FOCUS : On the Waterfront--Seal Beach Style

Of all the waterfront neighborhoods in Orange County, Seal Beach has one of the most appealing. Its mix of commerce and comfortable residences is no accident, though. The city has worked very hard to maintain a village atmosphere that complements the seaside ambiance.

More than 1 million visitors are attracted to the Seal Beach waterfront each year, specifically the Municipal Pier, at 1,864 feet the longest pier in Southern California. The pier was built in 1906. A portion of it was washed away by a violent storm Jan. 23, 1983. Through an all-out effort started by a citizens group, the town restored the pier in less than 2 years.

Visitors can take a leisurely stroll along the pier to see whatever sea creatures sport fisherman have captured. And at the tip of the pier is Ruby’s Diner, a 1950s-style cafe. With a little moonlight to add to its ocean backdrop, Ruby’s has the elements of a romantic dining adventure.

But not all of the fishing is done at sea. Next to Regatta and Spinnaker Ways is the mouth of the San Gabriel River, where anglers fish for California halibut, white croakers, rockfish and California corbina.

At the southeast end of the waterfront is Anaheim Bay, named for the German colony that existed in Anaheim in the 19th Century. During World War II, homes around Anaheim Bay were moved elsewhere to make room for naval base operations. Today some of these historic homes are between Central Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway.

Commercial development has apparently not hurt waterfront home prices. In fact, some of the increases have been spectacular. According to Baytown Realty’s Don Strack, a 40-year resident, “We have a house for sale that sold about 10 years ago for $37,500 and today is listed for $400,000.” Strack says Seal Beach is now the most expensive rental area in Orange County.

Some of the most expensive custom homes sit on the sand between 1st and 8th streets on Ocean Avenue, says Baytown’s Judy O’Neil. “The lastest house on Ocean sold for $1.6 million, but they have a view of Catalina and the Queen Mary/Spruce Goose on a clear day.”

The cost of custom homes on Seal Way is also climbing the ultra-expensive real estate ladder. The different blend of houses--from small cottages to single-family homes to dual-family dwellings, all at sea-level--gives this street a residential feel that is fairly unusual in Orange County.

Waterfront residents have only a short easy-breathing jog to reach a patch of greenery--Eisenhower Park, with its 3-acre lake--between Ocean Avenue and Seal Way. The park is named for President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Main Street leaves one with a lasting memory of old-downtown America, with shops of all types clustered on both sides of the street for about three blocks. And in something of a departure from many other areas of Orange County, the Main Street sidewalks do get a workout. There seem to be more people walking than driving.

Even with the growth it has experienced since the 1920s, Seal Beach is still a quaint beach colony, and the waterfront is its heart. Population Total: (1988 est.) 6,780 1980-88 change: +10% Median Age: 32.8 By sex and age: MALES Median age: 33.2 years FEMALES Median age: 32.3 years Income Per capita: $21,791 Median household: $33,702 Average household: $36,072 Income Distribution: Less than $25,000: 38% $25,000- 49,999: 35% $50,000- 74,999: 18% More than $75,000: 9%