Catalina Heights

Central California is known for its beautiful weather and worry-free lifestyle. However, this ideal is difficult to obtain for many military families whose Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is quickly outpaced by market housing rates, often forcing service members to live in sub-standard housing while stationed.

The newly built, high-quality homes at Catalina Heights replaced 315 outdated, ill-equipped units originally constructed in 1959, bringing the best of California living to well-deserving Navy families.  The Catalina Heights community features 32 single-family homes and 283 townhomes with a mix of three- and four-bedroom floor plans. Built around principles of sustainability and awareness of the importance of connectivity and bonding among military families, Catalina Heights was developed with an extensive network of walking paths leading to unit front doors and encouraging interaction between neighbors to boost morale.

The project plan, designed in accordance with Traditional Neighborhood Design (TND) standards, further promoted the sense of community by creating a walkable development built around central activity areas. The heart of the neighborhood is a park with a 6,500sf LEED® Silver community center and outdoor swimming pools, no more than a short five-minute walk from any home at Catalina Heights. Other neighborhood amenities include a youth center, tot lots, green open spaces, and several picnic pavilions. The ease of access to these gathering places was also achieved through pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, safe and inviting sidewalks, and homes defined by their front porches and doors – not their garages.

The military housing community of Catalina Heights is a perfect example of how a well-designed neighborhood creates camaraderie, a sense of individual ownership, and a sense of community identity. It is sure to be a catalyst for further redevelopment in the growing central California region.