40yrs later, Old Orchard 1 still used as a model for communities

 

 

This afternoon, Newhall Land representatives joined with homeowners to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Old Orchard 1 neighborhood by planting four brand new trees; one for each decade, in its clubhouse.

 

Newhall Land built Old Orchard 1 as the first community in Valencia, and since then it has sat nestled between Orchard Village Road and Lyons Avenue.

 

To date, 55,000 people live in Valencia, which stretches for miles in and around the center of Santa Clarita.

 

Standing on the patio of the Old Orchard 1 clubhouse, Newhall Land Spokeswoman Marlee Lauffer spoke fondly about the neighborhood, saying that “Its not just how a community looks, its how it lives.”

 

[view:node_ad=5]To further prove that point, Frank Schranz, the President of the Old Orchard 1 Home Owner’s Association proclaimed; “On one street alone, we have three homes, three couples – either with a baby or with one on the way, where at least one of the parents grew up in Old Orchard.

 

Lauffer also pointed out that Newhall Land still uses Old Orchard 1 as a model for other communities. “We always bring investors and planners who want to create a master planned community to Old Orchard 1,” she said.

 

With an active homeowners association and up kept amenities, Old Orchard 1 is not showing its age.

 

While Lauffer praised the neighborhood, Schranz, in turn praised Newhall Land. “Newhall Land created a real gem in Old Orchard 1,” he said. “And for forty years our members and boards have polished that gem.” 

 

The clubhouse at Old Orchard 1 is full of amenities. There, residents enjoy a massive swimming pool with a large diving board, a basketball court, kiddie pool, clubhouse, ping pong, horseshoes, a volleyball court, picnic tables, and a large green grassy area.

 

The community also shares some treats that most new communities do not have; a winding paseo system that links cul-de-sacs to schools, shopping and parks. 

 

Newhall Land, in looking towards the future, left a space for a fifth three to be planted next to the others to mark the 50th anniversary.