East County Magazine
County hosts webinar October 22 on Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) proposed ordinance
East County News Service October 14, 2025 (San Diego) – The County of San Diego Planning & Development Services (PDS) invites you to attend a virtual meeting to share your thoughts on the draft ordinance for the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Zoning Ordinance Amendment and the proposed Separate Sale of ADUs Program, which is currently available for public review.
Reduced Santee Council approves 285-unit condo project near Town Center Community Park
By Mike Allen October 5, 2025 (Santee) — The vacant lot behind the Cameron YMCA will soon be vacant no longer. The Santee City Council voted 3-0 to approve a 285-unit condominium project on the 22.17-acre site which had long been used by dog walkers, model car and plane users, and overspill parking during big events at the Town Center
Harmony Grove Village South development approved by Board of Supervisors despite controversy
By Paul Levikow Photo, left: Brenda Wright October 2, 2025 (San Diego) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors Wednesday unanimously approved a housing development in the North County community of Harmony Grove, despite objections by several residents who expressed concerns about the lack of a second evacuation route during wildfires. The Harmony Grove Village South development will be
Jones’ mobile home insurance bill passes Legislature: measure would protect owners in case of disaster
East County News Service September 25, 2025 (Sacramento) — Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) announced passage of his SB 525, which if signed by the Governor would help manufactured and mobile home owners afford to acquire full replacement cost insurance policies. “Mobile home owners should not be treated like second rate citizens when it comes to protecting
Losses in Coches Fire show need for firewise upgrades to mobilehomes: County offers grants and loans to mobilehome owners
By Miriam Raftery Photos and video by Josh Stotler View video Updated Sept. 10, 2025 with latest damage assessment based on a report from Lakeside’s Fire Marshal September 9, 2025 (Lakeside) – Swift action by firefighters including aerial attacks held yesterday’s Coches Fire to 5.3 acres, but the damage was substantial. Five homes were destroyed, including three mobilehomes at the
El Cajon receives SANDAG grants to improve streetscapes, revamp Parkway Plaza and add housing
Photo by Karen Pearlman East County News Service Sept. 4, 2025 (El Cajon) – El Cajon has been given a Notice of Intent to be awarded three grants through the San Diego Association of Governments TransNet Smart Growth Incentive Program. The city is expecting to receive one engineering grant and two planning grants as part of SANDAG’s
Building together: local trades connect at Ram’s Hill Golf Cottages
Meet-and-Greet By Jennifer Sencion September 2, 2025 (Borrego Springs) – On July 31, Borrego Community Builders, in partnership with Skyline Construction, hosted a Subcontractor Meet-and-Greet in Borrego Springs to connect local tradespeople with a landmark hospitality project. The gathering brought together electricians, plumbers, painters, construction crews, and other skilled trades from Borrego Springs and neighboring desert communities, providing a
East County Neighborhoods Could Be Impacted By Proposed State Law to Allow Significantly More Multi-Family Housing Projects
By Paul Levikow Image, left, via United Neighbors August 26, 2025 (East County) – Large-scale, high-rise apartment complexes could soon be built within a half mile of a bus stop or trolley station near you, under a proposed state law that would take away local control of developments and turn single-family neighborhoods into high-density housing. State Senate Bill 79, the
How much more valuable is land in East County cities? $14 billion in El Cajon, $10 billion in La Mesa, $9 billion in Santee,$3 billion in Lemon Grove
East County News Service Photo from left to right: Jordan Z. Marks, San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC) and Andrew Potter, Executive Officer, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors. August 21, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Land in East County has never been worth so much. According to Jordan Z. Marks, San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk (ARCC), the
Disparate impacts in fair housing and how to get help
By Vanessa Rojas, Fair Housing Program Manager July 31, 2025 (El Cajon) — Renters generally pay their rent through the most practical option for themselves. It may be easier for some people to pay through cashier’s checks, personal checks, money orders, or online. However, what works for one person can end up being tedious, harder, or impossible to do for
