but PS seems to be "outside" of the path. It worries me because Portola is in such close proximity to the old El Toro base. My family was interested in buying a home in Irvine in the future and we were considering Portola Springs. Thanks.</blockquote>




I don't believe it affects PS cause it is towards the mountains. Notice the plume goes with gravity towards the 55 and our favorite place: Columbus Grove and Tustin Field.</blockquote>


By the time it gets to Columbus Grove and Tustin Field, it will encompass all of Westpark, Woodbridge, El Camino, and Deerfield as well. In fact it would be all of Irvine between the 5 and 405.



That's assuming that the pumping and clean up station at the north end of Woodbridge is a complete failure and doesn't work, and some deep rooted conspiracy is at work.
 
[quote author="hesitating" date=1240407707][quote author="ocma" date=1240334354]Hi, I was following this thread on Portola Springs and was just wondering if anyone knew how much the TCE plume affects PS? I read the other threads and viewed the map of the plume flow, but PS seems to be "outside" of the path. It worries me because Portola is in such close proximity to the old El Toro base. My family was interested in buying a home in Irvine in the future and we were considering Portola Springs. Thanks.</blockquote>
I was doing the same thing as you before I registered, and did a lot of research on the TCE plume and El Toro toxic base just because I was thinking about giving up the purchase I made in PS which escrow will be closing in May. I guess PS is just the same as any other new villages in Irvine, good and bad depends on personal preference. First I liked there because it wasn't that crowded as in the central area but some people say "it's out of nowhere". Then I did concern a lot with what you are concerning now, but after seeing some resale home on current market, I couldn't find anything that's OK move-in condition within my price range. I think I'll probably deide to move to PS although the HOA is high but many people say the HOA will keep increasing in newer villages in the future. Who knows?? We are all controlled by Irvine Co. since we're in.</blockquote>


Most HOAs are about $140-$150/month if there are some decent parks and pools, plus neighborhood landscape maintenance. (strip between street and sidewalks, sides of the roads, etc)



How much are the HOA fees in PS? The "build out" won't really happen for 5-10 years at their current pace so assume today's price is the long term number.
 
[quote author="Goofy" date=1240458029][quote author="hesitating" date=1240407707][quote author="ocma" date=1240334354]Hi, I was following this thread on Portola Springs and was just wondering if anyone knew how much the TCE plume affects PS? I read the other threads and viewed the map of the plume flow, but PS seems to be "outside" of the path. It worries me because Portola is in such close proximity to the old El Toro base. My family was interested in buying a home in Irvine in the future and we were considering Portola Springs. Thanks.</blockquote>
I was doing the same thing as you before I registered, and did a lot of research on the TCE plume and El Toro toxic base just because I was thinking about giving up the purchase I made in PS which escrow will be closing in May. I guess PS is just the same as any other new villages in Irvine, good and bad depends on personal preference. First I liked there because it wasn't that crowded as in the central area but some people say "it's out of nowhere". Then I did concern a lot with what you are concerning now, but after seeing some resale home on current market, I couldn't find anything that's OK move-in condition within my price range. I think I'll probably deide to move to PS although the HOA is high but many people say the HOA will keep increasing in newer villages in the future. Who knows?? We are all controlled by Irvine Co. since we're in.</blockquote>


Most HOAs are about $140-$150/month if there are some decent parks and pools, plus neighborhood landscape maintenance. (strip between street and sidewalks, sides of the roads, etc)



How much are the HOA fees in PS? The "build out" won't really happen for 5-10 years at their current pace so assume today's price is the long term number.</blockquote>


I have been paying $175/month for SFR (Serra).
 
