April 18, 2024

By Pat Sherman of Today’s Local News

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Population: 9,770

Median age: 38.5

Median income: $80,416

Schools: 2

Homes built: 2,473

Home capacity: 3,463

Open space: 1,100 acres

Trails: 18 miles

Residents of what may be San Marcos’ final residential frontier are starting to decompress now that a long-awaited Albertsons grocery store has opened in San Elijo Hills’ town center. Residents of San Elijo Hills previously had to drive more than four miles to Encinitas or to downtown San Marcos to do their shopping. Many view the store, which opened in June, as a good faith sign that the huge subdivision is living up to its title as a master-planned community. Openings of the grocery store, restaurants, shops, dry cleaners and boutiques that the developer promised would be at the core of the town center were stalled for years, angering and frustrating some residents. Tuesday, as Valerie Hogan walked into Albertsons with her 9-year-old daughter, Alexis, she said the sight of construction crews in the town center had done a lot to renew residents’ faith. CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE TODAY’S LOCAL NEWS