Residential Rehabilitation Program

Residents in the City of Santa Clarita are being encouraged to improve their homes through the City’s Residential Rehabilitation Program and Property Rehabilitation Program. 

The program assists qualified residents in keeping their homes up to the standards of their communities by providing grants for mobile homes, condominiums, or single family homes.

Over $50,000 in grants is still available to residents who own a home in Santa Clarita and use it as their primary residence. The annual household income must be at or below 80 percent of the median household income for Los Angeles County in order for the resident to apply for assistance.

Repairs include include interior and exterior painting, roof repairs or replacement, plumbing and electrical work, heating and air conditioning repair, flooring and window repairs as well as disabled access modifications.

City’s Housing Program Administrator Erin Moore-Lay says, “The City of Santa Clarita is very happy to have the funds to help more people this year. Being lower income does not mean a family has to live with faulty electrical systems, leaking pipes, a non-working furnace, or broken gates.  These programs are here to improve the quality of life for our lower income residents and maintain the community standards throughout the City.”

Homeowners who wish to take advantage of the grants have until June 30, 2008 to apply.

The City can be reached at (661) 286-4156.

Newhall Ranch|Landmark, Mission, Homestead and Poltrero Villages

A new town called Newhall Ranch is scheduled to go up in Santa Clarita. Newhall Ranch will overlook the Santa Clara River located just off the 126 and Newhall Ranch Rd. It will be home to three new housing tracks. The first is Landmark Village, then Mission Homestead and Poltrero.

Newhall Ranch will strive to be a traditional neighborhood with parks, bike trails, short blocks and round-abouts. There are plans to build about 1400 homes and a large retail shopping area in the Landmark Village.

Newhall Ranch plans on opening sales to Landmark Village homes in 2010.

Check out more information on the website.

Old Smiser Mule Farm

Old Smiser Mule Farm

There is quite a bit of controversy brewing over the demise of the mule farm that currently awaits residents as we enter Santa Clarita off the 5 at Calgrove. It’s a staple. We see the farm, we know we’re home. It’s peaceful and quiet perhaps like our perception of our town.

The days of the mule farm are numbered, as might be the ‘quiet and peaceful’ SCV I once knew. Apparently the mule farm will soon become a development similar to ‘The Grove’ except there will be 2-12 story buildings as well. One will be a commercial office building and one will be filled with 1000 condo units. There is also expected to be shops, high-end restaurants and a 2 story anchor retailer. Since when are we so big city and main stream? A 12 story building for condos? What is this, downtown Los Angeles?

I read a thread on the Signal forum and there are quite a few people really upset about this. If you want to contribute to the discussion go here.

I never knew Sam Smiser, but I will guess that if he were alive today, this would not be happening.

Argh, stop the insanity! Save the mule farm!

Fair Oaks Ranch in Canyon Country

Pardee Homes brings four new communities to Canyon Country calling them Fair Oaks Ranch. Just off the 14 freeway at the Via Princessa off-ramp you will find this welcoming and impressive selection of homes.

Fair Oaks Ranch consists of four models.

Woodglen (low 600k’s) offers up to 4 bdrms and 3 baths & up to 2,442 sq ft.
Hearthstone (600k’s) up to 5 bedrooms and 4 baths and up to 2,783 sq ft.
Fairmont (700k’s) up to 5 bedrooms and 5.5 baths and up to 4,353 sq ft.
Mayfair (800k’s) up to 7 bedrooms, 4 baths and up to 3,639 sq ft.

Fair Oaks Ranch offers its residents a rec center, playground and hiking and biking trails.

This is really quite a good selection for home owners. With square footage ranging from 2,099 to 4,353 there is really something for any family, even one with 7 bedrooms. Wow!

Santa Clarita Voted Best Place to Live in California

CNN Money has a list out of the top 100 places to live in the Unites States. Santa Clarita is number #18 on the list and the highest ranked California city. Simi Valley came in at #35. The overall winner was Fort Collins, CO.

One thing I noticed is that Santa Clarita’s leisure and culture category shows that we are below average as compared to all the other ‘best places to live’. We need more movie theatres, bars and restaurants. We need more stuff to do around here.

Regardless, this is a great place to live. It’s a friendly community that is clean and safe. I wouldn’t want to raise my kids anywhere else. As a resident of about 15 years, I have to concur with CNN.

Win a Home on the New Arnold Palmer Golf Course in Castaic

With Santa Clarita’s real estate market as high as it is, wouldn’t it be great to win a 4000 square foot home on the new Arnold Palmer Golf Course? Ah…heck ya!!!

Here’s how you can participate in this extraordinary opportunity for such a good cause.

Mentors for Youth is a non profit organization that supports children who may have been abused or are disadvantaged somehow by offering housing, support, counseling, etc. They are currently building a mentorship program that will bring in community leaders to give one-on-one support to these deserving kids.

They are selling raffle tickets at a mere $200 each (25% of that can be allocated toward your choice of eligible charities).

How do you get a ticket?
Go to their website for the form. You can enter by mail, fax or phone.

Good luck!!

San Francisquito Canyon Wins

San Francisquito Canyon residents came out ahead in a debate they had going with SunCal Construction, the developer that has plans on building 45 homes in the rural canyon area. These homes will consume 185 acres in this serene horse loving community. Residents appealed the decision made by the Regional Planning Commission last year which allowed SunCal to move ahead with plans to build homes on lots less than 2 acres. The developer was asked to revise its plans to make sure that each lot was at least 1 acre. Most if not all the lots in San Francisquito Canyon are at least 2 acres or larger.

I’m guessing that the residents must fear that their neighborhood will turn into another community of McMansions on tiny lots. With the ultimate goal of keeping their community true to what it is they fought the developer and won the battle (well at least a compromise).

San Francisquito Canyon is a beautiful community with lush land prime for horses and the residents want to keep it that way. Just a hop away from the city of Santa Clarita, these residents really have the best of both worlds.

Good for them for wanting to keep it that way.