In 1987-88 a notable builder of high end homes, J. M. Peters, developed what was to be the last addition to the community of the University Town Center, around the University of California's Irvine campus that is called Oxford Court.

The neighborhood of Oxford Court borders Harvard and Marquette, and many of the town homes in the development back to William R. Mason Regional Park. Oxford Court was designed and built when we experienced a great demand for housing which grew out of a time when interest rates had become more favorable (30 year fixed rate mortgages hovered around the 10% range and adjustable rate mortgages fluctuated between the 7% - 8% range depending upon the program).

Upscale town homes and condominiums were in demand due to the rising prices in the single family home market, and young professionals, couples, and small families eager to get into the housing market were excited about this new development created in and around the U. C. Irvine, with its close proximity to great schools, shopping, entertainment, freeways, and the beach. Moreover, although it was built when the notion of Mello-Roos was in its infancy, the neighborhood of Oxford Court was one of the few communities that avoided this special assessment, since the infrastructure was already in place surrounding this new development.

The streets in Oxford Court harkened again back to the well established colleges,, universities, and institutions of higher learning such as Vassar, Lehigh, Auburn, and Rice to mention a few.

The location was directly across from the Marketplace, subsequently renamed the University Center (so as to not be confused with the Market Place on the Tustin/Irvine border) that had become a new dynamic setting for social interaction and commerce. The Farmer's Market was already becoming a Saturday morning eclectic experience creating a social as well as a shopping treat with its open air stands laden with produce and a variety of goods and services.

Over the years, shops, restaurants, and offices sprang up as well as an Edwards University Town Center 6 movie theatre which features independent art films. One might attend a live concert, dance program, or other venue at the Barclay theatre. To get you going in the morning, you may drop in to Dietrich's for that early morning cup of latte, shop at Trader Joe's for your favorite indulgence, dine at Britta's Café for "seasonal faves" like "comfy short ribs", along with foreign favorites like "the best bratwurst and spaetzle," according to the Zagat guide, or frequent a myriad number of fabulous restaurants or fast food establishments from Chakra Indian Cuisine and Steelhead Brewery to In-N-Out Burger or Lee's Sandwiches.

In addition to having their own private pool and spa facility within the gated Oxford Court complex, residents of Oxford Court also have access to four separate University Town Center Association facilities the closest of which are Princeton Park recreation area in which there is a swimming pool and spa (barbeques at the pool), a soccer field and two lighted tennis courts and Stanford Park recreation area in which there is also a pool/spa/barbeques, and a sand volleyball court, tot lot and picnic area.

Click here for photos of Princeton and Stanford Parks Recreational Facilities

Additional recreational facilities open to residents of the University Town Center of which Oxford Court is a part include Cornell Commons where there is a Junior Olympic size pool and spa, two lighted tennis courts, a basketball court, and a soccer field, and Columbia Square park in which there is also a pool, spa (barbeque at pool), a tot lot, sand volleyball court, basketball court and picnic area.

Click here for photos of Cornell Commons and Columbia Square Park Recreational Facilities

One of the reasons for moving to the community of Oxford Court is its locations within the award-winning Irvine Unified School District's Turtle Rock Elementary School, awarded a California Distinguished school in 2002 and highly sought entry for its high scores and special program for gifted children (GATE), for Rancho San Joaquin Middle School, also well rated in terms of school scores, and University High School, consistently ranked one of the best high schools in the country, and which boasts a large number of advanced placement classes, students awarded merit scholarships, and large class admission to the top University of California schools as well as the top private colleges and universities. University High School has been awarded a California Distinguished School as well as a National Exemplary School.

In addition to great Irvine public schools, the community of Oxford Court is located in close proximity to two Montessori preschools, the University Montessori School located on the U.C. Irvine campus and the Village Montessori School located in University Park, several church-related preschools, and additional private preschools, all within a few minutes commute. Finally, there is the UC Irvine Farm School which boasts a history of innovative teaching techniques within a semi-rural environment with its staff of teachers and assistants all drawn from the prestigious U.C. Irvine campus.

