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Pretty impressive Commercial, Retail & Industruial projects in Lancaster  :

    Lancaster:

1.  The promenade @ Amargosa Creek  

            The Promenade at Amargosa Creek is a new 115-acre, mixed-use development currently in the planning stages. The Center will be located in the thriving 10^th Street West corridor surrounded by Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, Target, Costco Wholesalers and the Lancaster Auto Mall.

Also Included in the master plan is a 30-acre expansion of auto dealerships along Avenue K-8 across form the existing dealerships within the Lancaster Auto Mall; 535,000 square feet of retail space, 88,000 square feet of pad space for major anchors, restaurant and other retail uses; 165,000 square feet of hotel space; 471,000 square feet of office space; and 67,000 square feet of theater space for a total of 1.326 million square feet of proposed commercial development.

   2.    Lancaster Town Center

           Strategically located at Avenue K and 10th Street West, the new Lancaster Town Center is ideally situated to serve this thriving community with over 67,000 vehicle drive-bys per day. 

           The new $40 million center is anchored by a 180,000-square-foot Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse, with an additional 150,000 square feet of retail space available for development.

           The Lancaster Town Center was developed by Seabury Lancaster Investments of San Francisco in a public/private partnership with the City of Lancaster's Redevelopment Agency. The Property is represented by CB Richard Ellis

    3.    Lancaster Spectrum

           Lancaster’s new Spectrum Center will combine shopping, lodging and dining opportunities in one convenient location adjacent to the Antelope Valley Freeway. 

           The 100-room La Quinta Inn of Lancaster will anchor the northwest corner of the center with available pads ranging from 2,500 to over 12,000 square feet. Anchor retail space and adjacent shops will total over 87,000 square feet.

Lancaster Spectrum is being developed by Martin Properties of Westlake Village, California. The company has a diverse portfolio of investment properties including office buildings, medical and surgical centers, retail shopping centers and state-of-the-art self-storage facilities throughout the Antelope Valley as well as Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ.

   4.     Lane Ranch Twon Center   35 Acre retail center at Ave L & 60th St. West

   5.     Downtown Lancaster   Downtown Lancaster Specific Plan

    6.     Front Row Center

           Lancaster’s Front Row Center is a leisure time oriented shopping and entertainment complex that includes Clear Channel Stadium, Cinemark Theatres, two new Hilton brand hotels, Fresco II Mediterranean bistro and Johnny Reb’s BBQ restaurant.

Newly expanded at 27^th Street West and Lancaster Boulevard, Front Row Center offers prime anchor opportunities for those who act soon

    7.     Valley Central Way

         Valley Central Way is taking on a whole new look. The City and the center’s developers, Developers Diversified Realty, are investing $35 million in revitalizing the site that has served Lancaster residents since 1990.

          Anchored by a brand new Wal-Mart Supercenter the reinvented Valley Central Way offers over 125,600 square feet of all new retail space and three new restaurant pads.

          Valley Central Way is owned and managed by Developers Diversified Realty, a fully-integrated real estate investment trust (REIT) that develops, leases and manages shopping centers nationwide.

     8.   Lancaster Business Park

        The Antelope Valley's premier business address offers discriminating firms a prestigious location for their corporate presence. Offering sites from one-half to 15 acres, these fully improved light industrial parcels and quality office building sites provide a park-like master-planned environment.

         Home to 100 companies employing over 4,100 people, the Business Park has attracted many nationally known firms including Countrywide Home Loans, Deluxe, Inc., Federal Express, and Lance Camper. The Business Park offers relocating firms:

• Campus-like atmosphere
• Mature, professionally designed and maintained landscaping
• Fortune 500 neighbors
• All utilities, roads and improvements in place
• Convenient, low interest bond financing
• Fast-track specific plan for quick approvals
• Master EIR approved

Assessor                                      661-940-6700       

Building & Safety                          661-723-4440       

Regional Planning                        661-723-4475       

Zoning                                          661-723-4475         

Mapping Department                    213-974-7352        

 

Lancaster:

City Hall                                        661-723-6000       

Building & Safety                          661-723-6144       

Planning & Zoning                        661-723-6100       

 

Palmdale:

 

         City Hall                                       661-267-5100       

         Building & Safety                          661-267-5353       

         Planning & Zoning                        661-267-5200       

 

 

Kern County:

 

Planning                                        661-862-8600       

Assessor                                        661-868-3485       

Zoning                                           661-862-8618       

Lancaster named fastest-growing city in California

LANCASTER, May 1, 2007 - The City of Lancaster released statistical data today from the State of California's Department of Finance estimating Lancaster's January 1, 2007 population as 143,818, a growth rate of 3.93%. This is the highest percent change in traditional growth of any city in Los Angeles County. Santa Clarita shows a growth rate of 5.68%; however it is attributable to an annexation. Irwindale shows a growth rate of 6.16%, but only has a population of 1,655.

"We have worked hard to attract new residents and new businesses to our community. We welcome the new residents represented by this population report," said Lancaster Mayor Henry Hearns. "It is our goal to be the most desirable place to live, work, visit and play. We strive to deliver the most effective public services for the common good and look forward to the continued evolvement of our wonderful City."

