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Built on 2,100 acres of gently rolling hillsides, LW Laguna Woods is approximately equidistant from the Los Angeles and San Diego urban centers. The nearby Pacific Ocean helps keep the average yearly temperature at a perfect 67 degrees. Health and medical facilities, commercial and retail centers and houses of worship are nearby, often within walking distance for residents. Leisure World, a community conceived and built to serve the needs, desires and interests of active mature adults, was the brainchild of Ross Cortese, a nationally recognized Southern California-based builder and developer.
In the late 1950s and early ‘60s, he observed the statistics of a snowballing elderly population.
“I assumed someone would launch a major housing program for this group, but nobody did,” he said. “I began thinking about the kind of housing I felt elders would enjoy. I had the theory that older people wanted to own their own quarters and live independently, yet they wanted to be near their own age group and they wanted to be spared maintenance details.” Early success in 1961 with an initial 1200-acre, 3,472-dwelling, adult community project in Seal Beach provided the foundation for what would become LW Laguna Woods. A collaboration with the University of Southern California instituted a new program -- Gerontology -- and provided Cortese and his building firm, Rossmoor, with research on just what mature people needed and wanted -- in environment, social and recreational activities and health and medical requirements. Cortese purchased several sites across the nation, including 3,500 rural acres of the Moulton Ranch, located in the Saddleback Valley of Southern Orange County. This was to be "the jewel in the crown" of his retirement housing developments. Following negotiations with city, county, federal agencies and the military administration of the nearby El Toro Marine Corps Air Base, construction began in the spring of 1963 with an initial phase of 530 units. The first 10 homeowners moved into LW Laguna Hills September 10, 1964. The final phase of the huge development was completed in 1982. Approximately 18,000 residents now make their homes in the 12,500 manors developed by Cortese. In addition, the development includes the Rossmoor Towers, a 14-story twin structure that offers residents elegance, plus comfort and service. The Towers is made up of individual dwelling units and includes meals, maid service and in-house recreation as part of the monthly fee.
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