Tree Ceremony Marks Opening of Community

A tree-planting ceremony last week signaled the grand opening of EastLake, a $2-billion, 3,073-acre development in Chula Vista that is the latest planned community to be developed in San Diego County.

An estimated 30,000 residents are expected to live in the area by the end of the century, according to Robert L. Santos, senior vice president of EastLake Development Co., the developer. The cost estimate, in 1985 dollars, includes a $500-million, 350-acre “employment center.

Western Salt Co. owns the property and David B. Kuhn Jr. and Daniel D. (Ron) Lane, both of EastLake Development Co., are EastLake managing partners and serve as president and chairman, respectively, of the firm.

The symbolic tree is the first of what will eventually be up to a 250,000-tree “urban forest” in the development. Nearly 11,400 residences of all types are planned.

The first homes, expected to range from $50,000 to $200,000, are scheduled to be on the market late this year, Santos said.