Irvine Company
Encyclopedia
The Irvine Company is a privately held real estate development
company based in Newport Beach
, Orange County
, Southern California
. The corporate center of the company lies in Newport Center
. A large portion of its operations are centered in and around the City of Irvine
, a planned city of 250,000 people mainly designed by the Irvine Company. It was created by the Irvine family and is currently wholly owned by Donald Bren
.
, Benjamin and Thomas Flint, and Llewellyn Bixby in 1864 from three adjoining Mexican land grants
. Irvine and his partners began by purchasing the Rancho San Joaquin
, which constitutes the coastal half of the present-day ranch, from Jose Antonio Sepulveda
. A drought that killed his livestock forced Sepulveda to sell his ranch in 1864. The partners purchased Rancho Lomas de Santiago
—largely unfarmable due to its steep, hilly terrain—in 1866 from William Wolfskill
, who had used it largely as a sheep ranch. Flint, Bixby and Irvine were among the claimants of a title lawsuit that divided Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana
in 1868.
In 1894, Irvine's son, James Irvine II
, incorporated the land holdings as the Irvine Company.
In 1953, the National Scout Jamboree was held on Irvine Ranch land in the area of what is now Fashion Island
Shopping Center. Jamboree Road
, running from Newport Beach to Orange, was built to allow people to travel to the jamboree from nearby train stations.
In 1959 the Irvine Company donated 1000 acres (4 km²) and sold 500 acres (2 km²) near Newport Beach to the University of California
for construction of a new UC campus (map). The university and company together designed the Irvine Ranch Master Plan for developing the surrounding area. The city of Irvine
, whose citizens officially incorporated it in 1971, grew around the campus.
In 1977, real estate developer Donald Bren began buying Irvine Company shares from the Irvine family. By 1983, he was the majority owner of the Irvine Company. By 1996, he had purchased all outstanding shares to be the sole owner of the company.
, Silicon Valley
, and San Diego. The company also owns and manages office buildings in Milpitas
, San Jose
, Sunnyvale
, Downtown San Diego, Mission Valley, San Diego, La Jolla Village/University City, Sorrento Mesa
, Del Mar Heights, Newport Center
, UCI
locations, and West Los Angeles. Donald Bren
is its Chairman and sole shareholder.
The 94000 acres (380.4 km²) Irvine Ranch remains the core holding of The Irvine Company. Of the total ranch area, 44000 acres (178.1 km²) is retained for development whilst the remainder are preserved as wilderness and recreational preserves. The Ranch encompasses almost one fifth of Orange County, from the Pacific Ocean
and Newport Harbor
, Laguna Beach, and Santa Ana Canyon
, to the boundary of the Cleveland National Forest
.
A partial list of cities within the boundaries of the Irvine Ranch includes:
The Irvine Company also owns several commercial areas, such as The Market Place, Fashion Island
- which Newport Beach's Newport Center
district surrounds - and the Irvine Spectrum Center
.
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
company based in Newport Beach
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
, Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
, Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. The corporate center of the company lies in Newport Center
Newport Center
Newport Center is a business, shopping, and entertainment district located on a high bluff overlooking Newport Harbor in Newport Beach, California. Newport Center is also famously dubbed "Fashion Island" amongst locals. It was created in the early 1960s as part of William Pereira's master plan for...
. A large portion of its operations are centered in and around the City of Irvine
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
, a planned city of 250,000 people mainly designed by the Irvine Company. It was created by the Irvine family and is currently wholly owned by Donald Bren
Donald Bren
Donald Bren is an American businessman who is Chairman of the Irvine Company, a US Based real estate developer, which he wholly owns.-Early Life and Education:...
.
History
The Irvine Company grew from the premise of a 185 square miles (479.1 km²) ranch founded by James Irvine IJames Irvine (landowner)
The Irvine family were agricultural pioneers and prominent landowners in California who gave their name to the city of Irvine, CA.-James Irvine I:James Irvine was born in County Down, Ireland on December 27, 1827, the second to the youngest of nine children...
