Halecrest, Costa Mesa: Inside One of the City's Original Planned Communities

By Alex Yu · 2026-08-20

Halecrest is one of Costa Mesa's original planned communities, dating back to the mid-1950s when Herman Hale laid out what he called "College Estates" – large lots, ranch-style homes, and a deliberate focus on neighborhood life. That DNA is still very much intact.

It sits alongside the other Costa Mesa neighborhoods the team covers closely: College Park, Costa Mesa's first master-planned community with streets named after universities; Eastside, which OrangeCoast.com called "hip, laissez-faire, and close to the beach"; South Coast Metro, ranked the #1 neighborhood in Costa Mesa on Niche.com; and Mesa Verde, where the Newport-Mesa Unified schools carry an A rating on Niche.

If you're weighing one against another, that comparison is exactly the conversation to have before you start touring.

Questions About This Topic

When was Halecrest built?

It dates to the mid-1950s, when Herman Hale laid out the tract he called College Estates.

What other Costa Mesa neighborhoods does the Alex Yu Team cover?

College Park, Eastside, South Coast Metro and Mesa Verde, alongside Halecrest.