City of Lancaster Population Growth Rate

Year	Population	Early Growth Rate
1990	97,291
1991	102,026	4.87%
1992	104,655	2.58%
1993	107,675	2.88%
1994	115,524	7.28%
1995	118,457	2.53%
1996	121,023	2.12%
1997	123,197	1.80%
1998	127,136	3.20%
1999	130,079	2.30%
2000	132,402	1.79%
2001	122,145
2002	123,147	0.82%
2003	126,052	2.36%
2004	129,190	2.49%
2005	133,703	3.50%
2006	138,392	4.50%
2007	143,818	3.93%

Source: State Department of Finance May population estimates
* 1990 population estimate from Census Bureau
* All figures are for January 1st of the year indicated.

citing from antelopevalleyguide.com

Population growth has accelerated, and demand remains strong for both new and existing homes. Home sales in 2005 and 2006 remained at record levels, despite rising interest rates, but 2007 ushered in a long-anticipated real estate correction. Antelope Valley home sales are beginning to mirror other areas of Southern California, with prices falling as price appreciation slows. Real estate market forecasts are offered up by many, but the fact is that nobody can predict with any accuracy what its condition will be in either the short or long term. We’ll have to wait and see.

The region has experienced some important milestones in recent years. In Lancaster, a new $3.5 million University Center opened at the old fairgrounds, offering students advanced degree programs from California State University Bakersfield and California State University Fresno. Countrywide Home Loans occupied the second phase of its 13-acre loan-processing center, a new Lowe’s Home Improvement Center was built, and Regent Aerospace developed an 80,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. The Antelope Valley Fair & Alfalfa Festival now has new facilities at a new location.

As Lancaster’s population increases, new employers are moving in, taking advantage of a growing workforce, low land prices and an attractive location. Much of the city’s recent development has occurred in the Lancaster Business Park, home to more than 100 employers and more than 4,100 employees. Rapid expansion also is under way in the Fox Field Industrial Corridor and the North Valley Industrial Center. The new Lancaster Spectrum Center has been approved, including a La Quinta Inn and some 125,000 square feet of retail space. Another 250,000 square feet of spec buildings were under development in 2006. And, Antelope Valley Hospital is adding a 75,000-square-foot expansion.

Development of more than 500,000 square feet of entertainment, dining and retail space was under way at Lancaster’s Front Row Center project in 2007. The Children’s Center of the Antelope Valley’s new $2.5 million home in downtown Lancaster opened, and Fox Field Industrial Corridor added more businesses.

A major component of Lancaster’s redevelopment is the North Downtown Transit Village project, a so-called urban village that is helping to transform an aging area into a vibrant center of activity. The focus is more than 100 acres bounded by Avenue I, Lancaster Boulevard, the railroad tracks just east of Sierra Highway and 10th Street West. Within walking distance of a transportation hub, the project includes both single- and multi-family affordable housing, commercial development, expanded and improved parklands, and several community service organizations.

Palmdale also has experienced significant progress. Delta Scientific Corp. opened its second location in the Fairway Business Park, a multi-million-dollar sheriff’s station opened, and a $10-million transportation center was built. The city’s DryTown Water Park & Mining Co. opened, and an outdoor amphitheater and pool were built at Marie Kerr Park. Throughout the city, industrial, commercial and office space totaling more than 2 million square feet completed construction or was approved.

Palmdale’s Foreign Trade Zone expanded to include more than 90 acres at Mojave Airport, and the first phase of downtown revitalization was completed. The South Valley WorkSource Center opened. FedEx opened a 55,000-square-foot distribution center in the Fairway Business Park, and a new Wal-Mart Super Center opened. A multi-million-dollar renovation project occurred at the Antelope Valley Mall, and the massive 7,200-home Ritter Ranch development in the southwest valley got under way.

Construction was under way on a number of projects in the Palmdale Trade & Commerce Center, among them a 69,000-square-foot office condominium project, an 18,098-square-foot professional office building, and seven professional medical office buildings totaling 52,072 square feet. Construction was visibly under way on Palmdale’s long-awaited regional hospital, and nearly 500,000 square feet of industrial and commercial buildings were in various stages of construction in the Fairway Business Park. And, the former Palmdale Courthouse officially became the Palmdale Institute of Technology, home to the AERO Institute.

Industrial Market

Businesses are growing or relocating to the Antelope Valley at a rate greater than new space is being made available, according to the Greater Antelope Valley Economic Alliance. The overall vacancy rate has stood between 1 and 2 percent for the past several years.

The total permit value for new commercial and industrial construction in Lancaster and Palmdale has remained relatively constant since 2000. Lancaster had $225 million of investment, while Palmdale had $235 million. In 2006, Lancaster permitted an estimated $45 million worth of new commercial and industrial buildings, while Palmdale permitted an estimated $30 million.

Industrial building lots of all shapes, sizes and locations have sold quickly. And the demand for inexpensive industrial land is growing faster than local communities can make improvements wanted by industrial shoppers. With Los Angeles needing 11 million square feet of industrial space annually, the region has more than enough land to meet this shortfall.

