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Redondo Beach is often divided into two logical North/South
areas with 190th Street as its boundary line. South Redondo plays host to the
pier and marina/harbor complex and directly borders active Hermosa Beach; life
on the ocean side of Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) can be frenetic with
restaurants and boating activities keeping people active and engaged at all
times. Inland of PCH is largely residential. Bordering North/South Redondo at
the Marina is a massive power plant, which has been the source of substantial
political debate in the city over the last decade, largely centered over what
to do with the land once the plant becomes inactive over the next 25 years.
This power plant sports a 586ft. x 95ft. whale mural by world-famous artist
Wyland titled "Gray Whale Migration". South Redondo is a bit more on
the gentrified, quiet side; its wide streets, wide sand beaches and laid-back
feel make it a prime destination for those seeking a "bike to the grocery
store" community. Several close-knit neighborhoods exist; South Broadway
hosts street parties in the summer where children play on jumping gyms and the
local Fire Department judges the best dessert contest while kids climb their
pumper truck. South Redondo is also known as the cleanest part of Redondo and
is considered to be "higher-class" by many of its citizens.
Appraisers conclude that typically the homes in South Redondo cost considerably
more than homes in North Redondo. As a result of Redondo Beach's geography,
North Redondo is primarily an inland experience as the beachfronts form most of
Hermosa Beach and part of Manhattan Beach. While primarily residential, North
Redondo contains some of the city's major industry and commercial space,
including the inland aerospace and engineering firms that are part of Southern
California's long space legacy. It is also home to the South Bay Galleria
Shopping Center. North Redondo is the home of the Redondo Beach Performing Arts
Center, one of the South Bay's premier cultural facilities, and home to the
Civic Light Opera of the South Bay Cities. Many original homes still stand in
Redondo Beach neighborhoods, but these small Arts and Crafts style homes are
quickly being bought, demolished and rebuilt to match the tastes of the modern,
more affluent buyer that makes South Bay their home. Zoning allows properties
within two to three blocks of the beach to be developed as large two to
three-unit luxury townhomes; inland areas are more likely to have single-family
homes. There is a city-wide height limit of 32 ft. for new homes; unlike
Manhattan Beach, Redondo allows rooftop living spaces and decks. |
