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March 2, 2011· scvtalk.com · WordPress (SCVTalk 3.0) · Wayback capture

Where in the SCV? Episode 2: Tesoro del Valle

By Mike — Mike Devlin

It’s Spanish for “Treasure of the Valley”, but Claritan for “Sorta Like Valencia”.

More often then not, denizens call it “Tesoro”. No one seems ready to fully commit to the Spanish pronunciation. Most of my friends call it “Pitchess East”.

ZIP Code: 91354
School zoning: Tesoro del Valle Elementary/Rio Norte/Valencia
Considers itself: The HOA’s website and the elementary school both claim Valencia.
Neighbors go by: It’s adjacent to the Valencia® development of West Hills

The case for Saugus: Valencia is a master-planned community developed by the former Newhall Land & Farming company. If they did it, it’s Valencia. If they didn’t, you call it what it’s been forever: Saugus. Tract homes packed in on long slopes? Hopeless maze of cul-de-sacs? Residential-only development? Parasitic orientation to better-planned neighborhoods? That’s Saugus.

The case for Valencia: Awesometown to the west, Awesometown to the south. Saugus proper is a mile away and a jump over the river. At these prices, it can’t be Saugus. In your heart, you know it’s Valencia.

The case for Santa Clarita: There is none. Annexation is pending, but until then, only areas in the city get to be called “Santa Clarita”. But when it is, it might be a good candidate.

Historical background, courtesy Leon Worden (SCVTV)

Tesoro Del Valle is the housing development on the former Harry Carey Ranch in Saugus. Along with his wife, actress Olive Carey, the famous silent movie actor Harry Carey Sr. — who survived into talkies, e.g. president pro tem of the Senate in “Mr. Smith Goes” — purchased the homestead in 1916. His son, actor Harry “Dobe” Carey Jr., was born there. Back then, the SCV was the “Newhall-Saugus area”; you were either in Newhall or Saugus. This wasn’t Newhall. The Careys ran a “trading post” and employed Navajo Indians who demonstrated aspects of Native American life for the tourists. This kind of road stop was all the rage; it was the equivalent of the modern-day amusement park. The Navajos predicted the collapse of the St. Francis Dam up the canyon; it wiped out the ranch and trading post. The Careys kept the property until the 1940s when they sold it to the Clougherty family, owners of the Farmer John line of meat products. The Cloughertys, in conjunction with developers John Evans and Tim Collins, formed Montalvo Properties to develop the land in recent years. They have never marketed it as “Valencia”; to do so would violate Newhall Land’s trademark and land them in court, which happened to Dan & Goeff Palmer when the Palmers attached the “Valencia” name to one of their housing projects. Valencia includes only those properties on the county-approved Valencia Master Plan from the 1960s. The Harry Carey Ranch isn’t included because Newhall Land didn’t own it.

Leon’s vote: Saugus

Jeff’s take:

In just about every conceivable way, Tesoro de Valle is de facto Valencia. It is wedged in between three major Valencia developments, including Northbridge, the Valencia Industrial Center, and the new West Creek. To put Tesoro in Saugus, one would have to do some mental geography gymnastics and make it an island in a sea of Valencia properties.

Now some will say that Tesoro ought to be considered as Saugus because this area used to be known as the “Newhall-Saugus” area. But so did much of Canyon Country and what is now Valencia. Everything up here was in the “Newhall-Saugus” area, so I feel that answer begs more questions. I can appreciate that some just want to call it Tesoro, but the development isn’t big enough to have its own name ala Stevenson Ranch or Valencia.

Tesoro is perhaps the best candidate so far for a generic “Santa Clarita” designation, but until it is annexed by the City, I say Tesoro del Valle is in Valencia.

Where is Tesoro del Valle?

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Comments (70)