Industrial & Business Centers

Lancaster

• Fox Field Industrial Corridor
  Location: Avenue H west of Highway 14
  Total: 5,000
  
• North Lancaster Industrial Center
  Location: Avenue H and Division Street
  Total Acreage: 240
  
• Lancaster Business Park
  Location: Business Park and Avenue K-8
  Total Acreage: 240
  
• Enterprise Business Park
  Location: Sierra Highway and Avenue L-4
  Total Acreage: 74.02
  
• North Valley Industrial Center
  Location: Avenue H-8 and Avenue I
  Total Acreage: 84.72
  

Palmdale

• Airport Village Business Centre
  Location: Sierra and Rancho Vista Boulevard.
  Total Acreage: 70
• Antelope Valley Business Park
  Location: 10th Street West and Avenue M
  Total Acreage: 121
• Challenger Business Park
  Location: Palmdale Boulevard and Fifth Street West
  Total Acreage: 10
• Fairway Business Park
  Location: Avenue 0 and Division Street
  Total Acreage: 120
• Freeway Business Park
  Location: Highway 14 and Avenue N
  Total Acreage: 30
• Palmdale Industrial Park
  Location: Avenue P and Sierra Highway
  Total Acreage: 35
• Palmdale Trade & Commerce Center
  Location: 10th Street West and Rancho Vista Boulevard
  Total Acreage: 746
• Park One Industrial Park
  Location: Rancho Vista Boulevard. and 10th Street East
  Total Acreage: 10
• Sierra Business Park
  Location: 10th Street West and Avenue M-4
  Total Acreage: 22
• Sierra Gateway Park
  Location: Avenue 0-8 and Sierra Highway
  Total Acreage: 133

California City

• Airport Business Park
  Location: California City Municipal Airport
  Total Acreage: 40
  

Mojave

• Mojave Airport
  Location: Highway 58 and Flight Line
  Total Acreage: 3,300
  

Ridgecrest

• Ridgecrest Business Park
  Location: China Lake Boulevard and Ward Avenue
  Total Acreage: 63
• Ridgecrest Industrial Park
  Location: West Ridgecrest
  Total Acreage: 81

Inyokern

• Inyokern Airport Industrial Dist.
  Location: Inyokern Boulevard
  Total Acreage: 40
  

Tehachapi

• Goodrick Business Park
  Location: Dennison Road Parkway and Goodrick Road
  Total Acreage: 110
  
• Capital Hills Business Park
  Location: Capital Hills Parkway and Mills Road
  Total Acreage: 122
  

Airports

Gen. William J. Fox Airfield – Improvements to Gen. William J. Fox Airfield located on West Avenue G between 30th and 60th streets west have given the airfield a 7,200-foot runway, which is 200 feet longer than the main runway at Bob Hope (Burbank) Airport.

Mojave Airport – Mojave Airport in the East Kern community of Mojave provides a unique gem for the region’s economy. Named the country’s first official “spaceport” by the federal government, the airport was the location from which Scaled Composities’ “SpaceShipOne” made history in 2004 by being the first civilian craft to make a flight into space. The general-aviation airport is home to 130 tenants as varied as the National Test Pilot School (NTPS), BAE Systems, Scaled Composites, General Electric, Fiberset, Teledyne Ryan, AVTEL Services, the Santa Monica Air Museum of Flying, Flight Research, and many more. Scaled Composites also produced the famous Voyager, which flew around the world without refueling in 1986.

Palmdale Regional Airport – Palmdale Regional Airport is owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) under a joint-use agreement with the U.S. Air Force. The airport is located on a 61-acre site on the property of Air Force Plant 42. The terminal at 41000 North St. East first opened in 1971. Since then, LAWA has acquired an additional 17,750 acres of adjacent property for the airport’s eventual development into a large commercial airport. United Airlines is the only carrier operating here, providing daily flights to and from San Francisco. Two 12,000-foot runways can accommodate any commercial passenger or cargo aircraft. The airport is poised to accommodate increased future air travel if and when Los Angeles International Airport reaches capacity

Air Force Plant 42 – Aircraft manufacturers including Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., The Boeing Co.; Northrop Grumman; BAE Systems; SR Technics, a new aircraft maintenance company; and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration Traffic Control Center are located here. Located on 5,800 acres across 9 square miles, Plant 42 can handle nearly 50 commercial flights a day.

California City Airport – This airport was established by Great Western Cities in 1964 as a recreational attraction for people moving to the High Desert. It reverted to California City the following year and has since become the home of about 20 small businesses serving aviation, recreation and commercial needs.

Retail Development

Diversification in the economy is helping attract more big retailers to the valley. In response to the expansion, commercial developers are planning more and more projects, located from one end of the valley to the other.

In California City, for example, Ellison Plaza developer Michael Ellison is hard at work on his 16-acre development at California City Boulevard and California City Boulevard South. A 103-room Microtel Inns & Suites has opened here, and plans call for the center to include retail stores, entertainment venues and restaurants. For information, call 858/541-2230.

Valley Central Way – Construction of the new Wal-Mart Supercenter began in August 2006 at this shopping center in Lancaster. The developer is overseeing the remodeling of the old Wal-Mart building, as well as construction of 15,000 square feet of new space.

Front Row Center – Located immediately south of Clear Channel Stadium and west of Highway 14, this project consists of 250,000 square feet of retail space and at least two hotels: an-85 room Hampton Inn and a 92-room Homewood Suites.

Lancaster Spectrum – Lancaster Spectrum, located at 20th Street West and Avenue J-8, north of the Clocktower Plaza, will add 125,000 square feet of retail space and a 52,000-square-foot, 102-room hotel.

Lane Ranch – Located on 71 acres along 60th Street West, between avenues L and L-8, this project calls for 744,000 square feet of space, about half of which will be major anchor stores. A 174,000-square-foot Target store is planned.

20th and J – Wood Investments is developing a 176,000-square-foot retail center at the corner of 20th Street East and Avenue J. Plans call for a 106,000-square-foot Home Depot.

The Promenade at Amargosa Creek – This 545,000-square-foot project is being developed on 62 acres at Avenue L and 10th Street West, southeast of the Lancaster Auto Mall.

