Phillips Ranch, Pomona, CA

Phillips Ranch is the hilly, planned side of Pomona, a residential community in the southwest corner of the city that climbs from about 800 feet to roughly 1,400 feet at its highest ridge. Development began in 1965 under Louis Lesser on old ranch land, and building on the slopes went on for decades after. Homes are mostly single-family houses on curving streets that follow the hills, with many lots looking out over the valley. Phillips Ranch Road is the spine of the neighborhood. Many residents still write Phillips Ranch on their mail instead of Pomona. Outdoor life is about walking the hills. The streets themselves are steep enough for a workout, and nearby Phillips Paw Park gives dog owners a fenced run. Hillview Park and the open slopes along Valley Boulevard sit on the western edge. Cal Poly Pomona borders the north side, and that shapes the food. The Farm Store at Kellogg Ranch on University Drive sells campus-grown fruit, fresh orange juice and nursery plants. Groceries mean a short drive to Rio Rancho Road or Temple Avenue, since the interior of the ranch is nearly all homes. The 60, 57 and 71 freeways meet close by, so commutes toward Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire start quickly. Decker Elementary and Ranch Hills Elementary are the Pomona Unified schools inside the community. The hills are the tradeoff. Almost nothing is walkable, and every errand starts with a drive down to the flats. In return, many streets end in a view, and on clear winter mornings the snow on Mount Baldy lines up across the valley.