Getting their ducks in a row by the lake

For as long as man has been around, he has been drawn to live near the water. And if the Malibu beachfront is out of reach, a man-made lake in Calabasas may be the next best thing -- especially one wrapped in a neighborhood that defies the stereotype of a tract-home development.

What it’s about

At the heart of Calabasas Park is the lake. It’s a nameless affair -- commonly called Lake Calabasas -- and only residents who pay dues to the Calabasas Park Homeowners Assn. have permission to use it. But with a two-mile walking path and oodles of green grass surrounding it -- well, it’s pretty darn nice.

Remember that line from “Field of Dreams” -- “If you build it, he will come”? Well, come they have, drawn to this neighborhood of single-family homes, town houses and condos.

And oddly enough, the streets surrounding the lake are missing something that is in preponderance everywhere else: those ubiquitous “for sale” signs. In an aberration of the current real estate market, inventory in this area is not high.

“People come here, love it and stay,” said Myra Turek, a Coldwell Banker agent who owns a lakefront house here and is an ex-president of the homeowners association.

Why? “It’s the lake.”

The lake is seasonally stocked with fish, and light boating is allowed; taking out a pontoon is a favored pastime, along with watching the ducks and just sitting on benches and looking. And you’re never more than a three-minute drive from the nearest latte.

Drawing card

Calabasas Park demonstrates that a subdivision can actually be built with character. No cookie-cutter houses, no identical landscape designs, no sneezing in one home and the “gesundheit” coming from next door. And yet, it’s a planned development. Which is why it is such a joyous discovery to find these well-maintained homes in a 30- to 40-year-old development.

Homes have great curb appeal. High-end design features -- expensive doors, pool gates and landscaping -- have kept the neighborhood eye-catching.

Who goes there?

Many families who move to Calabasas cite the excellent Las Virgenes Unified School District and recreational offerings. Membership in the association -- $221 a year for homes in the ungated developments around the lake -- provides 24-hour security patrol. Nearby is the city-owned Tennis & Swim Center; there is a waiting list for membership.

Good news, bad news

There are plenty of places to walk the dog, most notably around the lake. Shopping is plentiful in the nearby Commons and other shopping centers, and restaurants abound. Crime, for the most part, is something that happens elsewhere.

So, what gets residents’ dander up? Drivers who exceed the 25 mph limit and people who hog-park their Hummers across two spaces at Ralphs. Hey, we all have to fret about something, don’t we?

Housing stock

The housing is downright exciting. Although no Calabasas roast would be complete without spoofing the preponderance of orange-tiled roofs, this neighborhood simply doesn’t offend. It’s quiet, tranquil and you can almost envision people inside the houses using whispered voices so as not to disturb.

Homes are loosely Mediterranean, most in varying shades of tan and dust.

Nothing directly on the lake is for sale right now. Several homes with lake access are listed, including a 3,118-square-foot home with four bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms for $1,895,000. It was built in 1969 and was recently remodeled extensively. It sits on the greenbelt, adjacent to the lake. A block away is a four-bedroom, three-bathroom, 2,464-square-foot Mediterranean listed at $1,225,000. It has a redone kitchen and hardwood floors in the public rooms.

Recently sold was a four-bedroom, four-bathroom home of 4,470 square feet for $1,660,000. A 1,800-square-foot town home sold for $1,085,000 in December. It has two bedrooms and three baths.

Report card

Children who live in this part of Calabasas attend Bay Laurel Elementary, which scored 923 out of a possible 1,000 on the Academic Performance Index Growth Report for 2006. For middle school, they go to A.C. Stelle, which scored 893, and then on to Calabasas High School, which scored 822.

ann.brenoff@latimes.com

Sources: www.cde.ca.gov, www.calabasasca.com.