Lancaster Power Center – Located southwest of Lancaster Boulevard adjacent to the Market Place, this 76-acre retail center has Wal-Mart as its anchor, as well as other major discount retailers Michaels, Marshall’s, Food 4 Less, Payless Shoes, Mode Five, Staples office supplies and PetSmart. Restaurants include Black Angus, Chuck E. Cheese, Subway, Carl’s Jr. and H. Salt Fish & Chips. The Movies 12 theaters and other small stores complete this retail area.

Downtown development on Lancaster Boulevard continues. The 740-seat Lancaster Performing Arts Center, a regional Sheriff’s Station, a county library (the largest in the county library system), a Metrolink station, and the Aerospace Walk of Honor have combined to rejuvenate and energize the downtown commercial district.

Lancaster Market Place – Located off Highway 14 at the Avenue I exit, the 24-acre Lancaster Market Place has undergone extensive refurbishment and added new stores.

Lancaster JetHawks/Clear Channel Stadium – In less than six months, vacant land was transformed into the Lancaster Municipal Stadium, also known as the “Hangar” and most recently renamed the Clear Channel Stadium. It is the home of the JetHawks, a Boston Red Sox affiliate. Cinemark 22, a state-of-the-art 22-screen movie theater complex, opened in 1999 across from the stadium.

Antelope Valley Mall – The mall, which recently underwent an expansion, opened in Palmdale in 1990 with four anchors: Sears, JCPenney, Harris and Gottschalks. In 1999 the mall expanded from 980,000 square feet to 1.2 million square feet when Dillard’s department store opened the first two-story store in the valley. The Dillard’s store is the second California store for the upscale department chain. Since then, Gottschalks and Harris have merged, and Miller’s Outpost, Texas Cattle Co., Grand Salon & Spa, Select Comfort, Daniel’s Jewelers, and Old Navy have joined the other 125 stores in the mall. Restaurants include Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Chili’s and Outback Steakhouse. Located inside the mall are several specialty restaurants, along with the Oasis Food Court. The mall continues to grow as evidenced by the 50,000-square-foot addition of a 24-Hour Fitness, The Men’s Wearhouse, Shaw Carpets, L.A. Cellular and Kinko’s. A new stadium-style Cinemark movie complex recently opened here as well. Located at 1233 Rancho Vista Blvd. (Avenue P), the mall conducts events throughout the year. For more information, call the Customer Service Center, 661/266-9150.

The Marketplace at Palmdale – Major construction at The Marketplace at Palmdale on 10th Street West just south of Rancho Vista Boulevard (Avenue P) has been under way for some time. Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse, Barnes & Noble book store, Staples, Sport Chalet and Linens ‘n Things have opened stores, joining Target, Best Buy and several smaller retailers. Starbucks is planning an 1,800-square-foot restaurant complete with a drive-through at Trade Center Drive and Rancho Vista Boulevard.

Palmdale Promenade – Wal-Mart and Home Depot act as anchors for the Palmdale Promenade shopping center, which includes a number of retailers and HomeTown Buffet restaurant. Two new Marriott hotels have joined the Palmdale Promenade, near the Rancho Vista Boulevard exit at the Antelope Valley Freeway. The 90-unit 64,818-square-foot Residence Inn by Marriott offers suites for longer stays, and the 49,493-square-foot, 90-unit Courtyard by Marriott is designed for overnight travelers.

The Place at 47th Street – This new shopping center saw the opening of Wal-Mart and Big 5 sporting goods.

Auto Centers & Malls

There are two major auto centers in the Antelope Valley that serve as one-stop-shopping centers for a selection of popular automobiles, vans and trucks: Lancaster Auto Mall and Palmdale Auto Center. Several pre-owned auto outlets are located close to the auto malls, making it easy for shoppers to find the vehicle that meets their needs.

Lancaster Auto Mall — Situated just east of the AV Freeway on 10th Street West, between avenues L and K, the Lancaster Auto Mall continues to expand with a variety of dealerships. New car dealerships at the mall include Antelope Valley Ford; H.W. Hunter Dodge, Chrysler, Plymouth, Daewoo; Lancaster Honda Pioneer; Lancaster Jeep Mazda, Isuzu, Suzuki, Subaru; Sierra Toyota; Lancaster Mitsubishi; and Shuttle Lincoln Mercury.

Antelope Valley Auto Center — The Palmdale Auto Center sold its first car in May 1991. Dealerships include Antelope Valley Nissan; Volkswagen; Kia; Holiday Buick-Oldsmobile; Daihatsu; Rally Chevrolet; Geo; Rally Pontiac; Cadillac; GMC Truck; Hyundai; Robertson’s Palmdale Honda and Saturn of the Antelope Valley. The Palmdale Auto Center is located off the Antelope Valley Freeway. Exit at Palmdale Boulevard, travel west to Fifth Street West, then turn right into the Palmdale Auto Center. A recent addition is a Kawasaki dealership.

Filming/Tourism

Although filmmakers have been hitting high desert locations since celluloid productions began flickering in Hollywood, it was not until the 1990s that the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster established specialized film offices to lure the movie industry here. The Antelope Valley Film Office has helped attract hundreds of shoots, generating several million dollars in economic impact for the area. Projects include films, such as “Terminal” and the third installment of “Pirates of the Caribbean,” as well as numerous commercials and still-photography shoots.

