Who is waiting for Orchard Hills?

[jmoney74]

Not saying it doesn't happen... But I don't see much of it. I think trails are used well in Irvine for biking, walking, running.  Just don't see many people going to stores via foot. Maybe on your street...but not at the market place or woodbury town center.

 

[OpenSky]

 

[usctrojancpa]

Not saying it doesn't happen... But I don't see much of it. I think trails are used well in Irvine for biking, walking, running.  Just don't see many people going to stores via foot. Maybe on your street...but not at the market place or woodbury town center.

+1  In the 10+ years that I've lived in Irvine I can count the number of people that I saw walking to the grocery store/restaurants from their home on one hand.  We live in a car society, especially since we live in the suburbs...it'd be a different story if we were in downtown SF and Manhattan.

 

[Goriot]

Not saying it doesn't happen... But I don't see much of it. I think trails are used well in Irvine for biking, walking, running.  Just don't see many people going to stores via foot. Maybe on your street...but not at the market place or woodbury town center.

My wife stays home so she takes the stroller out during the day with our baby and walks to Woodbury Town Center 3-4 times a week to grab brunch, tea, grocery shopping, etc.  Its about 10 to 15 minute walk.  I also walk to restaurants once or twice week as well.  I am sure many others do.

My whole point in the prior thread was not walking, it was driving "less" although leisure walking is awesome here as well (via trails, etc.).  I like Irvine because its central to everything and shopping, school, concert hall, parks, beach, +++ is all within 10-15 minutes driving.  This is possible with medium/high density as high population density can support more amenities and shops within close proximity.

Before I moved here, I had to drive 45 minutes to work, 30 minutes to real shopping mall, 50 minutes to Walt Disney Concert Hall, 40 minutes here and there and get stuck in traffic all day because all these big yard houses.  House after house after house.  Sucks as*. 

Irvine is mix of Urban and Sub-urbia experience.  You get the house with yard although it might be small, parks all around, but at the same time, you feel the energy of Urban life and all the amenities within a short distance.  I like hearing kids play in the play ground.  Young kids playing basketball, etc.  because its more dense here.  I can feel the energy unlike big country side and full suburb lifestyle where I never see my neighbor for 5 years.  I also lived in big cities like downtown/financial district SF.  I didn't like it.

I am liking this perfect mix of City and Suburbia feel after 1.5 years here.  IMO, the current density is about right if you want all these amenities nearby.  I will give Kudos to those Master Community Irvine architects.  No, I don't work for TIC=).

 

[jmoney74]

Not saying it doesn't happen... But I don't see much of it. I think trails are used well in Irvine for biking, walking, running.  Just don't see many people going to stores via foot. Maybe on your street...but not at the market place or woodbury town center.

My wife stays home so she takes the stroller out during the day with our baby and walks to Woodbury Town Center 3-4 times a week to grab brunch, tea, grocery shopping, etc.  Its about 10 to 15 minute walk.  I also walk to restaurants once or twice week as well.  I am sure many others do.

My whole point in the prior thread was not walking, it was driving "less" although leisure walking is awesome here as well (via trails, etc.).  I like Irvine because its central to everything and shopping, school, concert hall, parks, beach, +++ is all within 15 minutes.  This is possible with medium/high density as high population density can support more amenities and shops within close proximity.

Before I moved here, I had to drive 45 minutes to work, 30 minutes to real shopping mall, 50 minutes to Walt Disney Concert Hall, 40 minutes here and there and get stuck in traffic all day because all these big yard houses.  House after house after house.  Sucks as*. 

Irvine is mix of Urban and Sub-urbia experience.  You get the house with yard although it might be small, parks all around, but at the same time, you feel the energy of Urban life and all the amenities within a short distance.  I like hearing kids play in the play ground.  Young kids playing basketball, etc.  because its more dense here.  I can feel the energy unlike big country side and full suburb lifestyle where I never see my neighbor for 5 years.  I also lived in big cities like downtown/financial district SF.  I didn't like it.

I am liking this perfect mix of City and Suburbia feel.  IMO, the current density is about right if you want all these amenities nearby.

Truth!  Everything is relatively close by unless you are irvine commuter and PP is 15 mins away making Spectrum 1 hour away from SG.

 

[OpenSky]

:-*

 

[usctrojancpa]

Not saying it doesn't happen... But I don't see much of it. I think trails are used well in Irvine for biking, walking, running.  Just don't see many people going to stores via foot. Maybe on your street...but not at the market place or woodbury town center.

+1  In the 10+ years that I've lived in Irvine I can count the number of people that I saw walking to the grocery store/restaurants from their home on one hand.  We live in a car society, especially since we live in the suburbs...it'd be a different story if we were in downtown SF and Manhattan.

USC, do you frequent Champagne or Donut Star next door? There's no better way to offset your walk than a 'Jesuit' pastry.

I actually haven't been to the Champagne's over in the Northpark shopping center but I have been to the one in Newport.  I've been trying to cut down on the donuts because I need to drop some weight so I've passed on the donuts this year.

 

[jmoney74]

Donut star on jamboree?  Do up you like it?  I went there once to bring it back to a group of friends and non of them liked it.