, Benjamin and Thomas Flint, and Llewellyn Bixby in 1864 from three adjoining Mexican land grants
Ranchos of California
The Spanish, and later the Méxican government encouraged settlement of territory now known as California by the establishment of large land grants called ranchos, from which the English ranch is derived. Devoted to raising cattle and sheep, the owners of the ranchos attempted to pattern themselves...
. Irvine and his partners began by purchasing the Rancho San Joaquin
Rancho San Joaquin
Rancho San Joaquin, the combined Rancho Cienega de las Ranas and Rancho Bolsa de San Joaquin, was a Mexican land grant in present day Orange County, California given to José Antonio Andres Sepúlveda...
, which constitutes the coastal half of the present-day ranch, from Jose Antonio Sepulveda
Francisco Xavier Sepulveda
Francisco Xavier Sepúlveda was a Mexican colonial soldier and patriarch of the prominent Spanish Mexican Sepúlveda family in the early days of Las Californias and Alta California in present day Southern California, United States...
. A drought that killed his livestock forced Sepulveda to sell his ranch in 1864. The partners purchased Rancho Lomas de Santiago
Rancho Lomas de Santiago
Rancho Lomas de Santiago was a Mexican land grant given by Mexican Governor Pío Pico to Teodosio Yorba in 1846. The name means "Hills of St. James"...
—largely unfarmable due to its steep, hilly terrain—in 1866 from William Wolfskill
William Wolfskill
William Wolfskill was a cowboy and agronomist from Los Angeles, California, who was highly influential in the development of California's agricultural industry in the 19th century.-Valencia orange:...
, who had used it largely as a sheep ranch. Flint, Bixby and Irvine were among the claimants of a title lawsuit that divided Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana
Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana
Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana was a Spanish land concession in present day Orange County, California given by Governor José Joaquín de Arrillaga in 1810 to Jose Antonio Yorba and his nephew Pablo Peralta...
in 1868.
In 1894, Irvine's son, James Irvine II
James Irvine (landowner)
The Irvine family were agricultural pioneers and prominent landowners in California who gave their name to the city of Irvine, CA.-James Irvine I:James Irvine was born in County Down, Ireland on December 27, 1827, the second to the youngest of nine children...
, incorporated the land holdings as the Irvine Company.
In 1953, the National Scout Jamboree was held on Irvine Ranch land in the area of what is now Fashion Island
Fashion Island
Fashion Island is an upscale open-air lifestyle center in Newport Beach, California . Fashion Island is owned by The Irvine Company.-History:...
Shopping Center. Jamboree Road
Jamboree Road
Jamboree Road is a major route through Orange County, California.-Route description:The southern terminus of Jamboree Road is at Bayside Drive, immediately before Balboa Island. It changes names, into Marine Ave., to make the very short journey over the water that separates Balboa from Newport...
, running from Newport Beach to Orange, was built to allow people to travel to the jamboree from nearby train stations.
In 1959 the Irvine Company donated 1000 acres (4 km²) and sold 500 acres (2 km²) near Newport Beach to the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
for construction of a new UC campus (map). The university and company together designed the Irvine Ranch Master Plan for developing the surrounding area. The city of Irvine
Irvine, California
Irvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
, whose citizens officially incorporated it in 1971, grew around the campus.
In 1977, real estate developer Donald Bren began buying Irvine Company shares from the Irvine family. By 1983, he was the majority owner of the Irvine Company. By 1996, he had purchased all outstanding shares to be the sole owner of the company.
Operations
The Irvine Company develops suburban master-planned communities throughout central and southern Orange County, in addition to residential buildings in Santa MonicaSanta Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
, Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a term which refers to the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California in the United States. The region is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations...
, and San Diego. The company also owns and manages office buildings in Milpitas
Milpitas, California
Milpitas is a city in Santa Clara County, California. It is a suburb of the major city of San Jose, California. It is located with San Jose to its south and Fremont to its north, at the eastern end of State Route 237 and generally between Interstates 680 and 880 which run roughly north/south...
, San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, Sunnyvale
Sunnyvale, California
Sunnyvale is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is one of the major cities that make up the Silicon Valley located in the San Francisco Bay Area...