• Antelope Valley Film Office 661/723-6090
• Palmdale Film, Convention & Visitors Bureau 661/267-5120

The high desert provides a versatile back lot for Hollywood because various locations around the area can stand in for other regions nationally and worldwide: New Mexico, Illinois, Virginia, Vermont and Australia. Early movies made here include Cecil B. DeMille’s “The Ten Commandments” in 1923 and Howard Hughes’ “Hell’s Angels” in 1930.

Housing Market

Dozens of new-home communities continue to sprout in the Antelope Valley. They include:

• Joshua Ranch Estates
  Number of homes: 535
  Location: 30th Street West and Avenue P-12, West Palmdale.
• Pacific Highlands
  Number of homes: 492
  Location: Highland Avenue and Avenue P-8, West Palmdale.
• Tilbury
  Number of homes: 429
  Location: Rancho Vista area of Palmdale
• Madeleine Court
  Number of homes: 350
  Location: Palmdale Blvd. and 70th Street East.
• Rancho Del Sur
  Number of homes: 1,925
  Location: Approximately 4 miles southeast of Fox Field.
• Falcon Pointe
  Number of homes: 432
  Location: 20th Street East and Avenue H-8
• Reflections
  Number of homes: 272
  Location: Orange Street and 30th Street West, Rosamond.
• Desert Star
  Number of homes: 243
  Location: Orange Street and 35th Street West, Rosamond.

Master-Planned Communities

Anaverde – Home sales have begun in Anaverde, the newest master-planned community in the Antelope Valley. Covering nearly 2,000 acres, Anaverde rises from the valley floor as one of North Los Angeles County’s most important master-planned developments. Punctuated by community parks, bike paths and open spaces, Anaverde’s master plan provides for a series of neighborhoods, each with its own distinctive character and personality. Long-term plans include more than 150 acres of parks, three new schools, a world-class sports facility, a “Town Center” with dining and shopping, a fire station, a public art program and an elementary school.

Rancho Vista – When completed, Rancho Vista, a master-planned community located along Rancho Vista Boulevard on the west side of Palmdale, will be home to about 8,000 families on 1,307 acres. The new Rancho Vista Golf Course and Cascades restaurant are the focal point of the community.

Ritter Ranch – The much-delayed but long-anticipated Ritter Ranch development will be composed of 7,200 homes when fully built. Located on 10,625 acres west of Palmdale, the project’s first phase of 553 single-family homes went on sale in 2007. Current plans include 7,628 acres of natural open space, an 18-hole golf course, 63 acres of commercial development, an equestrian center and six schools.

