Tag: Torrance Realtor
The New Centennial Plaza in Old Torrance is Already Showing Age Now this is a real shame. The Torrance Centennial Plaza which was intended as the city's most enduring legacy of its milestone 2012 celebration is already showing wear and tear after just 10 months. This is a $180,000 El Prado Park centerpiece that includes a time capsule set for opening 99 years from now. This cost was offset by the sale of hundreds of $150 bricks etched with personalized messages. But the lettering on some is already partly obscured, and the sand separating bricks is fast eroding along with birds are leaving their own unsightly legacy behind on the plaza. Obviously the minimum maintenance on the Plaza (which is a two man crew mowing the grass) is not enough. To me it just another example of how our standards are slipping. Wouldn’t the men mowing the lawn notice how the plaza is quickly deteriorating and report it? No they just mow and close their eyes to everything else with no apparent caring or pride in our city. Anyway because it has been neglected it will now cost more money to repair. Read More
What a great place to live: The South Bay of Los Angeles. Last Saturday we attended the Arm Forces Day parade in Torrance. This is the longest running Armed Forces parade in the country. After the parade we ventured over to Del Amo Shopping Center and were able to see the military equipment upfront. A real treat. This is great time. Many families have front yard BBQs and block parties in celebration. This weekend we are headed for the by Fiesta Hermosa. This 3 day event is held twice a year on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends. This is not the average town festival. You will find everything from a children's carnival, professional crafters and artisans to top musicians to a wonderful Beer Garden. The food is terrific, many home town restaurants feature their best. Hours for the festival hours will be May 25, 26, 27 10 am to 6 pm Free Admission Parking in Hermosa Beach is always at a premium, so we provide our visitors with FREE PARKING and FREE SHUTTLE BUSES from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. each day of Fiesta Hermosa. You can park and ride the shuttle at Marine Ave & Aviation Blvd Redondo Beach. Read More
When the development of Torrance Condos in the vicinity of Maple and Del Amo began way back in the early 60s and 70s there was a real concern that the marsh lands would be filled in and developed like many of the other areas in Torrance. Thanks to the for-site of a very few who fought developers to preserve the marsh, it was dedicated in 2001 and will always be protected. It is a wonderful place to visit. Even Huell Howser paid Madrona Marsh a visit and aired a segment on this special place. Read More
If you are considering placing your house on the market, it is crucial that you do some work before you place it on the market. Here are some items to consider are: Does the roof need replacing? How about the windows? Upgrade the garage door? Paint the exterior? And then there is the landscaping. Trim bushes, plant flowers. repair cement. I would sagest you take a drive around your South Bay neighborhood and take note of which houses automatically attract you. Take some photos and then you go, you have instant help on improving your curb appeal. Read More
10 Predictions for Housing in 2013 DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2013 The new year could be the best year in real estate in years, but the housing recovery still remains fragile and challenges remain, says Dave Liniger, RE/MAX co-founder and chairman. Read More
How many of us have often wondered about the name of The South Bay town we live in and where it came from? Well, we'll solve that problem for you. Here are some of the Origins for the names of some of the South Bay cities. As we find more, we'll let you know. * CITY OF HAWTHORNE: Named after the American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne * CITY OF GARDENA: This one is tuff as there are many different stories as to where this name came from but most agree that it came from "Garden Spot" which one of the original founders called it because it layed in a beautiful green and lush valley. * CITY OF CARSON: Named after the son of the the developer of the South Bay who was also head of the Dominguez Water Corp., John Manuel Carson. * CITY OF EL SEGUNDO: Named by the executives of Standard Oil in 1911 when they were searching for a location for their second refinery. In Spanish, El Segundo means second. * CITY OF HERMOSA BEACH: Named in 1907, Hermosa means beautiful in Spanish. * CITY OF LAWNDALE: The founder, Charles B Hopper named it that in 1905 after a Chicago suburb as a way of attracting more settlers from the east. * CITY OF INGLEWOOD: The story says that a new resident of the area named Inglewood after the town he had just moved away from, his home town. * CITY OF MANHATTAN BEACH: Named by developer Stewart Miller after his hometown in New York * CITY OF PALOS VERDES: Means "green sticks" in Spanish, and probably named after Canada de Los Palos Verdes, a wooded area near the current day Machado Lake in Harbor Regional Park. * CITY OF REDONDO BEACH: Named after the nearby land grant 'Rancho Sausal Redondo' (“Ranch of the Round Clump of Willows”). * WILMINGTON: Named by developer Phineas Banning after his home town of Wilmington, Delaware. * SAN PEDRO: Named by Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino in honor of St. Peter. Read More
TREE SAFETY Does the severe weather of the past several years have you looking up at your trees in fear? It's an understandable concern. A big storm could destroy the plants' majesty in a flash -- and send a quarter-ton branch crashing down onto your roof. Still, before you preemptively chip a favorite tree into mulch, consider this: It may be contributing 8% to 10% to your home's value, according to Scott Cullen of the Council of Tree and Landscape Appraisers. Here's how to keep your leafy assets from becoming a liability. Schedule regular upkeep Have your trees inspected every five years or so -- a free service offered by tree-care companies. An arborist will look for branches that are weak or hanging within 10 feet of a building, and send workers to remove them. If necessary, they'll also buttress the tree against high winds by cabling limbs together. All this work costs about $200 to $400 a tree and is typically needed only once a decade. Related: Tips on homeowners insurance In many cases the tree will more than cover the cost of its maintenance over a few years; a big shade tree will knock nearly $70 off annual air conditioning bills, says David Nowak of the U.S. Forest Service, and a large evergreen that blocks winter winds will reduce heating costs by around $60 a year. Bonus: Trees also provide protection from road noise and basement flooding. Get removal right When a tree becomes diseased or dangerously overgrown given its proximity to a house, your arborist will recommend taking it down. Removing a substantial tree could cost $2,000 to $5,000, depending on its size and whether it is accessible by truck or requires climbing -- and what's underneath that the crew must protect. Related: 4 ways to save on landscaping You can have the stump ground down to just below grass or mulch height for $50 to $200 more. Or carve a trough in the top, drill some drainage holes, and use it as a planter. Invest in new growth To replace an unsafe tree or propagate a bare lot, look for varieties that grow quickly and have compact spreads to minimize pruning headaches, says Charlotte, N.C., landscape architect J'Nell Bryson. A local nursery can suggest good options and plant eight-footers for $250 to $500 each. In about a decade they could add tens of thousands to your property value, probably the best investment return you'll ever make. Read More
Do you remember .. for those who are old enough, the black and white TV of John Glenn in the small space capsule? He was the First American to orbit the Earth, aboard Friendship 7 on February 20, 1962, on the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission. Well jump ahead to 1992 … the Endeavour... Read More
Come see the new HI-TECH office Thursday, July 26 from 4-7pm. Snacks, drawings SPECIAL GUEST — Miss California 2102 – NATALIE PACK! 23805 HAWTHORNE BL TORRANCE CA 90505 click here …. Read More
Most of us know these tips already, but forget some of them from time to time. Keep your air filter clean and change it on a regular basis. Change you cars oil according to the owners manual. Check the fan belt. Is it too tight or too loose? This can affect your mileage. Change your spark plugs regularly according to the owners manual. Worn plugs can make your car get less miles per gallon. Try driving your lighter car. Heavy cars get worse mileage. Only use the Air Condition when necessary. Using your cruise control can increase mileage. Don’t warm up your car. It isn’t needed and it will cost you money. Check your tire pressure and keep the tires inflated according to the owners manual. Read More