 

[usctrojancpa]

Donut star on jamboree?  Do up you like it?  I went there once to bring it back to a group of friends and non of them liked it.

The best Donut Star is the one in the Oak Creek shopping center.

 

[OpenSky]

;D

 

[jmoney74]

Are there a lot of trails at north park?  West irvine has a good one that we ran on a lot when we lived there. Didn't notice stonegate with any.

 

[jmoney74]

I remember years ago how Irvine was known for schools, manicured city, and beautiful homes with curb appeal. That last part is gone for most of their current projects.  Irvine company itself seems like they are no longer interested in curb appeal at OH. Other builders are building the bigger SFR houses. TIC seems to only be interested in denser builds since it makes them more money.

My friend bought a motor court home at stonegate over a year ago and picked the lot that was facing the street. It was a detached condo that was plain on the outside (looks like condo so no driveway and not typical SFR look).  Said he bought it because it had nice curb appeal.  I guess. TIC has changed the perception for sure.

 

[bones]

.

 

[lovingit]

@Goriot:

You are comparing extremes. Obviously you can't build a ton of 10k lots here in Irvine. But I think most people would rather see 10 6k lot SFRs than 20 3k lot SFRs with no driveway.

If you're going to pay $1m+ for a home, we aren't San Francisco yet, give us some room between neighbors.

But we are.  Irvine prices are up there.  I like space from my neighbor but I don't necessary need a big yard.

Irvine prices are not even close to bay areahttp://www.slate.com/blogs/business...al_estate_market_how_much_does_1_million_buy_
you_in_every_major_u_s_city.html

$2M doesnt even get you a 3000 sq ft SFR up there.  At least here, you can get a 4000 sq ft+ house brand new.http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Francisco/364-366-3rd-Ave-94118/home/611638

 

[Smashed]

Donut star on jamboree?  Do up you like it?  I went there once to bring it back to a group of friends and non of them liked it.

No, the one on Irvine Blvd. It's ok, it's local so I patronize. The Jesuit pastry at Champagne is worth the cheat.

Perhaps my perceptions are colored by my own preferences + the anecdotes of my little burg. It's hard to separate the jogging/exercise on the trails with other stuff (travel to parks, schools, neighborhood shopping) because there's nexus with all of it in NP. Hicks+Peters trails are little pedestrian freeways with all sorts of traffic on them.

It would be helpful for some other NP/NPS/NWP peeps to chime in for their own perspective.

I live in NP, and on weekends I regularly walk to get coffee, buy groceries, or eat at either Orchard Hills plaza or NP plaza.  The TK Noodle that opened recently in NP plaza is decent, nice to get a decent bowl of Pho within walking distance.

 

[OpenSky]

8)

 

[homer_simpson]

I remember years ago how Irvine was known for schools, manicured city, and beautiful homes with curb appeal. That last part is gone for most of their current projects.  Irvine company itself seems like they are no longer interested in curb appeal at OH. Other builders are building the bigger SFR houses. TIC seems to only be interested in denser builds since it makes them more money.

My friend bought a motor court home at stonegate over a year ago and picked the lot that was facing the street. It was a detached condo that was plain on the outside (looks like condo so no driveway and not typical SFR look).  Said he bought it because it had nice curb appeal.  I guess. TIC has changed the perception for sure.

I would rather buy a home that faced the street (not major street) for it's curb appeal than a home facing another home in a motorcourt.  A lot of the new builds and their shared driveway motorcourt is meh. 

 

[Irvinecommuter]

@Goriot:

You are comparing extremes. Obviously you can't build a ton of 10k lots here in Irvine. But I think most people would rather see 10 6k lot SFRs than 20 3k lot SFRs with no driveway.

If you're going to pay $1m+ for a home, we aren't San Francisco yet, give us some room between neighbors.

But we are.  Irvine prices are up there.  I like space from my neighbor but I don't necessary need a big yard.

Irvine prices are not even close to bay areahttp://www.slate.com/blogs/business...al_estate_market_how_much_does_1_million_buy_
you_in_every_major_u_s_city.html

$2M doesnt even get you a 3000 sq ft SFR up there.  At least here, you can get a 4000 sq ft+ house brand new.http://www.redfin.com/CA/San-Francisco/364-366-3rd-Ave-94118/home/611638

San Francisco is not Bay Area.  Also, not every portion of SF is the same.  SF is certainly super expensive but that's because of urban living.  Certain portions of Silicon Valley is also quite expensive but that's because of super high incomes in the area.

Irvine homes average about $410/sq ft...that's comparable to Milpitas ($416), Pleasanton ($413), Danville ($419), San Ramon ($386).  All those neighborhoods are very similar to Irvine in style and layout. 

 

[Goriot]

Anyone with Fengshui knowledge know how Fengshui is near Orchard Hills? Is Fengshui good right below the hills or on the hill it self (i.e. Arcadia, etc.)? Which part of OH has the best energy/ki? 

 

[homer_simpson]

Anyone with Fengshui knowledge know how Fengshui is near Orchard Hills? Is Fengshui good right below the hills or on the hill it self (i.e. Arcadia, etc.)? Which part of OH has the best energy/ki?

Paging JMONEY!