, Downtown San Diego, Mission Valley, San Diego, La Jolla Village/University City, Sorrento Mesa
Sorrento Mesa, San Diego
Sorrento Mesa is a neighborhood of San Diego, California. It is located in the northern part of the city, east of Interstate 805, on the mesa overlooking Sorrento Valley. University City lies to the south, the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve to the north, and Mira Mesa to the east...
, Del Mar Heights, Newport Center
Newport Center
Newport Center is a business, shopping, and entertainment district located on a high bluff overlooking Newport Harbor in Newport Beach, California. Newport Center is also famously dubbed "Fashion Island" amongst locals. It was created in the early 1960s as part of William Pereira's master plan for...
, UCI
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
locations, and West Los Angeles. Donald Bren
Donald Bren
Donald Bren is an American businessman who is Chairman of the Irvine Company, a US Based real estate developer, which he wholly owns.-Early Life and Education:...
is its Chairman and sole shareholder.
The 94000 acres (380.4 km²) Irvine Ranch remains the core holding of The Irvine Company. Of the total ranch area, 44000 acres (178.1 km²) is retained for development whilst the remainder are preserved as wilderness and recreational preserves. The Ranch encompasses almost one fifth of Orange County, from the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
and Newport Harbor
Newport Harbor
- Geography :* Newport Beach, California* Newport Harbor High School, in Newport Beach, Orange County, California* Newport Harbor Light, in Newport, Rhode Island* Newport, Rhode Island* Newport, Pembrokeshire...
, Laguna Beach, and Santa Ana Canyon
Santa Ana Canyon
Santa Ana Canyon is where the Santa Ana River passes between the Santa Ana Mountains and the Chino Hills, near the intersection of Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. It receives particularly strong Santa Ana winds in comparison to surrounding areas, hence the name.-History:Originally,...
, to the boundary of the Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000 acres , mostly of chaparral, with a few riparian areas. A warm dry mediterranean climate prevails over the Forest. It is the southernmost National forest of California. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, a government agency within...
.
A partial list of cities within the boundaries of the Irvine Ranch includes:
- IrvineIrvine, CaliforniaIrvine is a suburban incorporated city in Orange County, California, United States. It is a planned city, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Formally incorporated on December 28, 1971, the city has a population of 212,375 as of the 2010 census. However, the California...
- Laguna BeachLaguna Beach, CaliforniaLaguna Beach is a seaside resort city and artist community located in southern Orange County, California, United States, approximately southwest of the county seat of Santa Ana...
- AnaheimAnaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
(Anaheim HillsAnaheim Hills, Anaheim, CaliforniaAnaheim Hills is a planned community encompassing the eastern portions of the city of Anaheim, in Orange County, California.- Location :Anaheim Hills is located just south of Yorba Linda, California, opposite the 91 freeway at Imperial Highway. The western border is the 55 freeway opposite the...
) - TustinTustin, California-Top employers:According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Tustin had a population of 75,540. The population density was 6,816.7 people per square mile...
(Tustin Ranch) - OrangeOrange, CaliforniaSouthern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
- Newport BeachNewport Beach, CaliforniaNewport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
The Irvine Company also owns several commercial areas, such as The Market Place, Fashion Island
Fashion Island
Fashion Island is an upscale open-air lifestyle center in Newport Beach, California . Fashion Island is owned by The Irvine Company.-History:...
- which Newport Beach's Newport Center
Newport Center
Newport Center is a business, shopping, and entertainment district located on a high bluff overlooking Newport Harbor in Newport Beach, California. Newport Center is also famously dubbed "Fashion Island" amongst locals. It was created in the early 1960s as part of William Pereira's master plan for...
district surrounds - and the Irvine Spectrum Center
Irvine Spectrum Center
The Irvine Spectrum Center is a large outdoor shopping mall on the south-east edge of Irvine, California, centered on a large Edwards 21 Cinemas movie theater. Built over a 10-year period, the first phase of the mall opened in 1995, with the second phase following soon after in 1998. The third...
.
External links
- The Irvine Company website
- Visit the wildlands and parks on The Irvine Ranch, where The Irvine Ranch Conservancy provides public access and environmental restoration.
- Map of the Irvine Ranch and information on its master plan