Citing from AntelopeValleyguide.com

The Antelope Valley Triangle The Antelope Valley is about the size of Connecticut. There are three points to the Antelope Valley: To the north are the old mining towns of Randsburg and Johannesburg, to the west are the quaint hamlets of Gorman and Frazier Park, and to the southeast is Wrightwood, featuring close-by skiing slopes. Beautiful, pristine desert scenery separates the large and small communities of the Antelope Valley. Mixed in with occasional sand dunes, sage and unlimited groves of Joshua trees, there are green areas with trees and lakes tucked between tall, scenic mountains. In the winter, snow caps the High Sierras to the north and San Gabriel Mountains to the south. In the spring, the foothills turn bright orange with California Golden Poppies. Highways and Roads Highways 14, 58 and 138 lead into and out of the Antelope Valley. Highway 14 is the main route to Los Angeles, while Highways 58 and 138 connect to Bakersfield and San Bernardino, respectively. Also, Highway 138 will take you to Wrightwood and its ski resorts. Highway 58 connects with 395, which is the way north to Mammoth Mountain and more ski resorts. One can drive to most points in the Los Angeles area within an hour, or slightly more. Other favorite locations such as San Francisco, the Pacific Ocean coastline, Mammoth Mountain, Lake Tahoe, Reno, Laughlin and Las Vegas can be reached in several hours. Newcomers to the valley will find it easy to find their way around. Lettered streets are alphabetical and run east and west. Numbered streets are consecutive and run north and south. Climate/Weather Clear blue skies and seasonal weather – that is the Antelope Valley weather story. If you like sunshine, there is plenty to go around. Snow falls lightly in the wintertime. Rain comes between December and March. Ranging in elevation from 2,500 to 3,975 feet above sea level, the Antelope Valley features a semi-arid climate with four seasons and low humidity. But sunshine is typically the order of the day; one can expect rain just 14 days a year. The average daily high temperature from July 1 to Aug. 31 is 94 degrees F (about 10 degrees cooler than Palm Springs). The overnight low summertime average is 63. The winter daily average high is 62, with a daily average wintertime low of 36. Light winter snow can occur anywhere in the Antelope Valley, but snowfall is not common. Each year in the Antelope Valley, there are approximately 225 clear days, with 140 cloudy to partly cloudy days. If you are a pilot, you can anticipate an average of 360 flying days yearly. The average monthly temperature is 61 degrees, which is quite pleasant. In the winter, temperatures reach 50 and 60 degrees during the day, and drop into the teens and 20s overnight. In the summer, the weather is hot and dry, with temperatures hovering around 100. Generally, summer nights cool off, with temperatures dropping into the 60s and 70s. Population Profile The population of the Antelope Valley has evolved from a number of sources. A small percentage of residents are thought to have descended from immigrant farmers and miners who settled here in the late 1800s. Later, the World War II years (1940s) attracted a large number of people to work in defense jobs at Muroc Air Field (now Edwards Air Force Base) and the Marine Auxiliary Training Base (now Mojave Airport). Many of those defense workers stayed in the Valley and had children. Those offspring went to work at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale in the late ‘50s, and some of that labor force is still here. Eventually, over the years more people moved in to work on the Lockheed L-1011 commercial airliner project, the B1 and B2 bombers, space shuttles and the stealth fighter. While aviation/aerospace jobs have accounted for many of the Antelope Valley’s newcomers in recent years, other people migrated to the Valley for different reasons. One of the surges in population growth came after the 1994 earthquake in Los Angeles. Thousands of people were displaced by Mother Nature’s fury. They needed affordable, easy-to-buy homes, and the Antelope Valley fulfilled their needs. Other groups of people moved to the Antelope Valley from Los Angeles, too. They were looking for a safer and more secure environment to raise their children. Service-type businesses followed those increases in population, which created a self-perpetuating growth momentum. That momentum continues to this day. Transportation For those without cars, the best way to travel is by bus. The Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA) has a comprehensive schedule of buses running throughout the Valley, from south Palmdale to north Lancaster, and into Littlerock. Also, there are AVTA commuter bus routes to Los Angeles, West Los Angeles and San Fernando. The AVTA is “large enough to serve and small enough to care” about its ridership, and its riders receive a welcome relief from the escalating cost of gasoline. With a comprehensive route schedule, it has become easier for riders and commuters to get to the many destinations around town and to the Los Angeles basin. Since its first year of operation in 1992, ridership has grown from 910,000 to nearly 3 million today. The fleet of buses has grown considerably, as well. AVTA has about 40 local transit coaches, each seating 38 to 40 passengers. The local, fixed-route buses utilize a low-floor design that makes it easier to get on and off the vehicles. Each bus also has two wheelchair positions. They are lift-equipped, and the front steps can be lowered for passengers who have difficulty boarding. Operating hours are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Transfer centers are located at Lancaster City Park and the Palmdale Transportation Center. Service is not available on New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Those with AVTA monthly passes don’t need to buy local transfers. Monthly passes offer unlimited travel and savings. AVTA’s customer service staff offers complimentary trip planning to help you make those important connections. Assistance is available by calling (661) 945-9445, Ext. 200. AVTA offers additional services, as well. It operates commuter routes on 25 coaches, three of which are double-deckers, and seat 53 to 68 passengers each. All commuter coaches feature comfortable high-back seats, restrooms, interior lights and tables. Senior citizens have several options available through AVTA, including the Seniors Ride Free program, Dial-A-Ride and Medical Shuttle services. The service has 19 Dial-a-Ride vehicles, all Ford or Chevrolet vans that can seat up to 18 passengers and four wheelchairs. The Medical Shuttle, available to the general public as well as seniors, provides passengers with a convenient way to get to major medical centers in the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles. AVTA also offers ACCESS service to persons with disabilities as determined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Hailed as a transportation hub of the Antelope Valley, the Palmdale Transportation Center opened in April 2005. The $14.85 million center, located near Sierra Highway and 6th Street East just south of Technology Drive, features Metrolink commuter rail service, bus service, and van-pool and park-and-ride services. The Clock Tower Plaza at the Palmdale Transportation Center showcases an indoor passenger waiting area with concessions, public telephones, comfortable seating, restrooms and security service. Metrolink passengers may also utilize partially enclosed outdoor waiting accommodations on the rail platform. Bus patrons will find eight centrally located bus stops providing convenient connections between regional service providers and local bus routes. Taxi service also is available. There are several cab companies in the Antelope Valley catering to cab users. The average fare is generally $5 to most points, at about $1.60 per mile. A drop fee of $1.90 is charged to all persons when they first enter a cab. Please check with individual taxi companies to determine their exact rates. Commuting As more and more Antelope Valley residents become part of the growing number of workers who commute to the Los Angeles basin, AVTA’s express service to downtown Los Angeles, the West San Fernando Valley, Century City and West Los Angeles provides a great opportunity for riders to sit back, relax and enjoy a stress-free ride. All AVTA commuter buses are equipped with comfortable high-back reclining seats, onboard restrooms and individually controlled lighting for those who want to take advantage of the time for reading or to catch a few extra minutes of sleep. The double-deck commuter coaches also feature meeting tables and great visibility. Monthly passes are available online (www.avta.com). You can receive great savings from AVTA’s discounted online pricing. For specific routes and schedule information, call 661/945-9445, Ext. 200, or visit the website listed above. If you become one of the approximately 57,000 workers commuting from the Valley, you may drive your own car, join a carpool or ride a bus or train. Many ride the Metrolink trains that depart the Lancaster and Vincent Grade/Acton stations as early as 4:33 a.m. and return as late as 8:28 p.m. Others take the AV Transportation Agency buses to various destinations. If you are one of those who like to ride the train, you will be pleased to know that Metrolink service is available to Union Station in Los Angeles. Antelope Valley Metrolink stations are located at: Lancaster City Park - 44812 Sierra Hwy., Lancaster Palmdale Transportation Center - 39000 Clock Tower Plaza Drive, Palmdale Vincent Grade/Acton - 730 W. Sierra Hwy. For additional information about commuting by train, call 800/371-LINK (5465). For those who drive their own cars or carpool “down below,” park-and-ride lots are located at Avenue K and the AV Freeway, Lancaster City Park and the Metrolink Station on Sierra Highway in Lancaster, at Avenue S and the AV Freeway, and Pearblossom Highway and the AV Freeway in Palmdale. Many in government predict that within 10 years a high-speed bullet train will travel through the Antelope Valley, transporting commuters to and from Los Angeles and other places in the Southland. A project to construct just such a train has been in the planning stage for several years. Air Service Air service has returned to Palmdale Regional Airport. United Airlines began service here in 2007, offering daily flights to and from San Francisco. Adjacent to Air Force Plant 42, the 60-acre airport could eventually see more services in the future, depending on conditions at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The land for the Palmdale airport is owned by the City of Los Angeles, which decades ago predicted this would make an ideal location for a major airport in the event LAX could no longer meet demand. Indeed, LAX is landlocked on 3,500 acres, making it one of the smallest major airports in the country. Palmdale Airport is certainly equipped to handle daily flights; it features a modern, 9,000-square-foot terminal capable of handling up to 300,000 passengers annually. Antelope Valley Airport Express offers van service to LAX. The fare is approximately $30 one-way and $55 roundtrip. The AV Airport Express (AVAE) van makes seven trips a day to LAX and departs from the Antelope Valley Inn on Sierra Highway in Lancaster. The AVAE van also stops at the Holiday Inn in Palmdale, off Palmdale Boulevard, and at the Union 76 Station on Crown Valley Road in Acton. As is the case throughout most of Southern California, the car is king. Having your own motor vehicle will give you the highest level of mobility.