  1. Your Web GuruMarch 2, 2011 at 10:21 am
    Since the zip is 91354 it’s technically North Valencia (better known as South Saugus).
  2. Timothy Myers SRMarch 2, 2011 at 2:08 pm
    “North Valencia” was a construct by local real estate agents to sell houses in the Seco Canyon corridor between Bouquet Canyon and Mountainview that caused Newhall Land to go apoplectic in the 80′s and 90′s before they opened their Northbridge, Northbridge Pointe, and Northpark tracts.
  3. Your Web GuruMarch 2, 2011 at 3:40 pm
    No kidding. It’s like referring to Canyon Country as “East Valencia Heights.” I’ll opt for Tesoro residing in East Castaic!
  4. MoneyMarch 7, 2011 at 12:50 pm
    East Castaic??? That doesn’even make sense. The West Creek, West Hills, and Copperhill Communities of Valencia are all closer to Castaic than Tesoro. Tesoro is surrounded by West Hills, West Creek, and across the river bed, North Park.
  5. mikecMarch 2, 2011 at 10:41 am
    I am gonna employ the Anaheim Angels strategy here: Tesoro del Valle of Valencia or if you like…Tesoro del Valle of Santa Clarita!
  6. spineflower2March 2, 2011 at 10:47 am
    It’s in “Country Living”, the barely fictional suburban project Jack Nicholson got blown up on in the movie “The Two Jakes.” http://greyweirdo.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/051.jpg
  7. spineflower2March 2, 2011 at 10:48 am
    http://www.gonemovies.com/WWW/Pictures/Pictures/TwoJakes27_sm.jpg
  8. spineflower2March 2, 2011 at 10:49 am
    Better yet: http://www.gonemovies.com/WWW/Hoofd/A/PhotoLarge.php?Keuze=TwoJakes27&Age=2&Sort =
  9. spineflower2March 2, 2011 at 10:50 am
    More correctly, Harvey Keitel (Julius Jake Berman) gets blown up in the end.
  10. spineflower2March 2, 2011 at 10:51 am
    Oh, and parts of it tip into the planning area for the Castaic Community Standards District (CSD). But I don’t see either “San Francisquito” or “Castaic” on the menu!
  11. Joe GrandeMarch 2, 2011 at 10:57 am
    OVOV
  12. TesoroDadMarch 2, 2011 at 11:06 am
    Valencia, Saugus, Santa Clarita…Doesn’t really change anything. All I care about is that I am fortunate enough to live in Tesoro with friendly neighbors, an incredible rec center, and arguably one of the top three elementary schools in the entire Santa Clarita Valley. Interesting fact: Not only does Tesoro Elementary consistently rank high on standardized tests (API), but the students at Tesoro make up one of the most culturally diverse groups of children out of all the elementary schools in the valley.
  13. NickelDimeMarch 2, 2011 at 11:54 am
    West Creek’s impact on Tesoro’s API scores will be “interesting.”
  14. NateMarch 2, 2011 at 12:04 pm
    I think ND just did air quotes.
  15. TesoroDadMarch 2, 2011 at 1:13 pm
    Not quite sure what you mean by that. Also not sure why West Creek/West Hills Mello Roos are so much higher than Tesoro’s while the houses and yards are so much smaller. “Interesting.”
  16. NickelDimeMarch 2, 2011 at 2:27 pm
    Tesoro Mello Roos vs. West Creek/Hills Mello Roos is a distinction without a difference. They’re both sky high (at or near an incremental 1% property tax). And there is no connection between yard size and Mello Roos — the latter is for infrastructure (parks, schools, roads, sewage, etc). Not sure if that links to parcels. My comment relates to the fact that many high achieving kids (including quite a few residents of Tesoro) flocked to West Creek Academy after the API scores were published. The “interesting” part relates to the demographic shift of the students attached to the student migration to WCA. Betcha $1 there was a material brain drain away from Tesoro.
  17. TesoroDadMarch 2, 2011 at 3:47 pm
    Betcha $2 it won’t be statistically significant.
  18. NickelDimeMarch 2, 2011 at 3:52 pm
    What’s your over under against the 2010 scores? A 5% drop on APIs would be a disaster; I’d bet there’s at least 3% at risk. On a 900 baseline, that’s serious.
  19. TesoroDadMarch 2, 2011 at 3:58 pm
    First of all, 900 is not the baseline.
  20. NickelDimeMarch 2, 2011 at 4:01 pm
    According to DOE , 902 is the 2009 base and 899 is the 2010 growth. And similar schools are ranked 913 and 916, respectively (which was Myers’ point). What number would you like to use, smart guy?
  21. TesoroDadMarch 2, 2011 at 3:52 pm
    Rumor is that even more high achieving kids stayed at Tesoro.
  22. NickelDimeMarch 2, 2011 at 3:54 pm
    If true, the APIs would go up at Tesoro. Do you really think that is going to happen?
  23. TesoroDadMarch 2, 2011 at 4:02 pm
    If you actually knew anything about the API scores you would realize that once schools are up in the high 800′s and 900′s it’s actually difficult to continue to demonstrate improvement.
  24. NickelDimeMarch 2, 2011 at 4:03 pm
    In this case, we’re talking about a fundamental change in student demographics. The needle will move. We’re all waiting for your prognostication on how much.
