South Coast Metro Neighborhood Guide

Researching South Coast Metro neighborhood in Costa Mesa California? Here is a complete guide with the most up to date information about South Coast Metro neighborhood!

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Overview

ABOUT South Coast Metro

South Coast Metro is a district within Costa Mesa and Santa Ana comprised of a blend of residential, office and retail developments. Its population is 30,409 people. The district spreads out from the South Coast Plaza to form an urban-retail area, known for its high rise office buildings and hotels. The cultural element of South Coast Metro includes the Costa Mesa Theater and Arts District, where the Sergerstrom Center for the Arts is found.

The Sergerstrom Center is known for its architecture and for hosting world renowned theater groups, dance companies and orchestral musical performances. Interstate 405 (San Diego Freeway) runs through South Coast Metro. Costa Mesa State Route 55 and Corona Del Mar (State Route 73) also serve the South Coast Metro area. The John Wayne Airport is nearby.

South Coast Metro is in the center of Southern California’s OC culture. In this district is a unique blend of premier residential and business environments, hotels, restaurants, fine arts and shopping. The area has over 1,300 companies that bring in over $1.7 billion in retail sales alone. The Sergerstrom Center for the Arts presents national Broadway tours, performing arts festivals, contemporary theatre and the world’s greatest dance companies.

The district is home to the American Ballet Theater William J. Gillespie School, the Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory and five universities and colleges as well as companies such as Mercedes Benz, ETrade, Deloitte and Experian.

TOP South Coast Metro HIGHLIGHTS

Theater and arts
World class restaurants
Home to major companies
Beautiful residential area
World-class shopping
Quick access to major highways
Largely affluent reputation
High-end housing options

Natural Disasters

The chances of intense heat and droughts affecting this neighborhood are highest between July and October. During this time, wildfires may spark in the area and create dangerously poor air quality.

Because the temperature rarely falls below 41°F, winter storms aren’t a concern for local residents. However, hail storms, thunderstorms, and high winds cause a considerable amount of property damage on a yearly basis.

Earthquake activity is commonplace in this part of California. Considering that the earthquake index is one of the highest in the country, residents are almost certain to experience some sort of activity. 3.5 magnitude earthquakes are also not out of place in South Coast Metro.

Commute

South Coast Metro is at the confluence of three major freeways and many surface streets, providing direct access to other urban areas, such as Los Angeles and San Diego. The San Diego Freeway runs through South Coast Metro, which makes for convenient commutes to nearby Orange Coast College, Chapman University and University of California at Irvine.

During rush hour, however, this freeway is the most congested in the entire U.S. John Wayne Airport, accessible from the 55 freeway, is only five minutes away. Commute time to Los Angeles International Airport is 45 minutes. The drive to Newport Beach is 15 minutes and to Anaheim, 20 minutes.

Crime Rate

South Coast Metro has a reported crimes per square mile rate of 264. To compare, California’s crimes per square mile rate comes in at 85, and the national median is 31.1.

The violent crime rate per 1,000 residents is estimated to be 3.03. Meanwhile, the property crime rate per 1,000 people is 33.45. This data indicates property crime is largely responsible for South Coast Metro appearing less safe when compared with other California neighborhoods and cities.

Overall, South Coast Metro’s total crime rates place the neighborhood as more secure than roughly 10% of residential areas across the country.

Education

SCHOOLS IN South Coast Metro

Within the South Coast Metro area are several public schools and one private school, including Killybrooke Elementary School, Paularino Elementary School, Orange County School of the Arts, Maude B. Davis Elementary School, St. John the Baptist Catholic School and others.

The South Coast Metro area schools integrate a high level of technological courses like robotics with training for artistically inclined students, such as visual, performing and culinary arts courses. An outstanding elementary school in the district is Maude B. Davis Elementary School, where students have scored twice as high as the state average in reading and mathematics.

Another top-rated school in South Coast Metro is the Orange County School of the Arts, which prepares students for higher education or professional careers in literary and performing arts. Another notable high school is Sergerstrom High School, from which 99% of students graduate and 95% of students attend institutions of higher learning.

