The Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission Tuesday night approved the environmental impact report of the expansion plans of Marymount College in Rancho Palos Verdes. The expansion plans include a new athletic facility but no longer includes a proposal to build two new on-site dorms.   Marymount College Student relaxes in front of area to be used for expansion of Marymount College The Planning Commission at it's July 14th meeting must still approve the specific planning applications and conditions for construction and operation. The full City Council of Rancho Palos Verdes must still approve the project. Opponents of the expansion plans are concerned that the College will still request approval of the dorms from the full City Council. (Paul Penzella/Daily Breeze Staff Artist) For inform... 06/25/2009

 A $1.4 million project to improve the Bandini Canyon area near the Bandini Street Elementary School in San Pedro is set to begin construction, with a groundbreaking ceremony planned for 1:00 pm Thursday June 23rd at the east end of the canyon area just west of Gaffey Street at Marshall Court, between Sepulveda and Oliver streets. The improvements to the approx. 5 acre site will include new landscaping, a walking trail and a "tot lot" playground for small children.   For more nformation about Palos Verdes Real Estate and buying and selling a home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, visit my website at http://www.maureenmegowan.com . I try to make this the best real estate web blog in the South Bay Los Angeles and the Palos Verdes Peninsula. I would love to hear your comments or suggestions.  06/24/2009

Terranea, Lowe's new resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, is a pet friendly place.  I snapped this photo on the veranda.  There were also pets (well-behaved and on leashes) in the lobby, walking the grounds and exploring the trails and pathways lacing the manicured grounds.     Last Sunday when my clients needed a place to hang out while I held their house open, I suggested Terranea.  They loved the idea of taking their two small dogs along for a stroll, conversation around the fire-pits and enjoying a relaxing afternoon on the glorious California coast. Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Pa... 06/23/2009

A fire broke out in a laundry room of the new Terranea Resort last night at approx. midnight and was put out in about in about an hour and forced the temporary evacuation of hotel guests from their rooms. The resort had been open for just 1 week when the fire struck. Damage appears to be limited to the laundry room, however smoke did reach the air conditioning system causing some smoke damage.  Outdoor patio and fireplace at Nelson's bar at the new Terranea Resort. I had just been at the resort that night and left about 2 hours before the fire. We had a lovely time at the new Nelson's bar at the edge of the cliffs at the Resort.  We snacked on the shrimp tacos which were fantastic!!!  By the way, Nelson's bar is named after the Mike Nelson character of the old Sea Hunt TV series that wa... 06/22/2009

One of the questions I am frequently asked by buyers contemplating purchasing a home on the south or west side of Palos Verdes is, "How far away is the closest grocery store?"  That answer just became more pleasant to deliver.  Palos Verdes Drive West neighborhood will soon be home to Trader Joes new store located at the intersection of Hawthorne Blvd. and Palos Verdes Drive West.  The new addition will be welcomed by the residents of Oceanfront and surrounding residential areas. Palos Verdes Drive West real estate statistics for May 2009: Active Listings:  12 Single Family Homes are listed for sale priced from $1,485,000 tp $6,995,000. Pending Sales:  4 Single Family Homes are in escrow priced from $1,099,000 to $2,800,000. May Sales:  2 Single Family Homes closed escrow in May for $88... 06/20/2009

After agreeing to loan Terranea Resort up to $8.2 million in hotel tax revenue over the next several years, the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council has moved to put a measure on the November ballot that would raise that tax rate. If approved by a majority of voters, the measure would increase the transient occupancy tax - or TOT - from 10 percent to 12 percent, putting the city's rate in line with other coastal communities with major hotels.  The revenue generated by the increase in the tax would not be loaned to Terranea but would instead flow into the city's coffers. For more information on the Terranea Resort , visit my website at http://www.maureenmegown.com 06/18/2009

The owners of the Valero gas station in Rancho Palos Verdes at the intersection of Granvia Altimira and Hawthorne Blvd. had their request denied by the City Council of Rancho Palos Verdes to rezone their property from its current zoning as Residential (with a special "automotive overlay" permitting its current use as a gas station) to that of "Commercial". The owners had previously requested approval to construct a new CVS Pharmacy at the site, but that proposal is no longer being pursued. The zoning change request was met by strong opposition by neighborhood residents.   For more information about Rancho Palos Verdes, visit my website at http://www.maureenmegowan.com 06/18/2009

