Like Carmel by the Sea, there are two Montereys. Residents refer to Old Monterey as the area which boasts a history dating back to the founding of the city by the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola in 1770. It is home to all the grand historical buildings, as well as some of the oldest homes on the Central Coast. It is indeed an historic community with its downtown district, several large hotels, the Monterey Conference Center, famous Fisherman’s Wharf.New Monterey, on the other hand, stretches from the Presidio of Monterey (which houses the Defense Language Institute) to the Pacific Grove city limit, and includes historic Cannery Row. New Monterey grew into being as the home of the many cannery workers that lived and worked here – the Spanish, Portuguese and Italian immigrants who developed the once-prosperous fishing industry.
There are no new housing subdivisions in the city of Monterey, so real estate sales are almost solely previously-owned properties. Since most of these homes range from 30 to over 100 years old, they often have a special character and charm. Many of them have been upgraded over the years retaining much of their original style. Newer homes can be found in greater Monterey, located in unincorporated areas adjacent to the city.
One of these areas is spread along the Monterey-Salinas corridor (Highway 68) from Bay Ridge and Pasadera to San Benancio Canyon. Here one can find a mix of country living and hilltop views. Sunshine is a regular feature here just about any time of year. It’s particularly well suited for Salinas commuters who want to live the Monterey Peninsula lifestyle.