Schools

ELEMENTARY
Killybrooke Elementary School: Killybrooke Elementary serves 419 students in grades kindergarten through sixth. The school has a student to teacher ratio of 25 to one. Based on state exams, 50% of students are proficient in mathematics, and 54% are proficient in reading. The school offers enrichment activities during the day as well as after-school programs, including science field trips and robotics club. Paularino Elementary School: Paularino Elementary school has a student population of 441 in kindergarten through sixth grade with a student to teacher ratio of 20 to one. Thirty-nine percent of students are proficient in math, and 52% are proficient in reading. Integrating technology, horticulture and programs for autistic children, Paularino is ranked as 1,177 of 5,881 best public elementary schools in California. Sonora Elementary School: Ranked 941 out 5,881 best public elementary schools in California, Sonora Elementary School is a kindergarten through sixth-grade school with 501 students. There is one teacher for every 24 students. In math, 45% of Sonora students are proficient, and 58% are proficient in reading. The school partners with local arts organizations to provide art enrichment programs for students. Maude B. Davis Elementary School: Maude B. Davis Elementary School has a student/teacher ratio of 28 to one with 572 students in grades kindergarten through sixth. Based on state academic exam scores, 80% of students are proficient in math and 81% in reading, far higher than the California state average of 48%. The school ranks at 323 of 5,881 best public elementary schools in the state.
MIDDLE
Douglas Macarthur Fundamental Intermediate: Douglas Macarthur Fundamental Intermediate School has a student to teacher ratio of 27 to one with 1,230 students. In mathematics, 37% of students are proficient, and 49% are proficient in reading. Macarthur offers a broad variety of elective programs, including robotics, visual and performing arts, computer technology and peer assistance leadership.
HIGH
Orange County School of the Arts: Orange County School of the Arts is a 7th through 12th grade charter school. Students with talents in literary, performing, visual and culinary arts attend the school to be prepared for college and for professional jobs in the arts industry. Student/teacher ratio is 30 to one, with 77% of students proficient in math and 87% in reading. Segerstrom High School: Sergerstrom High School has a student population of 2,433 with a 27 to one student/teacher ratio. Thirty-one percent of students are proficient in math and 31% in reading, based on state test scores. The school offers a variety of Advanced Placement courses, including courses in the visual and performing arts. Ninety-nine percent of students graduate, and over 95% attend college. Early College High School: Early College High School is highly rated in California for allowing students to earn two years of college credit. With 260 students, the school has a student/teacher ratio of 26 to one. Of the student population, 45% are proficient in math and 75% are proficient in reading. A greater focus is given to academics than clubs and activities. Costa Mesa Middle/High School: Costa Mesa Middle/High School has 1,814 students in 7th to 12th grades. The student/teacher ratio is 24 to one. Based on state exams, 30% of students are proficient in math and 44% in reading. Teachers have as their goal to make every student a confident communicator, problem solver and active citizen. Students have access to a 50-meter swimming pool.
PRIVATE
St. John the Baptist Catholic School: St. John the Baptist Catholic School, a private Costa Mesa school, has 521 students in kindergarten through 8th grade. The student/teacher ratio is 20 to one. The aim of St. John’s is to promote intellectual, physical, moral and religious capabilities within each student in order to mold them into responsible citizens and faith-filled Catholics.

Real Estate

South Coast Metro Housing 2020

There are at least three homes currently for sale in South Coast Metro. List prices for these homes range from $849,900 to $950,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bath home to a five-bedroom, four-bath home. Median home value is $407,413. Median rent is $1,759.

The median list price in South Coast Metro is $833,000. The median list price per square foot is $390. The median sold price is $800,000. Listed homes are “hot homes,” which means they will sell quickly, most staying on the market for only 35 days.

Over the last four to five years, the median home sales price went from $608,750 to $800,000, with some spikes and dips along the way. The number of sales over the same period went from 140 to 173, also with some spikes and dips. The greatest number of sales in one month during this period was 242.

South Coast Metro Homes for Sale

South Coast Metro is a district within Costa Mesa/Santa Ana that’s an amalgam of multiple builder tracts. Area housing is a mixture of single-family residential homes, townhomes and condominiums, broken down into about 29 different neighborhoods, most of which were built in the late 1960s and in the early 1970s. One of the first developments in Costa Mesa is the Halecrest neighborhood. Built in the mid-1950s, this neighborhood still holds much of its mid-20th century charm.

One of the more interesting neighborhoods in South Coast Metro is the Hall of Fame neighborhood, built with a Tahitian theme. Mesa North President Streets is a residential neighborhood containing a large group of homes near Paularino Elementary School. One of the newest housing developments in South Coast Metro is The Laurels at Providence Park. Real estate in this area was built by Standard Pacific Home Builders in 2004 and 2005. Wimbledon Village is a group of homes built in an English tradition.

