- The boom is back? Home resale prices rose 10% last month in the SCV, while home sales overall increased 18% in April. But then you look deeper into the numbers: single family home median sales prices were down in April about 1.2% from March 2013, with the median sales price at $415,000. But the real movement last month was in condos: 13.7% increase in sales over March 2013, and the median price of condo sales in April was $241,000, 23% higher than one year ago. Good spin on the numbers from Bob Khalasa, who says it's no surprise people want to live in the SCV (I mean, duh, that's gotta be it right?). But commenters at the Signal and I have a different take. SIGNAL, SCVNEWS
- It's the Chinese stupid! Maybe this is oversimplifying it, but in the last few months there have been report after report describing massive Chinese investment in southern California real estate, from both individual families and investment groups. In February, the Wall Street Journal talked to a specialist in Southern California real estate and said "investment immigrants" from China are coming to suburban areas of California with good schools, and snapping up homes and units to rent, with 95% of purchases being all-cash. And then anecdotally (I wish she had snapped a pic) my wife saw a Chinese tour bus rolling through Newhall neighborhoods a few weeks ago. WSJ, IBT
- New report cites Santa Clarita as 38th out of 50 in California's "Top Billion Dollar Retail Markets," meaning, I think, that within the City's boundaries, retail sales exceed $1 billion. The City is so proud of this distinction that it got a quote from Mayor Kellar who says "A strong retail environment is the foundation of a healthy economy and a resilient community." SIGNAL
- Speaking of retail, Facebooker & local commentator Lori Rivas notices on her Hulu stream that WalMart is running ads tailored specifically to Santa Clarita, with actors who actually say the words "SCV" and shot on site at the SuperCenter way up Golden Valley way. I can't find the spot myself, but the discussion on the SCV COMMUNITY facebook page is interesting, with Maria Gutzeit -council candidate in 2014- weighing at the end saying Santa Clarita is business friendly- to huge, multinationals like WalMart. SCV COMMUNITY
- Santa Clarita isn't just a great place to invest in real estate, or go shopping, or find a job at the Walmart, but it's also a great place to test moon satellites, according to the SCVBJ. No seriously, a company named National Technical Systems (Industrial Center area, I think) has conducted "tests" on NASA's next Moon orbiter. SFVBJ
- Someone screwed up: The District Attorney will not prosecute Joseph Olivera, a 49 year old man who struck and killed a 53 year old homeless man who was walking on I-5 back in March. Olivera did the right thing and called 911, but was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving and booked at the SCV Sheriff's station. Now the DA says they're not going to charge Olivera "due to a lack of evidence." SIGNAL
- Great Headline: Luke "On the" Money with a report about the new (what are we calling it today?) package of ordinances that are intended to put a little more conformity and Stepford into Santa Clarita. The nuisances ordinances are broad ranging, outlawing "garish" and "unkempt" properties, requiring homeowners to fix cracks in their driveway, and even regulating matters of "aesthetics." Boydston was the only one with the courage to vote against it, while our hypocritical Tea Party friendly Mayor, who usually blathers on about the burdens Sacramento and DC put on him personally and the City at large, voted in favor of it. SIGNAL
- Speaking of burdensome regulations, the Ralph's market on Orchard Village & Lyons has put up a sign requiring shoppers to check all backpacks in at the front desk before shopping. FACEBOOK
- Thieves have been targeting high end bicycles locked up on patios at the Madison Apartments in Valencia over the last two weeks. Almost half a dozen bicycles have been stolen, usually by thieves with blow-torches. A Madison resident contacted KHTS and said some people weren't even locking their bikes, they had "good faith" that their bikes were safe in the community. KHTS
- Incredible: A 2013 Cal Arts grad has won a Student Academy Award for a 4 minute animated film that portrays a the events of 9/11 from a family's perspective. It's a haunting and emotional piece. Eusong Lee, the student who shot the award-winning film also answers a few questions about his film and techniques. SCVNEWS
- Newhall Refinery already has six five star reviews on Yelp.com by amazed locals. And this coming from a place that pines for a Cheesecake Factory Applebees above all else! YELP
- KHTS interviews KTLA 5 anchor and Stanch resident Chris Schauble. Schauble, an award winning journalist, has anchored TV News programs around the country before arriving in LA, and he and his wife picked the Stanch after looking for areas with good schools. KHTS
- Who says chivalry is dead? Today the Santa Clarita transit commuter bus I occasionally ride on (it picks up me up 6:44am) broke down, stranding some 30 odd commuters along the route. Today I rode the 7:14 am bus, and as a result of the breakdown, we picked up all the riders from the earlier bus. By the end of the line, prior to getting on the 14, we ran out of seats and several SCV men (but not me, I had to type this) voluntarily gave up their seats to women and stood or sat in the aisles, London or NYC style. Way to go gents.
A decade of the Valley’s town square · 2006–2015
Comments
44 · as published