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Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024
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One Oak Offers Some Top Spots for Taking In the Scenery

The open concept kitchen of plan seven at One Oak with a massive center island and butler’s pantry. Photo courtesy of Shea Homes San Diego
The pool and spa area of plan five includes an outdoor kitchen and an outdoor shower which leads to the master bath. Photo courtesy of Shea Homes San Diego

The drive along Lone Jack Road in Encinitas on the way to “One Oak,” a new home development by Shea Homes San Diego, has the feel of a pleasant Sunday drive in the country. The gently winding road is lined white split-rail fencing, towering trees and horses grazing in corrals among outstanding custom estate homes on large tracts of land. A turn northward onto Fortuna Ranch Road continues alongside riding trails marked with “horse crossing” signs and is surrounded by wide open space as it heads toward the summit beyond.

One Oak is a rare, if not unparalleled, housing development of just 28 homes on land that was once owned by the Chandler family of the Los Angeles Times, according to Paul Barnes, division president of Shea Homes San Diego. Barnes said Shea Homes currently has 12 active neighborhoods for sale in the San Diego County and has built in excess of 7,500 homes during its years in business here. But, the small scale and the extraordinary setting of One Oak demanded a distinctive design and an unconventional architectural philosophy.

Barnes said the Chandler family owned 130 acres at the top of one of the highest peaks in the Olivenhain/Encinitas area with the intent to eventually develop it.

“They (the Chandler heirs) bought the acreage back in the 1970s, held it for some time, worked on the entitlements for a good 20-plus years,” Barnes said. “They got it entitled in early 2000 and we (Shea) bought it about three years ago.”

Barnes, who has been with Shea Homes for more than 20 years, and in real estate development for McMillin Cos. in San Diego prior to that, manages all aspects of the profitability for the division. In addition to his executive responsibilities, Barnes took a personal and astute approach to how One Oak would be set apart from other more productionlike industry practices.

“We did a 3-D modeling of the topography and the floor plans and oriented the homes such that we maximized the view toward the east or the west, as each homesite has a different view,” Barnes said. We made sure that with the 3-D model, if there were a nearby home, we would minimize the obstruction of that home interfering with each home’s view.”

In addition to maximizing the views and maintaining the privacy of neighbors, another important consideration was to position each home to take full advantage of the air flow and breezes.

But the true impact of how spectacular this location is doesn’t hit home until you reach the two completed models near the peak of the development.

In a word — breathtaking.

The elevation of the highest lot is about 830 feet above sea level, for context, Mount Soledad is 822 feet above sea level. Just less than 10 miles to Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, One Oak has panoramic, sweeping views in all directions. The office towers of University City are in view in the distance, hot air balloons are aloft and the evening lights of distant communities below shimmer as the sun sets. There are no sounds, save the chirping of birds and the wind in the trees.

“You’re kind of in an isolated island up there,” Barnes said.

There are nine models in the architectural style of Spanish, Hacienda and Prairie by award-winning Newport Beach Bassenian and Lagoni Architects that meticulously marry indoor and outdoor living into a seamless flow.

Costa Mesa-based CDC Designs designed the interior of the models with a sophisticated, yet casual, family friendly feel. Jackie Rivas of California Closets designed the walk-in closets for each bedroom.

The residences vary from one and two-story homes, each on approximately an acre of land, which range from 4,120 square feet to 5,875 square feet. More than 50 percent of the 28 homes are single-story — rare in Southern California given the high cost of land. Of the 28 homes, there is only one with a similar façade, a departure from standard industry practice.

The floorplans have up to five en suite bedrooms, covered outdoor living spaces and three and four-car garages. Prices start at $1.9 million, according to a recent price sheet.

The master plan for the community is intentionally designed to provide each homeowner with a broad range of custom options, “quasi-custom homes,” as Barnes refers to it. A design concierge is available to work with homeowners to customize the home, with some limitations.

“The concierge is there to help you make it as custom as it can be,” Barnes said.

Landscaping is up to each homeowner. But in addition to the spacious one-acre parcels, 70 percent of the acreage is dedicated to open space, in reserve with the Escondido Creek Conservancy.

“Everyone’s taste is so unique; we give them palette and the paintbrush and let them paint their landscape.” Barnes said.

Send luxury real estate items to sglidden@sdbj.com.

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