  25. Gang FangMarch 2, 2011 at 10:47 pm
    Maybe you should spend more time with your TesoroKids, instead of disputing TesoroFacts. Or is debating yard size a way of making up for whats in your TesoroPants?
  26. drive66March 3, 2011 at 2:35 pm
    I’m glad I’m not the only one John N/D is annoying. He must be fun to live with.
  27. ThomasMarch 3, 2011 at 8:31 am
    No mello-roos in Saugus. Plus, I got a HUGE yard with a pool AND over 2000 square feet of grassy area to play in the back yard. I looked and looked and couldn’t find that in Tesoro or Valencia. Granted, some lots were big there, but with an extra 1% property tax on money you will never see, what was the point.
  28. MoneyMarch 7, 2011 at 12:44 pm
    You sure didn’t look hard. There are quite a few 3000-4000sq ft + homes with backyards that look like small parks in Tesoro. I really hate that so many posters on this site haphazardly throw out numbers and statisitics like they are fact when they most often are far from the truth.
  29. Timothy Myers SRMarch 2, 2011 at 2:04 pm
    “and arguably one of the top three elementary schools in the entire Santa Clarita Valley.” False! When normalized for demographics the SUSD schools are all sucking wind, and we had three children through the SUSD schools and one grandchild (currently). The Newhall School District is really the class of the Valley with its elementary schools matching API and demographic, with McGrath Elementary REALLY punching above its weight.
  30. TesoroDadMarch 2, 2011 at 3:46 pm
    Mr. “Statistics” you need to check your facts. You seem to be wrong more often than right ever since your city election predictions fiasco.
  31. Timothy MyersMarch 3, 2011 at 10:16 am
    My only mistake in the elections was waffling from my original prediction that all the incumbents would be re-elected. I won’t make that mistake again. My analysis of the API’s is correct. When measured against like demographics the SUSD schools do very poorly, with only the Newhall School District making the grade when compared against like demographics.
  32. Leon WordenMarch 3, 2011 at 11:22 am
    Tim – Is that new math, new new math, or new new new math? Saugus schools, like the rest of the SCV’s public schools, continue to excel despite an overall 13% reduction in teaching staff over the past few years due to budget cuts. None of your funky equations can disprove the basic fact that all SCV schools are outstanding. I defy you to name one school in this valley where the staff & faculty isn’t thoroughly dedicated to academic excellence.
  33. CCMarch 2, 2011 at 11:25 am
    Wannabe Valencia, but definitely Saugus.
  34. townbeetMarch 2, 2011 at 11:44 am
    Tesoro is definitely not Saugus. It lacks the well worn, thrift store, sort of vibe that exudes from all Saugus “settlements” old and or new. Plus, Tesoro’s aerial shot sort of looks like a giant owl. I say it’s Valencia. My name is townbeet and I’m addicted to Where in the SCV!
  35. NateMarch 2, 2011 at 12:02 pm
    Tesoro Del Valle isn’t part of Santa Clarita… Yet.
  36. Jim FarleyMarch 2, 2011 at 12:02 pm
    No paseos – No Valencia. It’s Saugus.
  37. Mike DevlinMarch 2, 2011 at 12:04 pm
    Very good point.
  38. JayceMarch 2, 2011 at 12:12 pm
    Why don’t we just change the name of the city from Santa Clarita to Valencia since that’s what everyone wants their home to be labeled any ways
  39. Bill ReynoldsMarch 2, 2011 at 1:06 pm
    Jeff would love to live in Valencia, even if he couldn’t move from his high density apartment complex, huh Jeff…
  40. MikeMarch 2, 2011 at 1:08 pm
    Yeah, Jeff’s “apartment” on the “other side of the tracks” and his “union job” Ha!
  41. Timothy Myers SRMarch 2, 2011 at 2:12 pm
    Interestingly, during the drive for Cityhood iconoclastic newspaper publisher Scott Newhall pitched for the new City to be named Valencia Valley, but a relatively small group of about ten people finally decided on the name Santa Clarita based on a decades old reference to the “Little Santa Clara River Valley”
  42. CCMarch 2, 2011 at 3:49 pm
    Thank goodness. At least it wasn’t Camelot like the valley offered up in their plea for independence from LA.
  43. JeffMarch 2, 2011 at 1:28 pm
    After an open/shut vote earlier, now Saugus is pulling even with Valencia in the poll. I’m perplexed. Are Valencia residents as protective of their community as Newhall Land is of its trademark? The bitch has always been that nothing bad gets reported about Valencia, maybe the residents act to ensure that’s the case too. Saugus makes no sense. Castaic makes more sense than Saugus.
  44. Jim FarleyMarch 2, 2011 at 1:47 pm
    Nothing bad gets reported about Valencia because nothing bad happens here. Life is blissful. It is mandatory and written into the CC&Rs. O-k – I’ll add the first vote for Southeast Castaic.
  45. Bill ReynoldsMarch 2, 2011 at 3:56 pm
    Seriously, who cares… ?
