Miraleste History
Additional Information
Miraleste was one of the four original Palos Verdes Estates residential districts of the 1923 Palos Verdes Project, along with Malaga Cove, Lunada Bay and Valmonte.
These four districts encompassed Frank A. Vanderlip Sr. vision of the first master planned development resembling the coastline of the Sorrentine Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast of Italy.
That same year, the Palos Verdes Homes Association & Art Jury was formed to ensure and maintain protective architectural restrictions of the Estates. June 17th of that year, a real-estate rally was held on the grounds of current day Malaga Cove School to entice buyers to tour these newly formed communities.
The first home built in Miraleste was in 1924 on Via Colinita.
In August 1926 a dedication parade was held celebrating the completion of the 19 mile road known as the New Coast Road which would connect the Palos Verdes Project communities. A caravan of 300 cars paraded from Malaga Cove Plaza along the “Douglas Cut”, Granvia La Costa (Palos Verdes Drive West) above Paseo del Mar on the New Coast Road (Palos Verdes Drive South) up the hill (Palos Verdes Drive East) to Miraleste.
That same year, Mr. Vanderlip proposed a musical bowl similar to the Hollywood Bowl in the canyon behind current day Miraleste Plaza.
During the great depression the communities of unincorporated Palos Verdes Estates incurred a staggering tax debt on the parklands burdening the Homes Association.
The only way to eliminate this debt was to create a city of the sixth class, (a community of less than 6000 inhabitants governed by a town council of five members, all residents, and elected by the residents only”). The residents, concerned that the parklands might be sold for payment voted for City incorporation.
The City of Palos Verdes Estates was incorporated December 1939.
The district of Miraleste being 7.5 miles away could not be included since only contiguous territory could be within the limits of a newly formed city.
December 1938 the Miraleste Homes Association was established. The Association played an integral part in retaining our parklands, setting up social activities and organizing important events such as the November 9, 1939 petition to the Los Angeles Hall of Records for the organization of our community lands and parks into a county Park District.
June 14, 1940 Miraleste Parks & Recreation District was established. The Miraleste Parks District created vast miles of nature trails in our beautiful community and continues to maintain our natural landscape.
In 1973 the city of Rancho Palos Verdes was established and the Miraleste district, incorporated into the city.
After over 100 years, Miraleste homeowners continue to be under the protective restrictions of the Palos Verdes Estates Homes Association & Art Jury.