El Segundo is a leafy refuge on the urban edge
El Segundo is a little slice of small-town living tucked into the most unlikely place: under the roar of Los Angeles International Airport, in between the Hyperion sewage treatment plant and the Chevron refinery, and fringed by its own high-powered commercial district, home to such corporate heavyweights as Boeing Co. and Mattel Inc. Drawing card
With its convenient location near jobs, transportation and beaches, the city draws people seeking a quaint, close-knit community just minutes from the big city. Not surprisingly, it’s an oasis for many airline workers. It’s also a place from which executives can leave their glass skyscrapers and return to tree-lined neighborhoods in about five minutes without even taking advantage of the 105 and 405 freeways. Low crime rates sweeten the deal.
Wow factor
With a Main Street that could have been inspiration for Norman Rockwell, the downtown area includes the elements for creating a community where neighbors know each other’s names: a park, a well-tended library and even an indoor public swimming pool.
Hot spots
The oval that forms the center of town and includes addresses in the 500, 600 and 700 blocks of mostly east-west streets is widely considered the place to buy. Homes for sale here average between $500,000 and $800,000.
The northeast part of town has recently been dubbed “Million Dollar Hill.” This small elevated area contains a handful of houses that are El Segundo’s priciest. A roughly 4,000-square-foot home at the corner of Walnut Avenue and Bungalow Drive is listed at $1.2 million. Another on Bungalow Drive sold recently for more than $2 million.
Stock report
Just seven homes were for sale in mid-December, one of them a condominium, another a townhome. They range from $299,000 to $1.2 million. In 2000, 58% of households rented the units they occupied.
Good news, bad news
Despite the many pluses of El Segundo, so named because it was the site of Standard Oil Co.’s second refinery, there are some downsides. The biggest drawbacks loom on the outskirts of this 5 1/2-square-mile city. Los Angeles International Airport is busy, loud and imposing. The Hyperion Wastewater Treatment Plant, near the ocean, can be unpleasant when the air wafts inland.
Also, City Hall has been called insensitive to renters and rental-property owners in lower-cost neighborhoods. About three years ago, city officials created a dog park on Imperial Avenue without notifying neighbors.
Report card
The El Segundo Unified School District is made up of two elementary schools, a middle school and two high schools. Measured by the state’s latest Academic Performance Index, the elementary schools and middle school are the strongest. In 2002, Richmond Street Elementary scored 866 and Center Street Elementary scored 851 out of a possible 1,000, both surpassing the state target of 800. El Segundo Middle School scored 853. El Segundo High had a score of 786. Arena High, a nontraditional, self-directed-study program, scored 576.
Weather report
El Segundo’s location next to the ocean keeps temperatures comfortable. Winter temperatures range from 46 to 64 degrees; summer days range from 63 to 75.
Historical values
Single-family detached home prices:
Year...Median Price
1990...$313,500
1995...$265,000
2000...$422,500
2001...$409,000
2002*...$485,500
*year to date
Sources: Shorewood Realtors, El Segundo Chamber of Commerce, El Segundo Police Department, School Wise Press and DataQuick Information.
