@farmerman,
Yes, you're absolutely right, farmerman! So much has been destroyed by
development and it's disheartening to see that the city hasn't stopped yet,
despite the real estate slump. Prices did come down somewhat in the inland
valleys, but along the coast it's pretty outrageous when they advertise a fixer-upper from 1950 for over $1 million.
Despite all this, it's still a very desirable place to live in, especially along the
coast, where mass developments are limited due to coastal zoning laws.
You still can find the "Stepford Wives" in suburbia - beautiful McMansions
with manicured yards, stay-at home Moms and tons of playgrounds and other activities for the little ones. Looks something like this
Santaluz