Del Mar Highlands – A Carmel Valley Original Made New!

Since Carmel Valley first came to be in the 1980’s, the community has always had Del Mar Heights Road as its natural “equator” line separating the northern and southern neighborhoods.  The area to the north was dubbed Del Mar Highlands, because while Carmel Valley was just getting on the map many considered it a natural extension of the coastal city of Del Mar.  Though many have seen Carmel Valley as “Del Mar East” over the years, our community has developed its own strong, unique identity and a destination of choice for many in San Diego.

While the neighborhood parks, shopping centers and homes in Del Mar Highlands have been around for more than 30 years, recent changes have given a Carmel Valley original a new lease on life.  In the past couple years a landmark shopping complex in Carmel Valley, the Del Mar Highlands Town Center, has undergone a major $20 million renovation bringing much-needed  new shops, restaurants and entertainment to the community.  For years Carmel Valley played second fiddle to areas like La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe and Del Mar when it came to the quality of restaurants and shopping available to its residents.  No longer!  Instead of having to get on the freeway to enjoy a night of fine dining, movies and shopping, Carmel Valley now boasts the hip “Burlap”, Brian Malarkey’s wildly popular restaurant, the Cinepolis luxury cinema and coming soon, a new authentic Mexican restaurant called Casa Sol y Mar.

The “new” Del Mar Highlands Town Center has certainly been a draw for families both in and outside Carmel Valley looking to move into our community, but there are plenty of other reasons to like Del Mar Highlands.  Just a block east on Del Mar Heights is Torrey Pines High School with its rich tradition of both athletic and academic success.  The school continues to set the standard for San Diego schools and offers some of the finest facilities.  Weekends are abuzz with activity, especially on the playing fields and courts off of Landsdale Road.  There you’ll find Pop Warner football games, tennis lessons, softball leagues and a group of regulars playing some “friendly” pick-up basketball.  Tucked back behind the high school you’ll also find Carmel Valley’s dog lovers congregating at the Torrey Highlands Dog Park to let their pooches get some exercise.

Carmel Valley’s northern residents clearly have no shortage of options for any active lifestyle, and will continue to be a neighborhood that is a true Carmel Valley original.

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 Jim and his wife Jo, have lived in Carmel Valley since 1987 and first got into the real estate business in 1992 after a successful career in the construction industry in South Africa.  Kevin Dalzell joined the Dalzell Group Real Estate team in 2002 after playing professional rugby  in Europe (represented the U.S. in two Rugby World Cups) and is now living with his wife, Nina, in Solana Beach.  Ryan Dalzell coordinates the team’s marketing program, and he joined the group in 2004 after working as a flight instructor.  Ryan lives in Carmel Valley with his wife Julie and their 3 children.  Amber Worsham recently joined the team as the new Marketing Manager & Transaction Coordinator.  With over five years of experience in marketing real estate in Coastal North County, Amber provides us with extensive expertise in the print, internet and direct marketing aspects of the business.