East County News Service

May 15, 2023 (Casa de Oro) - The Friends of the Casa de Oro Library will hold a benefit concert Sunday, June 4, at 7 p.m. in a private home.

The featured entertainment will be Fred Benedetti (photo) and Robert Wetzel, an award-winning guitar duo. Light refreshments will be served.

By Miriam Raftery

April 12, 2022 (Casa de Oro) – A dramatic transformation of the Campo Road Corridor through Casa de Oro in Spring Valley is planned to create a Main Street ambience in the heart of the community.  On April 22, the County Planning Commission will hold a hearing on the proposed Campo Road Revitalization specific plan.

A central plaza for outdoor community activites, roundabouts, bike and pedestrian friendly changes, trees, outdoor seating, a center median, new street parking, and housing up to four-stories high are all in the revitalization plan. It covers 60 acres centered on Campo Road from Rodgers Rd. to Granada Ave. to be completed in three phases aimed at attracting private investors and enhancing the community. The plan would also seek grants and governmental funding, as well as potentially a planned business improvement district (PBID).

View the Campo Road Corridor Revitalization Specific Plan here, which includes many photos and illustrations of possible prototypes in other cities.The hearing will be both in person and online. The agenda and details will be posted under the “upcoming meetings” listing within 3 days of the April 22 hearing. Here are details on how to stream County Planning Commission meetings to watch from home or participate. Scroll down for details.

East County News Service

June 24, 2021 (Spring Valley) – The latest search warrant for an illegal marijuana dispensary was served in  the 10100 block of Campo Road in Spring Valley’s Casa de Oro neighborhood at 5 p.m. yesterday by members of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department's Special Investigation Division, with the assistance of Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Crime Suppression Team and the Special Enforcement Detail.

By Miriam Raftery

January 14, 2020 (San Diego’s East County) --Under the authority of the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County, the Rancho Helix De Oro is a newly formed fire safe council dedicated to educating and preparing our community in order to avoid devastating fires. The group has created an educational fire-safe flyer  (click link to view flyer) with information including tips for fire safety, an evacuation map, who to call during an emergency, and how to get emergency notification for the communities of Rancho San Diego, Mt. Helix and Casa de Oro.

The new group was formed with support from then-County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, the Grossmont-Mt. Helix Improvement Association, Valle de Oro Planning Group, Casa De Oro Alliance, and community members in collaboration with San Miguel Fire and Rescue, Cal Fire, San Diego County Sheriff, San Diego Gas & Electric, and the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County.

East County News Service

October 4, 2020 (Spring Valley) - The County of San Diego – Planning & Development Services (PDS) will host a virtual community workshop for the Campo Road Corridor Revitalization Plan on Thursday, October 15 at 4 p.m.  The plan covers the section of Campo Road in the Casa de Oro community. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Jay Steiger

March 2, 2020 (Casa de Oro) – “This has been an 18-month effort,” Bob Yarris, president of the Casa de Oro Alliance, said at a community visioning workshop held Feb. 25 at the Spring Valley Academy. A half-million dollar grant has been awarded to the Alliance, a 501c3 nonprofit, by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to create design guidelines and revitalize the heart of Casa de Oro.

More than 50 community members saw a presentation by county officials, then had an opportunity to share their ideas in breakout sessions, adding a variety of creative visions.

By Miriam Raftery

October27, 2019 (Casa de Oro) – The nonprofit Casa de Oro Alliance invites you to its fourth annual Fall Festival on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.   The event will be held at the Spring Valley Academy, 3900 Conrad Drive in Spring Valley. 

East County community receives $500,000 toward effort

East County News Service

August 11, 2018 (Casa de Oro) -- The Casa de Oro Alliance has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to improve the Campo Road business corridor in the East County community.

The advisory group recommends a plan to Supervisors for extensive redevelopment of Campo Road, plus a park on Conrad Drive

by Paul Kruze

Hear audio files of Valle de Oro planning group meeting:

Casa De Oro Revitalization

Estrella County Park

View the Casa de Oro options comparison table

January 9, 2018 (Casa de Oro) -- Before the main freeway arteries of State Highway 94 and Interstate Highway 8 were built, Campo Road in the East County community of Casa de Oro was a center of community and commerce. Even earlier, Campo Road served as a wagon road providing access to eastern San Diego County as well as Imperial County; it was added to the state highway system in 1933. But lack of vision and planning in the last 20 years has caused Campo Road to now be home to empty storefronts, liquor stores, smoke shops, medical marijuana dispensaries, dive bars, massage parlors, hookah lounges, and tattoo parlors interspersed with other businesses. Some of these shops turn a blind eye to local and state laws and regulations.

Source: County of San Diego

December 30, 2017 (Spring Valley) -- On September 27, the County Board of Supervisors directed Planning & Development Services staff to develop options for a plan that could revitalize the Casa de Oro area. The project is focused along Campo Road and the surrounding areas.

Staff will be presenting the proposed options at the following three meetings.  You’re invited to come hear the options and provide your input and ideas.

By Robin N. Kendall

October 27, 2016 (Spring Valley) -- Marijuana dispensaries, homelessness, and the need for more deputies were the main concerns of the audience at the Sheriff’s “Coffee with the Community” in Casa de Oro today. San Diego County Sheriff Captain Marc Garmo spoke to and with an audience of 40 people for two hours at Butler’s Coffee House on Campo Road in Spring Valley.

East County News Service

June 12, 2016 (Casa de Oro) – Nearly 100 Casa de Oro residents and businesses joined forces yesterday to clean up the Campo Road business corridor and strengthen community engagement in a neighborhood that is turning things around for a better future.  Following the work they celebrated the first-of-its-kind event with a barbecue and raffle, while also thanking the many business sponsors who made the event possible.

Source: County News Service

January 17, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – County Supervisors have approved spending $50,000 in Neighborhood Reinvestment funds to acquire land for new libraries in Lakeside and the Casa de Oro community in Spring Valley.  The plan was proposed by East County Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

East County News Service

November 7, 2015 (Spring Valley)- The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Santa Sophia #2520 will be performing “Cafe Murder,. a dinner theatre murder mystery, by Nathan Hartswick.

The performance is at  6 p.m. on November 14 in Prendergast Hall, 9800 San Juan Street, Spring Valley. Join family and friends, enjoy dinner and solve a crime.