Views of project from the south, Feb 2011
Site prior to construction My wife Kathleen and I looked at many sites and had numerous discussions literally over years prior to choosing this site. The following elements were important to us:
- Proximity to the Ocean. We both love California, and believe the best part about the beautiful state is the drama of the ever-changing landscape of the Pacific Ocean. We looked at many sites from Santa Cruz to Point Reyes. As an occasional surfer I also looked for a site that I could walk to the waves with my surfboard. Our site is a 5 min walk to the beautiful Linda Mar beach with a long beach break to catch some waves. Clean ocean air is available year round.
- Proximity to neighbors, Sense of Community, and Walking Friendly. We enjoy being part of a community. In part due to its access from a single road, Pedro Point in Pacifica has a small, vibrant community, with its own community activity facility, holiday parties on certain streets, and many multigenerational families living in it. The site is walking distance to good restaurants, coffee shops, hardware store, and organic grocery. There are terrific trails accessible along the ocean or to the mountain. We prefer to avoid using the car when possible and this site enabled that lifestyle. The site has a rural feel – with views of the Montara Mountain to the south – but San Francisco is only 15 minutes up the coast.
- Infill vs Green Field Site. Our site was an empty lot on a residential street with utilities available on the site border. During excavation we discovered foundation stone and other materials that indicated a structure existed on our parcel at one point. Choosing an infill site avoids developing a pristine site that is better left unspoiled.
- Excellent Solar Access. Being a solar enthusiast, good solar access was essential for us to consider any site. We desired a home warmed and lit by sunlight whenever possible, and wanted to convert as much light hitting the roof as possible into valuable electricity. While the coast and Pacifica can be quite foggy, our particular site in southern Pacifica has more sun than further north in town, as the Montara mountain protects the site from the fog that inhabits Moss Beach with considerable frequency.
