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Harrison & Christi Long
Realtors & Advisors
Explore Group Properties, Coldwell Banker Previews
6833 Quail Hill Parkway, Irvine, CA 92603
949-854-7747
Explore OC Homes

ExploreProperties@gmail.com

www.HarrisonKLong.Wordpress.com - real estate blog

City of Irvine

Irvine is in South Orange County, located about 40 miles south of Los Angeles, and is a city of more than 212,00 residents, as of 2009 population estimates.  Incorporated in 1971, and encompasses an area of nearly 70 square miles. The city was inhabited by Mexican citizens after the country declared its independence from Spain in the mid-1800s. Parts of it were then sold to a man named James Irvine, for whom the town gets its name. Two military bases were built around the area during World War II, accounting for much of its growth and development.

Irvine's City Council is made up of the mayor and four city council members. The top employers within the city are the University of California, Irvine, with more than 7,500; Irvine Unified School District, with nearly 4,000; St. John Knits clothing company and Irvine Company real estate, both with more than 2,500; and Parker Hannifin aircraft and Allergan pharmaceuticals, both with nearly 2,000 employees each. There are many companies headquartered at Irvine, including Broadcom, Blizzard Entertainment, The Irvine Company, Linksys, and Taco Bell. 

Home to the University of California, Irvine, a research university with more than 20,000 students. In addition, however, the city is home also to Concordia University, Irvine Valley College, the Orange County Center of the University of Southern California, and the Irvine campuses of Alliant International University, California State University Fullerton and Pepperdine University. Most children attend public schools in the Irvine Unified School District, with four high schools, though parts of the north and west of the city fall in the Tustin Unified School District.

Three public libraries cater to city residents: Heritage Park Regional Library, University Park Library, and Katie Wheeler Library.  The Irvine Global Village Festival is held each year to celebrate the diversity of the community. 

There are 20 community parks and a number of smaller village parks for residents to enjoy as well as nearly 50 miles of off-road cycling trails and almost 300 miles of on-road lanes. Transportation in Irvine is provided by the Orange County Transportation Authority, which operates several local bus routes. A commuter rail service has stops at the Irvine and Tustin stations of the Metrolink Orange County Line and the IEOC Line. The city also recently began offering its own bus service, named iShuttle, which provides three routes connecting the Tustin Metrolink station to the Irvine Business Complex area and John Wayne Airport.

Named again in 2009 as the Safest City in the U.S. compared to others with population over 100,000.

The City of Irvine is incorporated under the general laws of the State of California and operates under a charter law of government.  Irvine is the largest in geogrphy of any city in Orange County, CA, and one of the nation's largest planned urban communities and encompasses more than 55 square miles. 

The city has three independent districts: library, educational and utility services. Other government services are animal control, building and safety regulation and inspection, general administrative services, planning and zoning, police, public facility/capital improvement construction, recreation and cultural programs, refuse collection and recycling, street lighting, street maintenance, landscape maintenance and transportation management.

Because the City of Irvine is relatively new and started with a young population base, only 12.7% of Irvine's population was in the over-55 category in 1990.  However, by the year 2020, 28% of the City's population is expected to be over the age of 55.  In 2006 there are about 21,000 residents over the age of 55.  In 25 years that number is expected to grow to over 60,000.   The number of 180,803 people resided in the City of Irvine during 2005 [source: City of Irvine].

The OC  "GREAT PARK"
Lennar Corporation plans to build 3,400 homes on the 1,314 acres it acquired as part of the planned GREAT PARK.   Lennar is the third largest developer in Orange County, behind the Irvine Company and Rancho Mission Viejo.

Irvine Business Complex Development
City leaders want to create a live-work village at IBC interspersed with parks, shops and restaurants. This is the 2,670 acre area bordered roughly by Barranca, San Diego Creek, Campus Drive and MacArthur. The area was originally zoned and planned for industrial use.   Demand for housing has inspired planners to place home development into a zone of mostly commercial buildings.  Also planned for the IBC is a public arts program, which could include murals, sculptures and varied building styles. Trails and parks are envisioned along San Diego Creek.

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Irvine Homes For Sale

 We are prepared to employ the latest techniques and REALTOR agent services for your benefit, like you expect from a professional.

Real estate transactions are complex, involve large assets and demand competent representation.  Marketing properties, home selection and financing are just a few of the skills today's consumer looks for when they select a real estate professional. We are prepared to offer clients the knowledge and expertise to counsel you in relocating, buying, investing or selling the family home. 

Our hope is that you enjoy your home and property tour here.  Irvine is a great place to live, work and play.  Feel free to contact us for help with your Irvine or other real estate needs.

You deserve and will expect from us the best real estate representation.