The Undiscovered 'Citrus Capital' On California's Coast

Can the sleeping California coastal town of Santa Paula manage growth as it is "rediscovered" by developers and residents looking for affordable land?

1 minute read

May 18, 2004, 5:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"Officials insist the city is entering a new era. Indeed, Santa Paula is the county's latest beneficiary of a hot real estate market that has already begun to attract investors, developers and affluent home buyers. All are lured by the unspoiled beauty and relative affordability — the median price of a home is $256,000 — of the self-proclaimed 'Citrus Capital of the World.'... Whatever course the city takes, residents in the largely Latino community do not want their town to become the next big-box battleground. In public surveys, Santa Paula residents repeatedly say they recognize the city's need to grow but not at the expense of its architectural and cultural heritage."

Thanks to Mindy Oliver

Sunday, May 16, 2004 in The Los Angeles Times

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