I'm spending more and and more time in the Palos Verdes Drive South neighborhood.  Trump's is a favorite area to walk.  Terranea is now open for business and fast becoming a favorite spot to meet friends and clients. I have a new listing at 32245 Phantom Drive and I'm showing a couple buyers everything that comes on the market in the area. It is certainly a beautiful place to hang out! Palos Verdes Drives South homes for sale, in escrow and sold in May 2009: Active Listings:  20 Single Family Homes are for sale priced from $899,000 to $6,900,000. Pending Sales:  5 Properties are in escrow priced from $859,000 to $1,195,000. May Sales:  1 Home sold on Via Baron for $1,249,000.   Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 South Bay Los Ang... 06/17/2009

If you're searching for Rancho Palos Verdes homes for sale, the Mira Catalina neighborhood only has a few, but it is a wonderful seaside neighborhood anchored by Mira Catalina Elementary School and Marymount College. Mira Catalina real estate statistics for May 2009: Active Listings: 6 Single Family Homes are for sale priced from $959,000 to $3,399,000. Pending Sales:  1 Property is in escrow listed for $1,049,000. May Sales:  1 House sold on Corinna Drive for $835,000.   Previous Palos Verdes and San Pedro Market Reports Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property, houses and homes in: Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, San Pedro, Long... 06/17/2009

The EPA is still studying plans to cleanup a deposit of DDT that lays in 200 feet of water off of the coast of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  The current plans, estimated to cost approx. $36 million, would put an 18 iinch "cap" of clean soil on top of the estimated 100 tons of DDT.  The funds earmarked for the cleanup comes from a $140 million settlement in 1990 with Montrose Chemical, a company that manufactured DDT in the South Bay and dumped residue into sewer outfalls that emptied off of the Palos Verdes coastline. The EPA had previously tested placing a cap on a smaller area with mixed results.  The EPA proposal includes placing a cap of silt and sand over the most contaminated 320 acres.  Critics of the plan claim it is not extensive enough and are proposing a $76 million plan to ca... 06/15/2009

Saturday night I fell in love with Terranea.  Lowe's new resort in Rancho Palos Verdes had me at, "Hello, welcome to Terranea."     Maybe it was the excitement of a new place to explore and discover, or perhaps it was the reunion aspect of mingling with the large crowd and chatting with past and current clients.  One thing I'm certain of --- I will be back.       If you're planning a visit to the Los Angeles area and would like to stay in one of the most beautiful places on earth (in my humble opinion) I understand they are offering some fabulous discounts.     That's me in the yellow coat chatting with my past client and present friend! Norma Toering & Team RE/MAX Palos Verdes Realty(310) 493-8333 / Office Phone: (310) 831-0800 South Bay Los Angeles cities I sell real estate, property,... 06/15/2009

Oops, last week I neglected Zillow and my tweets were at a bare minimum.  I managed to make one Facebook entry.  I did ten Active Rain posts and I think I kept up with my comments--at least on most days.  Let me be the first to saythe swirl of social networking is making me a bit dizzy. My online life is claiming a larger part of my real-time life.  Last week I did take a new listing, show property four times during the week, hold a broker's open and a public open house, have a new website up and running for a new development and began working with a high-end buyer. Plus all the regular real estate "stuff" had to done such as meetings, paperwork, offers, escrows and so on and so forth. I am not so addicted to the social sites that I do not know which one to neglect when push comes to sh... 06/13/2009

Thursday evening, after an early dinner at Saluzzi's, I was invited to take a sneak preview of Lowe's new resort, Terranea,in Rancho Palos Verdes.  They are offering some great grand opening rates of up to 50% off. (click on the link to see photos and check rates). When we arrived employees were focused on Friday's grand opening event.  At 6:30 the long veranda overlooking the Pacific Ocean was deserted except for a lone employee arranging chairs, plumping cushions and readying the ample seating area for paying patrons.  I'm delighted to have a new place in Palos Verdes to meet clients for morning coffee before house hunting excursions and a pleasant place to regroup and evaluate after a day of showing homes on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Out-of-town prospective buyers now have a place ... 06/13/2009