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Things to do

South Coast Metro is a bustling urban business and retail district combined with residential areas that offers a plethora of shopping, dining and entertainment experiences. Sergerstrom Center for the Arts brings in national Broadway tours and the world’s greatest dance companies. The Pacific Chorale, the Orange County Philharmonic Orchestra and the Pacific Symphony put on regular performances in the Renee and Henry Sergerstrom Concert Hall. South Coast Plaza, a renowned global shopping destination that houses over 250 boutiques and highly acclaimed restaurants, is the epitome of luxury shopping. The retail collection found at South Coast Plaza rivals similar collections in New York and Paris. Some retailers found here include Bottega Veneta, Gucci, Roger Vivier, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels. World famous restaurants, such as Vaca, helmed by Spanish chef Amar Santana, are located in the district. The Camp, The LAB, 17th Street Promenade Shops and the SoBeCa district offer unique dining, shopping, musical and artistic experiences.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
A main attraction in South Coast Metro is Sergerstrom Center for the Arts in the Costa Mesa Theater/Arts District. The center presents national Broadway tours, jazz and the world’s best dance companies, as well as special events and other family entertainment. It’s also the home venue for the Pacific Symphony, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the Pacific Chorale.
South Coast Plaza
One of the most prestigious shopping plazas in the world, South Coast Plaza is home to more than 250 restaurants and boutiques. The plaza has one of the world’s highest concentrations of high-end fashion retailers. It’s a hot spot for tourists and travelers looking for upscale boutiques and world-class restaurants. The center offers translation, shuttle and money exchange services.
Orange County Fair
The Orange County Fair is an annual 23-day festival that is eagerly awaited by residents and tourists alike. In 2018 almost 1.5 million people attended the fair, which also provides year-round educational opportunities through Imaginology, Heroes Hall and Centennial Farm. The Pacific Amphitheatre on the fairgrounds offers summer concerts with performers like Justin Moore, Ziggy Marley, Chicago and Mariachi.
Metro Pointe
Metro Pointe at South Coast is an open-air shopping center that’s home to Nordstrom Rack, Marshalls, Best Buy, Saks Off 5th, DSW Shoes and The Container Store. Just across the street from South Coast Plaza, Metro Point offers shopping for electronics, books, home accessories and apparel. Food choices include Karl Strauss Brewery & Restaurant, Boudin Bakery and Arriba Baja Grill.
SoBeCa (South On Bristol Entertainment, Culture & Arts)
The SoBeCa district is home to one-of-a-kind restaurants, boutique shops and artistic events like poetry readings, art showings, musical performances and festivals. The district brings together a mix of cultures to explore their interests in fashion, art, music and the outdoors. A sought-after salon in the district is the Crew Salon. The Eye Society offers stylish glasses and shades.
California Scenario
Recognized as one of the country’s premier sculpture gardens, the California Scenario or Noguchi Garden was completed by Isamu Noguchi in 1982. The garden sits on 1.6 acres. Symbolizing California geography, it includes six elements: Forest Walk, Land Use, Desert Land, Water Source, Water Use and Energy Fountain. The garden’s center piece is The Spirit of the Lima Bean.
Vaca
Vaca is the latest restaurant helmed by Chef Amar Santana, of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef” fame. This eatery is authentically Spanish. It serves anything from paellas to tapas to ocean-caught sea food to fresh-cut prime rib. Ninety percent of food served at Vaca is flown in from Spain. Top dishes are Paleta Iberica Fermin and Paella De Mariscos.
The Camp
Located in South Coast Metro’s SoBeCa District, the Camp offers a nontraditional retail community in a casual environment. Each store is health or fitness related with an emphasis on active lifestyles. Much of the offerings are “green,” including local produce shops and progressive retailers that offer organic wares. The Camp is the first environmentally sensitive retail campus in the country.
17th Street Promenade
The 17th Street Promenade Shops is a top retail destination that is a collective of businesses offering an assortment of books, food, housewares and gifts. A stroll down 17th gives shoppers the opportunity to dine at Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant, find home décor items at McGee & Company or shop for clothes at No Rest for Bridget.
The LAB
The LAB (Little American Business) is a shopping center located in a renovated google-making factory and is referred to as the “anti mall” because of its eclectic array of one-of-a-kind clothing shops. Also located in the LAB are some of the best eateries in South Coast Metro, including Habana, a Cuban cuisine restaurant, and The Gypsy Den Café.

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