[quote author="Goofy" date=1240457690][quote author="frank69m" date=1240388962][quote author="ocma" date=1240334354]Hi, I was following this thread on Portola Springs and was just wondering if anyone knew how much the TCE plume affects PS? I read the other threads and viewed the map of the plume flow, but PS seems to be "outside" of the path. It worries me because Portola is in such close proximity to the old El Toro base. My family was interested in buying a home in Irvine in the future and we were considering Portola Springs. Thanks.</blockquote>




I don't believe it affects PS cause it is towards the mountains. Notice the plume goes with gravity towards the 55 and our favorite place: Columbus Grove and Tustin Field.</blockquote>


By the time it gets to Columbus Grove and Tustin Field, it will encompass all of Westpark, Woodbridge, El Camino, and Deerfield as well. In fact it would be all of Irvine between the 5 and 405.



That's assuming that the pumping and clean up station at the north end of Woodbridge is a complete failure and doesn't work, and some deep rooted conspiracy is at work.</blockquote>


what are you talking about. It has already hit Columbus Grove. Well, not the El Toro Plume, but the Plume from the big hanger area.
 
[quote author="irvineowner" date=1240487102]



I have been paying $175/month for SFR (Serra).</blockquote>




WOW WOW WEE WOW! I love Serra especially the floor plan with the tower of terror. I just wish I could afford the house (and that the homes weren't in PS).
 
Most HOAs are about $140-$150/month if there are some decent parks and pools, plus neighborhood landscape maintenance. (strip between street and sidewalks, sides of the roads, etc)



How much are the HOA fees in PS? The "build out" won't really happen for 5-10 years at their current pace so assume today's price is the long term number.</blockquote>


I have been paying $175/month for SFR (Serra).</blockquote>


I was informed the master is $175+ development HOA $191= total of $366 for a condo. I would assume the sub-HOA for SFR is cheaper since there is no fire insurance. Does it really sound "high" HOA in Irvine rioght now?
 
[quote author="frank69m" date=1240487336][quote author="Goofy" date=1240457690][quote author="frank69m" date=1240388962][quote author="ocma" date=1240334354]Hi, I was following this thread on Portola Springs and was just wondering if anyone knew how much the TCE plume affects PS? I read the other threads and viewed the map of the plume flow, but PS seems to be "outside" of the path. It worries me because Portola is in such close proximity to the old El Toro base. My family was interested in buying a home in Irvine in the future and we were considering Portola Springs. Thanks.</blockquote>




I don't believe it affects PS cause it is towards the mountains. Notice the plume goes with gravity towards the 55 and our favorite place: Columbus Grove and Tustin Field.</blockquote>


By the time it gets to Columbus Grove and Tustin Field, it will encompass all of Westpark, Woodbridge, El Camino, and Deerfield as well. In fact it would be all of Irvine between the 5 and 405.



That's assuming that the pumping and clean up station at the north end of Woodbridge is a complete failure and doesn't work, and some deep rooted conspiracy is at work.</blockquote>


what are you talking about. It has already hit Columbus Grove. Well, not the El Toro Plume, but the Plume from the big hanger area.</blockquote>


Like most chicken littles... you need to check your facts before you talk Franky. There is no contamination at Columbus Grove, and there has been testing of the entire area and surrounds. There was no pollution, no clean up required because it was base housing. Not a single contaminant was found, removed, etc. It was tested yearly, and the last time was November 2008.



The plume you are talking about is at Columbus Square. Its a small plume that still hasn't hit Columbus Square, but its possible over the years. Since it is not a TCE plume, the spread is very slow if at all. We're more likely to get inundated by the El Toro plume than the Tustin airfields.
 
