Page 14

www.sdbj.com

SAN DIEGO BUSINESS JOURNAL

April 7, 2014

The Leucadia Vibe Is Creative Enclaves Connection to Its Roots

The small coastal community of Leucadia has a particular idiosyncratic vibe, and the real estate found within its original boundaries reflects a spirit of LUXURY REAL ESTATE individuality and creativity different Stephanie R. Glidden from most other California beach towns. Its different even from the four other areas Old Encinitas, New Encinitas, Olivenhain and Cardiff-by-the-Sea that join it as part of the city of Encinitas. Leucadians do not say they live in Encinitas, said Kym McQuiston, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, who has lived in Leucadia since 1988. Originally settled by English spiritualists in the 1870s, this history is still alive today as the area is known for its laid back atmosphere, surfing culture and vestiges of the peace and love movement in the late 1960s and 1970s. The character of the town begins along Highway 101, which is lined by ancient Eucalyptus trees that form a canopy on each side of the road. The southern end begins with Moonlight Beach at the foot of Encinitas Boulevard, one of the best beach parks along the entire coast.

Charm and Surprise

The house pictured above is listed by Shawn Couch of The Certified Group at 1183 Saxony Road in Encinitas. It is a 3,650-square-foot, three bedroom, four and a half bath home on 0.42 acres listed at $2.2 million. The center photo is the deck overlooking the backcountry from 1183 Saxony Road. The bottom photo is from the oceanview deck of 378 Neptune Ave. in Leucadia, a four bedroom, three and a half bath, 3,020-square-foot home recently sold for $2.35 million.

I took a drive recently along Neptune Avenue, the street that runs along the bluff north of Moonlight Beach and has some of the most original and quirky real estate in the county. Driving up the hill toward Neptune, there is an ocean-view, 5,000-squarefoot lot overlooking Moonlight Beach for sale for $2.1 million. This sets the stage for the journey that follows. At 235 Fifth St. is a charming 1,124-square-foot adobe-style home built in 1949, reminiscent of what you might see in Santa Fe, N.M. This is a common theme among the homes near or on the bluff, large mansions built in various styles of architecture, sprinkled among delightful cottages. Down the street is a house that has always fascinated me, and turns out its not one house but rather a multifamily home. The front doors of each unit are tiny painted doors that you might see in cottages in an old English countryside village. On the building is a sign Neptunes Castle, circa 1970. Not exactly ancient England, but for California, pretty close. Right past the famous Stone Steps at the end of El Portal is a home at 378 Neptune that sold in December 2013 for $2.35 million: a four-bedroom, four-bath, 3,600-square- foot home. Pacific Sothebys International Realty was the listing agency. I read a few years ago that there were only six beachfronts lots left in all of San Diego County. Unless something was torn down recently, one of these lots is at 440 Neptune for sale for $2.5 million. Its 8,276 square feet and has 45 feet of oceanfront. As I got closer to the end of Neptune, the density increased, but there is a fair amount of new construction going on. There is public parking at Grandview with a long,

long stairway to the beach. Gated at this end is the condominium complex that stretches northward along the remaining coastline of Leucadia.

Off the Beaten Beach Path

Not all of this communitys real estate of interest is along the beach,

however. East of Interstate 5, and north of Leucadia Boulevard, are acres of spectacular homes on half-acre and larger lots, many with ocean views. Its more of an established family area with large estates. The home at 1183 Saxony Road at the top of this page is typical of the homes found in this area.

The drive downtown, which is the strip of highway bordered by the train tracks and various shops and restaurants, is crowded with lots of people who are out enjoying the weather. The Pannikin Coffee & Tea, which is an original Victorian building built in 1888 that was once the train station, is a very popular stop for bicyclists and residents. Other famous landmarks include Captain Kenos Restaurant, which has been around more than 70 years and was popular back in the day as a stop-off point for Hollywood types going to and from Mexico. The Log Cabin Motel dates back to 1935, as does the Shamrock Trailer Park next door. Other businesses that have been there as long as I can remember are the Mad Potter and the Plant Lady, both of which occupy what must be some of the most expensive real estate in the county filled with pots and plants. And finally, at the very northern tip is what I call the ghost restaurant. Situated on a bluff looking northwest, the view is amazing. Its up off the highway and has been many eateries throughout the years. It was Mexican, Italian (complete with singing waiters), California cuisine, you name it. None of it worked for some reason. I would think it would be the perfect spot for a restaurant, but it currently stands abandoned, unlike the rest of Leucadia which is thriving with a new, yet familiar vibrancy. Email information on luxury real estate to Stephanie R. Glidden at sglidden@sdbj.com.

April 7, 2014

SAN DIEGO BUSINESS JOURNAL

www.sdbj.com

Page 15

HOME OF THE MONTH

Editors note: This week the San Diego Business Journal introduces a monthly feature that will highlight a home of the month, selected by the editors as representative of an example of the best of San Diego Countys luxury residential real estate.

Crescent
The Crescent is a home designed by world famous San Diego-based architect Wally Cunningham. The homes design was inspired by the moon and the views out to the Pacific Ocean. The home is made of concrete, steel and glass. The pool wraps around a curvilinear terrace on a sandstone bluff 80 feet above the ocean. The ocean-facing side of the house is floor-to-ceiling glass.
Edited by Stephanie R. Glidden

DETAILS

Address: 532 Neptune Ave., Encinitas Sold: March 24, 2014, for $10.5 million Listing Price: $11.75 million Designer: Wallace Cunningham Built: 2000 Square footage: 6,350 Lot size: 0.42 acres View: Oceanfront, panoramic, evening lights Beds: Four Baths: Four Extras: pool, elevator, basement, exercise room, metal roof, terraces off the living room, office and master bedroom. Listing agent: Douglas Harwood of Coldwell Banker Residential Buyers agent: DeeDee Kirsch of Coldwell Banker Residential

All photos by John Leonffu of Warm Focus Photography