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COUNTY TO AUCTION 324 PROPERTIES MARCH 24
March 3, 2015 (San Diego) – San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister has announced that the County will be auctioning off 324 local properties on March 24th. Registration to bid on these properties is now open. The lowest minimum bid will start at $1,200 and the highest is currently set to start at $1,960,000. Minimum bids are set
TOMATOMANIA: MARCH 14 AT WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN
February 7, 2015 (Rancho San Diego)—Tomatomania, the world’s largest heirloom tomato seedling sale, is coming to the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College (12122 Cuyamaca College Drive) in the Rancho San Diego neighborhood of El Cajon. Tomatomania will take place on March 14th from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This event showcases perhaps the most drought tolerant vegetable of
WATER CONSERVATION GARDEN OFFERS GARDEN CLASSES
February 6, 2015 (Rancho San Diego) — If you’re looking for some creative ideas for landscaping your yard, the Water Conesrvation Garden has classes coming up on Hillside Gardening February 7th and Garden Design February 28th. The Water Conservation Garden is located at Cuyamaca College in the Rancho San Diego area of El Cajon. Below are details. Hillside Gardening Saturday,
2015 HOUSING MARKET FORECAST LOOKS BRIGHT, LOCAL REAL ESTATE EXPERTS SAY
Photo caption: From left to right: Clint Daniels, Carey Guthrie (PSAR president-elect), Bob Olivieri (PSAR 2014 president), Alan Nevin. Realtors hear 2015 housing forecasts at El Cajon meeting December 25, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), a trade group for San Diego-area realtors, recently hosted a program on forecasts for the 2015 local
FORECLOSURES FALL
East County News Service December 23, 2014 (San Diego)–Fewer San Diego County residents are losing their homes to foreclosure. From November of last year to November of this year, the number of foreclosures countywide fell 23 percent, according to CoreLogic DataQuick. The improvement is due in part to property values rising, enabling many homeowners who can’t make their
FROM WESTERN FLAIR TO A DAIRY ON LAKESIDE’S HOLIDAY HOME TOUR
By Janis Russell December 12, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)–Lakeside Historical Society’s holiday home tour this year included five homes distinctively different homes, all decked out for the holidays. The first residence on the tour is owned by Lakeside Historical Society member Coleen Owens, who purchased 2.5 acres of bare land in 1987 with her late husband, Coy, to
DETER DEER DAMAGE: EIGHT FACTS TO KNOW ABOUT DEER DURING THE COLD WEATHER SEASON
East County News Service December 7, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)–While humans prepare for cold weather, deer have something else in mind when temperatures drop. Cold weather signifies mating season for deer, numerous insurance industry and government studies indicate that during this time, deer become more active, aggressive and a greater threat to humans, pets and suburban landscapes. Collisions
HOLIDAY HOME TOUR DEC. 6 IN BORREGO SPRINGS
By Kathleen Jorgensen November 22, 2014 (Borrego Springs) — Soroptimist International of Borrego Springs will hold its Holiday Home Tour on Saturday, December 6 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. You will tour five lovely homes in the Borrego Valley, each uniquely adorned for the holidays. From “ultra-modern” to “old school”, each home will reflect the distinct decorating style of
LAKESIDE HOLIDAY HOME TOUR DEC. 6
December 1, 2014 (Lakeside)–The Lakeside Historical Society will be hosting their annual HOLIDAY HOME TOUR on Saturday, December 6 from 10 a,m to 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased from the History Center, 9906 Maine Avenue (corner of Parkside) from 10am until 2pm Tuesday through Saturday. They can also be purchased at the homes on the
DREAMING OF HOME OWNERSHIP? HABITAT FOR HUMANITY TO BUILD 6 HOMES IN EL CAJON: LEARN HOW TO APPLY AT NOV. 18 MEETING
November 15, 2014 (El Cajon) – The City of El Cajon is providing financial assistance to help San Diego Habitat for Humanity build six new homes in El Cajon. The homes will be built during 2015 and 2016, but preparations are being made to accept applications from qualified lower-income families now If you have always wanted to be a homeowner, but never
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Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting — not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine’s local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
Our Guide to Live Entertainment venues