About Aldea

Located in the southeast Escondido community between Idaho Avenue to the south and Birch Avenue to the north, Aldea will include up to 140 new, single-family for-sale homes.

Named after the Spanish word for “village,” Aldea has been carefully planned to fit in with the surrounding community. The gated community will feature large landscaped horizontal and vertical setbacks from neighboring homes.

Featuring a coastal contemporary architecture, Aldea’s two-story homes will range from 1,700 to 2,450 square feet each. The new homes will provide homebuyers with diverse options to fit their lifestyle, all centered on sustainability, traditionally inspired design, and modern comforts.

Aldea’s private amenities include greenspaces, a gated front entrance, pocket parks, and a main neighborhood pool and community center. All common areas will be maintained by a homeowners association. Aldea will also include an ample and convenient mix of garage, street, and guest parking, all located onsite.

Benefits & Features

Contributing more than $8 million in fees for local road, school, public safety, and park investments in Escondido.

Expanding the public sewer service area, which will create future opportunities for some existing neighbors that are on septic systems to connect into the city sewer system.

Construct and maintain a new onsite sewer lift station, which will support future sewer infrastructure expansion in the area.

Increasing tax revenue for the City of Escondido, which will help reduce growing budget shortfalls and fund essential services for residents.

Providing new, for-sale housing to attract new–or retain existing–homeowners in Escondido and realize long held plans by the City of Escondido and LAFCO.

Maximizing sustainability with rooftop solar panels and the latest energy efficiency design features to reduce environmental impact.

Estimated Timeline

Guiding Principles for Aldea

Deliver Long-Planned Housing

The Aldea property has always been planned for residential development and to become part of the City of Escondido. The Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO) has also identified the City of Escondido as an appropriate place to prioritize and direct the creation of new housing.

Maximize Sustainability

Aldea’s new homes will have rooftop solar and EV charging, feature the latest in energy efficient design, and incorporate drought tolerant landscaping.

Create Sense of Community

Aldea will bring amenities and high-quality housing design with architecture that matches the surrounding areas. Escondido has rural charm, and the project aims to maintain that culture and lifestyle.

Meet Homebuyer Demands

Homebuyers today are seeking housing in gated communities with fire safety and preparedness measures, rich amenities, great location, and easy connectivity. Aldea has been designed to meet all these desires.

Engage with Community

Working with neighbors and community stakeholders is critical. The Aldea team will work with the community throughout the entire process to ensure a collaborative and transparent approach.

Advance Housing Goals

The City of Escondido must deliver 9,607 new housing units by 2029 as mandated by the State of California in the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). Aldea will help advance the City’s progress toward reaching the mandate.

A Brief History of Escondido

Escondido, which means “hidden” in Spanish, was originally inhabited by Luiseño and Kumeyaay Native American tribes. Spanish explorers came in the late 1700s. During the Mexican-American War, the battle of San Pasqual was fought in southeast Escondido and California officially became part of the US in 1850.

By the 1880s, Escondido started to grow and many of the Craftsman- and Victorian-style homes in the historic district were built. The Santa Fe railway arrived in 1887 which brought passengers and freight, and the City of Escondido was incorporated in 1888.

Agriculture and farming were the core of the Escondido economy through the 1950s. From the 1950s through the 1990s, the population of Escondido grew rapidly, and the I-15 was extended north through Escondido in 1968, bringing more growth. The post-World War II baby boom, paired with increased water prices created development pressure that resulted in many farms being replaced with the residential communities that we see today.

While Escondido has grown quite a bit from the 1950’s, the agriculture-centric, rural community feel still exists today. It boasts some of the best hiking trails and parks in southern California and is home to the California Center for the Arts, Stone Brewery, and the world-renowned San Diego Zoo-Safari Park.

Questions & Answers

What does Aldea mean?

Aldea is the Spanish language word for “village,” which evokes a thoughtful community-focused living. Aldea has been designed to create a community of sustainable, amenity rich, and community-enhancing new homes.

What are the sizes of the new homes?

Aldea will feature a variety of single-family homes, ranging from approximately 1,700 to 2,450 square feet each. The homes will be detached and two stories, unlike the many townhomes that are now being built. The homes will integrate into the surrounding neighborhood with similar architectural styles, landscape buffers, and ample setbacks.

How much will the homes cost?

The homes will be for sale, not for rent, increasing the supply of for-sale homes and providing the critically-needed opportunity for people to purchase a home in Escondido. Prices will depend on market conditions at the time of completion, but the style and size of home will allow for attainable pricing consistent with the area.

When will these homes be built?

Construction could begin as early as 2028, following completion of a comprehensive environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and subsequent approvals from the City of Escondido and the Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO).

What is annexation and LAFCO?

Annexation is the process of transferring land from one jurisdiction to another. The San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) governs this process. The property where Aldea is currently located in the County of San Diego but within the Sphere of Influence of the City of Escondido. It has long been planned for residential development and to become part of the City of Escondido. As part of this proposal, the Aldea property would transfer from the County of San Diego into the City of Escondido.

Has this property always been planned for development?

Yes. Even though it has been vacant to date, it has long been planned for residential development.

Will these homes have daily road access onto Birch Avenue?

Yes, as a secondary, one-way exit (egress only) on Birch Ave with the primary entrance and exit on Idaho Ave. The Aldea team originally proposed a gated, emergency-only access on Birch Ave, but the City of Escondido Fire Department requires a one-way exit there to increase public safety.

Aldea Materials

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