Citing from AntelopeValleyGuide.com

The Spanish Explorers

In 1772 Capt. Pedro Fages, a Spanish soldier in pursuit of deserting sailors, crossed the southern part of the Antelope Valley into Leona Valley. No records show whether he found any of the deserters, but his diary records that the soldiers saw Indians lurking in trees that they thought were date palms. The trees actually were Joshua trees, which grow in only two areas of the world: Israel and the California desert.

The opening of California to overland travel through the desert was due to Cap. Juan Bautista de Anza and Father Francisco Garces, a most remarkable Spanish padre. They led a colonizing expedition that included 136 settlers across the Mojave Desert from Mexico to Monterey in 1773. Later in 1776, while exploring the valley, Garces with several Indian guides from the San Gabriel Mission recorded viewing the vast expanse of what was the El Tejon Rancheria (the Badger Ranch) of the Cuabajoy Indians.

Explorers and Settlers

After the Shoshone Indians left the valley, immigrants from Spain and Mexico established large cattle ranches there. In the late 1880s the ranches were broken up into smaller homesteads by farmers from Nebraska and European countries such as Germany and France.

In the 1800s, before the railroads came, Tehachapi’s first settlers were farmers who owned large tracts of land. The soil, composed of decomposed granite and vegetable silt, made farming more productive. The first settlers chose the Elizabeth Lake region and the foothills of the Tehachapi Mountains for their homes.

Famed mountain man Jededia Strong Smith was the first American to explore the Antelope Valley. His expedition to find a non-existent river from Salt Lake to the ocean crossed the valley in 1827 when he was reportedly awed by the flat desert and its many contradictions. The valley that he described held everything from alkali flats to tule grass marshes to broad fertile fields covered with wildflowers.

Smith and Joseph Walker, credited with developing the north-south transportation route along the east side of the Sierras, passed through the Ridgecrest area between 1825 and 1835. Later, the first Euro-Americans arrived in the Indian Wells Valley in 1849 when Manley and Jay Hawker discovered water there.

Kit Carson and Gen. John C. Fremont came through the valley in 1834, staying long enough to establish what is known as Fort Tejon Road. Wildlife was so plentiful that three geese were killed with one rifle shot at Elizabeth Lake. Grass and desert growth was luxuriant, and pools of water stood on the Valley floor.

Serrano Indians originally inhabited the Wrightwood area. Later, settlers established a cattle ranch. The ranch evolved into an apple-producing business, then into the resort that it is today.

In the winter of 1849-50 a group of pioneers seeking the gold fields took the Old Spanish Trail that went around the south end of the Sierras. The pioneers lost their way and traveled across the harsh Mojave Desert plateau until they found a way through a pass near Palmdale. They were finally rescued by cowboys from Rancho San Fernando.

The Valley Gets its Name

The area became known as the Antelope Valley because of the immense herds of antelope. Approximately 60,000 antelope roamed the valley floor until the herds were decimated by severe winters in the late 1800s and by hunters who slaughtered thousands of the fleet-footed animals.

In 1860, Dr. Darwin French’s party discovered silver in the Coso Mountains, in the northern China Lake complex. Soon, additional silver discoveries were made in the Slate Ranges. Not long after that, the nearby mountains teemed with miners.

By 1873, mining discoveries in the Panamints, northeast of China Lake, prompted the creation of a mining center near Copper City. The roads built by that area’s silver miners facilitated the growth of the borax mining industry.

Ranching soon replaced mining as Ridgecrest’s major industry. That was the main source of income in the community until the beginning of World War II. In 1943 the Naval Ordinance Test Station (NOTS) was established at its first headquarters at InyoKern Airport. After the establishment of NOTS, Ridgecrest became a boomtown.

Railroad Growth

The building of a railroad sparked the most growth in the Antelope Valley. About 1867, Southern Pacific established a route through the valley, with a stop-off in Lancaster. Trade with the outside world could now occur, and settlers started trickling into the area. At first, they set up homesteads close to the rail center, then later moved farther into outlying areas. In 1874 the Western Hotel, the oldest building in the valley, was built. It is now a historical museum in Lancaster. By 1898 Lancaster and the valley were so prosperous that more settlers and land seekers moved into the eastern area with the intention of raising grain and fruit.