[quote author="irvineowner" date=1240487102][quote author="Goofy" date=1240458029][quote author="hesitating" date=1240407707][quote author="ocma" date=1240334354]Hi, I was following this thread on Portola Springs and was just wondering if anyone knew how much the TCE plume affects PS? I read the other threads and viewed the map of the plume flow, but PS seems to be "outside" of the path. It worries me because Portola is in such close proximity to the old El Toro base. My family was interested in buying a home in Irvine in the future and we were considering Portola Springs. Thanks.</blockquote>
I was doing the same thing as you before I registered, and did a lot of research on the TCE plume and El Toro toxic base just because I was thinking about giving up the purchase I made in PS which escrow will be closing in May. I guess PS is just the same as any other new villages in Irvine, good and bad depends on personal preference. First I liked there because it wasn't that crowded as in the central area but some people say "it's out of nowhere". Then I did concern a lot with what you are concerning now, but after seeing some resale home on current market, I couldn't find anything that's OK move-in condition within my price range. I think I'll probably deide to move to PS although the HOA is high but many people say the HOA will keep increasing in newer villages in the future. Who knows?? We are all controlled by Irvine Co. since we're in.</blockquote>


Most HOAs are about $140-$150/month if there are some decent parks and pools, plus neighborhood landscape maintenance. (strip between street and sidewalks, sides of the roads, etc)



How much are the HOA fees in PS? The "build out" won't really happen for 5-10 years at their current pace so assume today's price is the long term number.</blockquote>


I have been paying $175/month for SFR (Serra).</blockquote>


That's not bad, pretty typical for a pre-buildout cost in this area.
 
[quote author="Goofy" date=1240536182][quote author="frank69m" date=1240487336][quote author="Goofy" date=1240457690][quote author="frank69m" date=1240388962][quote author="ocma" date=1240334354]Hi, I was following this thread on Portola Springs and was just wondering if anyone knew how much the TCE plume affects PS? I read the other threads and viewed the map of the plume flow, but PS seems to be "outside" of the path. It worries me because Portola is in such close proximity to the old El Toro base. My family was interested in buying a home in Irvine in the future and we were considering Portola Springs. Thanks.</blockquote>




I don't believe it affects PS cause it is towards the mountains. Notice the plume goes with gravity towards the 55 and our favorite place: Columbus Grove and Tustin Field.</blockquote>


By the time it gets to Columbus Grove and Tustin Field, it will encompass all of Westpark, Woodbridge, El Camino, and Deerfield as well. In fact it would be all of Irvine between the 5 and 405.



That's assuming that the pumping and clean up station at the north end of Woodbridge is a complete failure and doesn't work, and some deep rooted conspiracy is at work.</blockquote>


what are you talking about. It has already hit Columbus Grove. Well, not the El Toro Plume, but the Plume from the big hanger area.</blockquote>


Like most chicken littles... you need to check your facts before you talk Franky. There is no contamination at Columbus Grove, and there has been testing of the entire area and surrounds. There was no pollution, no clean up required because it was base housing. Not a single contaminant was found, removed, etc. It was tested yearly, and the last time was November 2008.



The plume you are talking about is at Columbus Square. Its a small plume that still hasn't hit Columbus Square, but its possible over the years. Since it is not a TCE plume, the spread is very slow if at all. We're more likely to get inundated by the El Toro plume than the Tustin airfields.</blockquote>


Don't people who purchase there need to sign a disclaimer about growing food on their land?



And ok, you are right. If the plume doesn't get you, then the planes going to John Wayne and their noise will.
 
[quote author="frank69m" date=1240547069][quote author="Goofy" date=1240536182][quote author="frank69m" date=1240487336][quote author="Goofy" date=1240457690][quote author="frank69m" date=1240388962][quote author="ocma" date=1240334354]Hi, I was following this thread on Portola Springs and was just wondering if anyone knew how much the TCE plume affects PS? I read the other threads and viewed the map of the plume flow, but PS seems to be "outside" of the path. It worries me because Portola is in such close proximity to the old El Toro base. My family was interested in buying a home in Irvine in the future and we were considering Portola Springs. Thanks.</blockquote>




I don't believe it affects PS cause it is towards the mountains. Notice the plume goes with gravity towards the 55 and our favorite place: Columbus Grove and Tustin Field.</blockquote>


By the time it gets to Columbus Grove and Tustin Field, it will encompass all of Westpark, Woodbridge, El Camino, and Deerfield as well. In fact it would be all of Irvine between the 5 and 405.