The Palos Verdes Drive East neighborhood has several homes for sale for less than $1,000,000, and several of them have wonderful city light views.  Market activity is on the increase and current inventory has dropped below 300 single family homes for sale.   Palos Verdes Drive East neighborhood statistics for May 2009: Active Listings:  23 Single Family Homes are for sale priced from $333,000 to $2,250,888. Pending Sales:  6 Single Family Homes are in escrow priced from $849,900 to $2,995,000. May 2009 Sales:  4 Properties closed escrow:  Saddle Rd. sold for $910,000. Via Siena sold for $1,020,000.  Rue Le Charlene sold for $1,250,000 and Lorraine Road sold for $1,250,000. If there are some Palos Verdes homes for sale you would like to see, give me a call; I have the keys. Previous Palo... 06/12/2009

Last week, Trader Joes pulled their construciton permit to build their new store in the Golden Cove Shopping Center at the intersection of Hawthorne Blvd. and Palos Verdes Drive South.  Demolition of the former Golden Lotus Restaurant has now commenced.  The store is expected to open sometime near the end of 2009. For more information about Rancho Palos Verdes, visit my website at http://www.maureenmegowan.com     06/12/2009

The Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission on Tuesday night again delayed taking a final vote on the proposed expansion plans of Marymount College. At its eighth meeting to review these expansion plans, Chairman Jeffrey Lewis, citing a family emergency, abruptly left the meeting  short of a quorum. The final vote will be taken at the Planning Commission meeting on June 23rd.  Aerial view of Marymount College and land for expansion plans It was disclosed at the meeting that a final vote could not have been taken as the commission had not yet received the project's environmental report to review. For more information about Rancho Palos Verdes, visit my website at http://www.maureenmegowan.com 06/11/2009

Elin Vanderlip, the Grande Dame of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, recently turned 90 this past Saturday, June 8th. Mrs. Vanderlip was married to Kelvin Vanderlip, who was Frank Vanderlip's second son. Frank Vanderlip was the original owner and developer of the entire Palos Verdes Peninsula dating to the mid 1920's.  Elin Vanderlip still resides at Villa Narcissa, originally built by Frank Vanderlip as one of the first homes on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in the mid 1920's, and named for Frank Vanderlip's daughter.  Elin Behind the Ville Narcissa is a beautiful stairway of 268 steps, lined by cypress trees,soaring to a spectacular lookout point where a white marble temple was built. The Villa Narcissais is located at 100 Vanderlip Drive, at the end of Vanderlip Drive, near the end of Narciss... 06/09/2009

The Rancho Palos Verdes Planning Commission will be making its final review of the expansion plans of Marymount College in Rancho Palos Verdes. The expansion plans include a new athletic facility but no longer includes a proposal to build two new on-site dorms.   Marymount College Student relaxes in front of area to be used for expansion of Marymount College The meeting begins at 7 PM tonight Tuesday June 9th at Fed Hesse Community Park, 29301 hawthorne Blvd. For more information, call City hall at 310-377-0360 For information about Palos Verdes Real Estate and buying and selling a home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, visit my website at http://www.maureenmegowan.com 06/09/2009

The Terranea Resort, scheduled to open to the public this Friday June 12th, has many more unfilled employment postions available.  The new resort provides a wonderful opportunity for employment for the youth of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.  My son, in fact, who is attending college, just got a job as a "Loss Prevention Agent" at the resort at an hourly rate of $15 per hour. Job Opportunities are listed at http://www.cytiva.com/dest/cojobsDest.asp . For more information on the Terranea Resort , visit my website at http://www.maureenmegown.com 06/09/2009

Rancho Palos Verdes on Friday modified the terms of its Hotel Tax Rebate Loan to the Terranea Resort.  The City Council had previously approved a deal last week that would have loaned all of the 10% Hotel Tax that it would have collected over the next 27 months back to the Terranea Resort.  Yesterday, the City Council modified the deal to loan back 80% of the Hotel Tax owed by the Resort. The loan is expected to total up to approx. $6.6 million of the estimated $8.2 million in Hotel Occupancy tax expected to be collected over the 27 month period. The Loan terms calls for the loan to be repaid by the end of 2013 at a floating interest rate, tied to three month LIBOR, currently set at 8.65%. The loan may be extended for an additional year at a higher interest rate.  The loan is subject to... 06/06/2009