Palmdale was not always known its present name. Originally, in 1886, a group of German and Swiss settlers from Nebraska and Illinois named it “Palmenthal.” The old town was situated near what is now 27th Street East and Avenue R-8. Those early pioneers chose that location because it was near the Southern Pacific railroad. In 1899 they moved closer to the tracks and resettled in an area that is now Eighth Street East and Highway 138.

Mining the Earth

Besides the establishment of the railroad, mining played a major role in the history of the valley. Gold was first discovered in 1876 in Acton, but it was the discovery of gold at the Tropico Hill in Rosamond by Ezra Hamilton and Charles Graves, the valley’s first African-American postmaster, that started serious mining. Miners working the Rosamond gold mines used to sail across Muroc Dry Lake, going to and from work on a V-shaped wagon rigged with sails.

In 1898 borax was found in the surrounding mountains. The gold-mining boom lasted until the beginning of World War II. At that time, gold ore deposits ran out and prices fell. However, borax mining continues to this day at the world’s largest borax mine in Boron.

Palmdale’s main industry in the 1880s was farming. Between 1905 and 1913, the Los Angeles-Inyo Aqueduct was built. By 1921, the opening of Sierra Highway meant improved travel to and from Los Angeles, and a greater flow of commerce into the Antelope Valley.

In the late 1920s and early ‘30s, when the Great Depression came, farming and business in general suffered. With the beginning of World War II, jobs and prosperity returned to the Antelope Valley.

Schools Arrive

The settlers valued education. They built Palmdale’s one-room schoolhouse in 1888, and it survives today, having been moved to McAdam Park on 30th Street East.

Antelope Valley High School opened in 1912 in Lancaster, and Antelope Valley College opened in 1929.

Birth of Aerospace Valley

In the 1930s the airplane came to the Antelope Valley. The Air Force started testing operations at Muroc Dry Lake, now known as Edwards Air Force Base, which was territory once explored by Spanish colonists and settled by pioneer homesteaders. The military base began as a stark and remote bombing range in 1933 and went on to become a major bomber-training base in World War II. The Air Force Flight Test Center originated during the darkest days of the war, and has since achieved more major milestones in flight than anywhere else in the world.

It was at Muroc Army Air Base that America’s first jet-powered aircraft flew. It was chosen for the maiden flight of the XP-59A Airacomet because of its remoteness, clear and uncrowded skies, and incalculable measure of safety afforded by the vast expanse of Rogers Dry Lake which could (and would, again and again) serve as an emergency landing field should any in-flight problems occur. In the years since, these natural advantages have been augmented by the installation of sophisticated range tracking and communications equipment, as well as the development of a corps of technical and emergency response personnel who are trained to deal with any kind of contingency. All of these resources, when combined, continue to make Edwards the optimum location for the first flights of high-performance and experimental aircraft.

On Oct. 14, 1947, Capt. Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager, flying the Bell X-1, became the first person to successfully fly an aircraft faster than the speed of sound. This event has been called the greatest achievement since the first successful flight of the original Wright Brothers’ airplane. Edwards has continued as the country’s premier flight-testing facility, hosting everything from the space shuttle to today’s unmanned, remotely operated aerial drones – and just about everything else in between.

During World War II many people arrived to work at Muroc Air Field and the Marine Auxiliary Training Base in Mojave (now called Mojave Airport). Some of those defense workers stayed on in the valley and raised families. Many of their children became the current labor pool for the Antelope Valley’s thriving aviation/aerospace industry. They built the airplanes and spacecraft that made the AV famous, and their children carry on the tradition by building the aircraft and spacecraft of the future.

Soaring into the Future

Continuing in the valley’s rich aerospace tradition, the Antelope Valley-Mojave Spaceport, to be precise, was the site of the first launch by a private company into space in June 2004. Later in the year, the manned SpaceShipOne rocket plane was launched and landed safely here twice in late 2004, winning a $10-million prize for private space flight. The craft fulfilled the requirements for winning the Ansari X Prize by going beyond the 100-kilometer (62.5-mile) mark, the internationally recognized boundary of outer space. The spacecraft was developed by legendary aerospace pioneer Burt Rutan and his company, Scaled Composites. The company continues to develop cutting-edge flying machines and is working on technology that will eventually open low earth orbit to the masses.

Historians, aerospace buffs and anyone curious about the valley’s rich aerospace history can get an up-close look at some of the machines that propelled this legacy at the Palmdale Plant 42 Heritage Airpark, located at 2001 E. Ave. P in Palmdale. In fact, one of the most recent additions to this aerospace museum is the “Triumph,” an all-composite, pressurized eight-seat corporate aircraft designed by Rutan. The plane had its first flight in 1988, and it has flown at altitudes above 41,000 feet at speeds up to Mach 0.69.

Most of the country’s biggest aerospace companies, such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, have had or continue to have a strong presence here. The famed Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, known the world over for its futuristic and top-secret aircraft is based here. The space shuttle fleet arrives here regularly for overhauls and major maintenance. The powerful Saturn V rocket motors that propelled Apollo spacecraft to the moon and back were tested here. The B-1 bomber was built here, and the list could go on and on.

The Antelope Valley really came into its own with completion of the Antelope Valley Freeway (State Route 14) in the mid-1960s. This multi-lane freeway provided fast and convenient access to and from the Los Angeles area and led to the Antelope Valley’s most significant period of growth and development.

Today, the Antelope Valley is a major suburban area and home to a rich and diverse base of industry, most notably some of the nation’s biggest aerospace companies. It continues to be one of the fastest-growing areas of Southern California, and all signs point to continued growth and prosperity in the future.