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For Panoramic Views, La Mesa Is One of Region’s Top Spots

The dream started in 1903 with a vision and $11,500, half of which was financed by a local bank.

It was then that William Gross, originally a theatrical producer from Philadelphia and now a produce farmer in Mission Valley, was visiting his friend Ed Fletcher, a transplanted Easterner in Lemon Grove, when Gross inquired about investments in the area. Sure enough, Fletcher, namesake of Fletcher Parkway among other things, said nearby Villa Caro Ranch overlooking the El Cajon Valley was in foreclosure, complete with a home.

This was the beginning of what we now know as La Mesa.

Val O’Connor, a resident and 20-year veteran of selling homes in La Mesa said “I had the great privilege of selling the first home, built in 1910, on Mount Helix at 9633 El Granito Ave. that was owned by William Gross.”

The craftsman-style home rests on a bed of granite boulders and commands a magnificent view of San Diego.

Indeed, the vision of these two men, ridiculed through the years by onlookers and the press as “Fletcher’s Folly,” persevered.

Gross is the subject of a book written by Hubert Guy called “Grossmont Isn’t Just a Shopping Center,” and defines William Gross’ contribution to the development of La Mesa and the surrounding area.

Today, La Mesa is home to some 55,000 people.

O’Connor, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, said she loves living in La Mesa.

“It’s only 17 minutes from downtown and the airport,” she said. “All the boulders and mature landscaping lend themselves to a semirural environment, yet it is conveniently close to all, including the beaches.”

O’Connor said the area is very diverse with mansions next to modest cottages — most with fabulous views.

Mount Helix Park is at the pinnacle of La Mesa and a favorite hike as well as the place to go for yoga, Pilates and meditation while gazing out over a 360-degree view of San Diego. Located at 4903 Mount Helix Drive the park is considered by many as the “crown jewel of East County.”

The park is open to the public and many come for family picnics, weddings or relaxation. The park has a storied history as well. It is currently under the control of the Mount Helix Park Foundation and as such, depends on donations and volunteers for its upkeep.

O’Connor says the amphitheater below the cross atop Mount Helix is home to many open air musicals and community gatherings. The largest event is Easter Sunday at dawn. On that day — or any other day for that matter — it is something special when the sun rises over the eastern horizon as the lights of humanity below fade and you are 1,300 feet above it all.

O’Connor said more and more buyers are flocking to Mount Helix from other areas of San Diego searching for and finding — room to breathe, excellent schools, little traffic congestion and an incredible return for the real estate dollar.

O’Connor has an active listing at 10224 Fuerte Drive that looks out over the El Cajon Valley, and the Laguna Mountains, which are often snow-capped in the winter. O’Connor says the view is almost surreal, wide open and amazing. The property, built in 1960, is a five bedroom, five bathroom home of 3,310 square feet on three-quarters of an acre listed for just under $1.3 million.

She has another active listing at 4737 Angels Point that has “breathtaking views of Downtown San Diego, Coronado, San Diego-Coronado Bridge, Coronado Islands, and Point Loma — clear to the lights of Mexico. This property is a four bedroom, four bathroom home built in 1976, also on a three-quarter acre lot listed for just under $1.1 million, a price that reflects a recent $80,000 price cut.

O’Connor said the demographics of the community are diverse with “many architecturally important homes, mid-century homes and the famous “rotating home.”

Yes, there is a home at 4903 Mount Helix Drive that is a completely round, rotating home. Built in 2004 by Al and Janet Johnstone, the four bedroom, three and a half bath home rotates two times an hour. Everything in the home rotates – the garage, the pipes, utilities, even the Christmas tree. Neither of the couple were engineers, so they had a lot of help from contractors, but the vision for the property was specific to their idea. The couple physically built about 75 percent of the house themselves and has patented 45 of the mechanics that allow the house to do what it does, according to the website on the home, www.rotatinghome.com.

So the Johnstones in an odd way reflect the original vision of the founders and that is to see beyond what is present and create a vision for the future. This is the spirit of La Mesa.

Send luxury real estate items to Stephanie Glidden at sglidden@sdbj.com.

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