That's assuming that the pumping and clean up station at the north end of Woodbridge is a complete failure and doesn't work, and some deep rooted conspiracy is at work.</blockquote>


what are you talking about. It has already hit Columbus Grove. Well, not the El Toro Plume, but the Plume from the big hanger area.</blockquote>


Like most chicken littles... you need to check your facts before you talk Franky. There is no contamination at Columbus Grove, and there has been testing of the entire area and surrounds. There was no pollution, no clean up required because it was base housing. Not a single contaminant was found, removed, etc. It was tested yearly, and the last time was November 2008.



The plume you are talking about is at Columbus Square. Its a small plume that still hasn't hit Columbus Square, but its possible over the years. Since it is not a TCE plume, the spread is very slow if at all. We're more likely to get inundated by the El Toro plume than the Tustin airfields.</blockquote>


Don't people who purchase there need to sign a disclaimer about growing food on their land?



And ok, you are right. If the plume doesn't get you, then the planes going to John Wayne and their noise will.</blockquote>


Disclosures are common for Columbus Square which had some cleanup, and Columbus Grove which did not have any contamination... and are specifically about deep routed fruit trees that may hit the water table. Not "food" in general. Anyone in southern california should be wary of the same issue.



The planes fly over the 55 on a regular path. Sometimes they fly other paths over Irvine. What's your point? Don't live in Irvine?
 
[quote author="frank69m" date=1240547069]



Don't people who purchase there need to sign a disclaimer about growing food on their land?</blockquote>


You're getting the ghostown village of Portola Springs confused with that superfund toxic waste site Villages of Columbus.



Also, I go to the Bee Canyon landfill for work once a week. The trucks coming and going do not smell. The landfill does not smell.



That recycling center on the NW corner of El Toro base at the corner of the 5 and 133 is a green waste recycling facility, and it stinks. Real bad. All the time. Can you imagine what those poor bastards in the Villages of Columbus go through with that WM recycling center?
 
Vas



My sniffer be working real good. And with the top down in the SL

that Irvine/Sand/Portola block before you make the left at Portola.

She be a little ripe. Add the trucks if they are around you. And

add that hot day on Monday. It smells like a week old diaper.





Agreed.

Not as bad as that Recycle Center off Construction Way.
 
Thanks for all your opinions. I'll soon make my decision of buying or not. Maybe more towards 'buy' just because the money factor. With my max budget of 450k for a 3-bed home, it's hard for me to find one at this time with non-remodeling condition since I have no extra money to change anything inside the condo.
 
So for Mother's Day, we went somewhere we haven't been in about 8 or 9 months... a model home tour.



We visited Serra at Portola Springs just to check out what the current pricing and build-out was.



1. Not many homes have been sold since we last looked.

2. Homes that started at 1.5 are now down to 1.1/1.2.



That Plan 2 is so awesome... has everything we want but I just can't cope with how "far" PS is from the rest of Irvine... or the rest of the places we frequent behind the Orange Curtain.



One particular model has a huge view lot and can probably be had for 1.1m with incentives but I can't help but think that they will be worth 900k or less in a few years. The worse part is homes built 5 or 6 years ago with smaller lots and over 1/4 less square feet are selling for more right now in Quail Hill.



New construction at $300/sft seems pretty standard at PS... I'm not sure if TIC can sustain a $375/sft even in places like Orchard Hills (which isn't very far from PS). But that target seems right for Laguna Crossing because current bigger homes in QH are closing higher than $375.
 
[quote author="irvine_home_owner" date=1242049640]



New construction at $300/sft seems pretty standard at PS... I'm not sure if TIC can sustain a $375/sft even in places like Orchard Hills (which isn't very far from PS). But that target seems right for Laguna Crossing because current bigger homes in QH are closing higher than $375.</blockquote>


Some of the subdivisions in OH will be behind manned guard gates just like North Park, so it will command some premium to PS. Of course that just means even more outrageous HOA fees.
 
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