Westpark

There are many housing opportunities in the neighborhood of Westpark.  Families flock to the community for the excellent schools, the numerous parks and the recreational amenities.  It is also popular among college students that commute the short distance to Concordia or the UCI campus.  Working professionals appreciate the short drive to the Irvine and Newport Beach employment centers as well as the close proximity to freeways and John Wayne Airport. 

Westpark's restaurants are located in the strip centers throughout the community and cater mostly to families. 

Irvine Spectrum is the largest entertainment hub for the area, about five minutes away on the 405 Freeway.   A wide array of dining options, sports bars, a comedy club, hundreds of stores and live entertainment are located in one open-air center.

Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza, two large mega malls, are also within close proximity.  Both have trendy restaurants and bars that are popular on the weekend. 

The college crowd will enjoy University Town Center, located between Harvard and Campus across from UCI.  An assortment of shops, affordable restaurants and a lively brewery on weekends and evenings are in this center.   

Irvine, in general, is one of the pricier cities in Orange County.  Rents fluxuate depending on the age and amenities of the complex.  If choosing a community with the most affordable rents, be prepared for a larger tenant-mix of college students.  Pricier units tend to attract more working professionals.

Commuting from Westpark is a breeze.  Major business centers in Irvine and Newport Beach are only minutes away and can be accessed from surface streets. 

The nearby malls, Irvine Spectrum, Fashion Island, and South Coast Plaza, are easily reached from the 405 Freeway. 

Irvine has three college campuses:  Irvine Valley, UC Irvine, and Concordia University.  All are within several minutes of the Westpark community. 

Parking at some apartment complexes can be a problem.  Tight restrictions on guest and resident parking leave households with extra cars scrambling for valuable off-street parking. 

Westpark has a wide availability of housing complexes.  Renters should visit each community to see what prices and amenities best suit their needs.  Also ask about rental specials.  Many complexes offer discounts during slower rental seasons. 

Most complexes allow pets, mainly cats and smaller dogs up to certain size restrictions.  There are plenty of pet-friendly parks nearby to walk and exercize.  On weekends, Irvine Spectrum Center and Fashion Island Mall, both outdoor shopping areas, are popular venues for dog-walkers wanting to show off their pampered pets.

There's much to do around Westpark and the surrounding areas.  The local association amenities exclusive to the Westpark community include pools, tennis, basketball courts, BBQ's, parks and playgrounds.  Also within the neighborhood boundaries is Harvard Sports Park, with soccer and baseball facilities. Westpark Plaza is great for movies and a place to eat.  Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course and racquet club is located off of Harvard, just south of the 405 Freeway.

Within a quick drive are three shopping malls: Irvine Spectrum, Fashion Island, and South Coast Plaza.  All offer top-notch stores and dining opportunities.

Newport Beach and its sandy strip of shoreline is directly south, less than 20 minutes away.  Newport also has a boat harbor with shopping and restaurants scattered around the marina.

UC Town Center, located across from the university is popular among the college crowd for it's trendy shops, movies restaurants and brewery. 

For the arts, UC Irvine's Barclay Theatre features a wide variety of performances.  The Orange County Performing Arts Center and the South Coast Repertory Theatre are located in neighboring Newport Beach.  They feature popular performers and offer first-rate productions in their state-of-the-art theatres.  

Westpark, as a whole, is a desirable place to live.  Noisy locations, those backing up to main streets or intersections, should be avoided.   Traffic from the 405 Freeway will impact properties within a close distance.    

Westpark Plaza, at the corner of Culver and Alton, is a large center featuring several chain restaurants, a movie theatre, grocery store, sporting goods store, banks, cleaners and smaller specialty type stores. 

The Crossroads Shopping Center, located at Culver and Barranca Pkwy., has several restaurant options, retail and clothing stores, Target, florists, hair salons, a gas station among other small businesses. 

Harvard Place, at the corner of Harvard and Main, offers banking, a drug store, nail and hair salons, dry cleaners, a variety of services and several fast food options. 

Irvine public schools are a big draw to the Westpark area.  Several award-winning elementary and middle schools serve the area.  High school students attend either University High School or Woodbridge High.  All schools are part of the highly regarded Irvine Unified School District, and score at the top of the Academic Performance Index.

UC Irvine, Irvine Valley College and Concordia University are three college campuses all within a short driving distance from the Westpark area.