  46. Gang FangMarch 2, 2011 at 10:51 pm
    That would be you, wiggle pants. You’re reading this.
  47. Jim FarleyMarch 2, 2011 at 2:02 pm
    Jeff – one more thing. Isn’t this the precinct that was rare in that it voted Democrat in a recent election as you addressed in a past post (was it the Presidential in 2008?) It was also where a pot grow house was busted just before. There’s two more reasons it just can’t be Valencia. Again the CCRs wouldn’t allow it……….
  48. JeffMarch 3, 2011 at 10:00 am
    Haha Jim, good point. Valencia would never vote* for a liberal presidential candidate, but I think Tesoro and Stevenson Ranch did. *CalArts, excepted of course
  49. Mr PerezMarch 2, 2011 at 2:08 pm
    Maybe Weeds should’ve been filmed there.
  50. Timothy Myers SRMarch 2, 2011 at 2:09 pm
    Remember that “Stevenson Ranch” burned down in Weeds.
  51. Nick ZiglerMarch 2, 2011 at 2:52 pm
    Spoiler alert
  52. Mr PerezMarch 2, 2011 at 4:42 pm
    DAYEM IT!! I havent gotten to that part yet….
  53. navigatorMarch 2, 2011 at 3:55 pm
    Mike, there were only 2 choices to choose from. You should have added, “Who gives a ____”
  54. TesoroDadMarch 2, 2011 at 4:11 pm
    What a punk. You ask me to answer nickledork, and then you close that thread
  55. NickelDimeMarch 2, 2011 at 4:12 pm
    What’s closed? The nesting stops after a certain number of levels in the hierarchy. Please, by all means, answer! What’s your prediction?
  56. Money (aka TesorodadMarch 2, 2011 at 4:17 pm
    You’re too easy, nickledork. I don’t even live in Tesoro. I just knew I could get a rise out of you. You’re easier to manipulate than old man cash!
  57. NickelDimeMarch 2, 2011 at 4:18 pm
    Zing!
  58. MikeMarch 2, 2011 at 4:29 pm
    I liked Five Cents better.
  59. LocalMarch 2, 2011 at 5:52 pm
    Valencia, because its not trashy like saugus. mojority speaking, oh and meth heads arent as dotted on the map there. saugus = meth capital.
  60. Leon WordenMarch 2, 2011 at 5:56 pm
    Saugus schools rock, and Tesoro Elementary is one of the fine schools in the SAUGUS Union School District. It’s interesting in this day and age of email and iPads and meaningless telephone prefixes that a mental association between ZIP codes and place names persists. ZIP codes are geographic regions created by and for the USPS and do not determine place names. Case in point: Part of the 91381 ZIP code is Newhall, part is Stevenson Ranch, and part is Valencia.
  61. MoneyMarch 3, 2011 at 6:55 am
    Oh know, you’re still lurking around vampire troll? Don’t you have a Twilight movie to watch?
  62. MoneyMarch 3, 2011 at 6:58 am
    If you spent less time checking out teenage vampires and actually read these comments, you would see that I don’t even live in Tesoro. I’m just getting tired of the regulars on here writing their opinions but stating them as hard facts.
  63. CCMarch 3, 2011 at 8:29 am
    You should probably take a break
  64. CCMarch 3, 2011 at 8:25 am
    I guess Valencia Spain is also part of Valencia here.
  65. MoneyMarch 3, 2011 at 8:27 am
    Just exactly how many “high achieving kids” left for West Creek? And how exactly do YOU know that they are high achieving? Can anyone say “racial profiling?” It seems to me, most of the students who left Tesoro live in West Creek/West Hills. Makes sense that they would return to their home school. However, from my understanding, there is still a significant number of parents from West Creek/West Hills who elected to keep their children at Tesoro.
  66. NickelDimeMarch 3, 2011 at 8:30 am
    My sense is that it varied by grade – some of the older Tesoro kids likely stayed there; our circle is younger (K-2) grades and quite a few opted for WC (we have one in each). So perhaps the impact to APIs could be delayed?
  67. MoneyMarch 3, 2011 at 8:30 am
    Give my some real facts, NickleDime. By the way, I did a little research and actually talked to real people and it seems like on average, West Creek/West Hills residents pay $1000 more per year for their Mello Roos than the Tesoro residents. And have a lot less to show for it.
  68. Gang FangMarch 3, 2011 at 9:01 am
    Seriously………..as far as penile compensation, this is right up there with Bill’s hummer. Let it go.
  69. Berta González-HarperMarch 3, 2011 at 10:05 am
    @Gang Fang, I am more and more convinced you are just one more of Nate’s many alter ego pseudonyms. When it gets too hot under one name, revert to a phony name. Not very original, same potty mouth and trash talk, same targets… Too weird that there would be two identical “gents” like you in the SCV.
  70. MoneyMarch 3, 2011 at 9:27 am
    Gang Fang, what you do to Bill is neither here nor there. Let. me. type. slow. for. you. I. do. not. live. in. Tesoro. I. personally. do. not. pay. any. Mello. Roos. where. I. live. I. am. just. stating. the. facts. Go. back. to. watching. your. Vampire. Diaries.

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