The models in Oxford Court consist of :

Plan A, a one story, two bedrooms, two baths carriage unit, with either two one-car detached garages or a two-car detached garage, depending upon location. This plan has a large patio/balcony at the top of the stairs with doors out from the formal dining area and a large living room with vaulted ceilings. The kitchen is open to both living/dining rooms and has a breakfast bar for informal dining. The large master bedroom suite has vaulted ceilings and its own private bath, and there is an ample sized secondary bedroom with an adjacent full bath. The home is equipped with a stackable washer and dryer, and the overall feeling is open and airy.

Click here for Plan "A" Floor Plan

Plan B-1 is a ground level single story, two bedrooms, two baths with two one-car garages, one with direct access. It has vaulted ceilings in the master bedroom and living rooms. The living room has a fireplace and has doors leading out to a private wrap-around patio. There is a formal dining room, and the kitchen is equipped with a breakfast bar. At the far end of the kitchen there is a door leading to a full-size laundry room. The master bedroom suite is oversized with an area that could be used as an office or a cozy retreat. The secondary bedroom is of ample size, and there are doors leading out to the wrap-around patio area.

Click here for Plan "B-1" Floor Plan

Plan B-2 is a tri-level home through which one enters to find a foyer with a guest closet and a door to a single-car direct access garage. One ascends the stairway to a dramatic great room the space of which can be defined only by the limitation of one's imagination. The living/dining room combination can be decorated in a myriad number of ways, and one is in awe of the height and breadth of the space created by the volume ceilings above which is a large, oversized loft that may be used as a family room, home office, guest room or library.The living room has a fireplace and there are doors leading out to a private-wrap around balcony. There is a formal dining room, and the kitchen is equipped with a breakfast bar. At the far end of the kitchen there is a door leading to a full-size laundry room. The master bedroom suite is oversized with an area that affords one a retreat. The secondary bedroom is of ample size, and there are doors leading out to the wrap-around balcony.

Click here for Plan "B-2" Floor Plan

Plan C is a two-story, three bedrooms (or two bedrooms plus den), three baths, and a two-car garage with direct access. There is a main floor bedroom or den and full bath down. There are two humongous master suites each with their own private full bath. The living room has a fireplace, and there is a formal dining room with French doors out to a private enclosed backyard patio area. There is a large kitchen with a breakfast nook which opens out to the living/dining rooms. There is a garden window adjacent to the French doors which could be used as a sitting or music area. There is a large inside laundry room for a full capacity washer/dryer and a door leading to a large two car garage.

Click here for Plan "C" Floor Plan

Over the years, the Oxford Court community has undergone some cosmetic changes such as in the color scheme, but the most striking change occurred when the Association's Board of Directors voted to gate the community, thus making Oxford Court the only one of its kind within the University Town Center.

Outside its gates, there are the Ambrose apartment community (recently changed from Amherst Court) and an assisted living community bordering on Marquette and Harvard called the Renaissance Inn at the Park. Traveling on Harvard toward Culver Drive, there is an additional facility for seniors at Regent's Point.

Also located across the street on Harvard, bordering Culver Drive and University Drive is William R. Mason Regional Park, well-known for its gathering of friends and family for the festive, annual celebration in the spring of the Persian New Year. Indeed, the regional park is host to many a company and family picnic, as well as kite and model plane flying, model boat racing, jogging, biking, strolling or just plain relaxing around the duck pond.

For those who enjoy a longer bike ride, jog, or stroll, one can pick up the trail from Harvard and University Drive along the Santa Ana river bed that will take you all along the Upper Newport Ecological Reserve where you will see an amazing array of migratory birds, as well as an occasional, coyote or raccoon, and flora and fauna native to the area. This trail, if taken its length, will lead you past the UC Irvine crew clubhouse and toward the Newport Dunes where you can dine in a restaurant overlooking the bay or rent a kayak or rowboat for a fun-filled boating excursion. The Friends of the Newport Bay often host tours on the weekends throughout the year, if you would prefer something a bit more educational, and, of course, there are various charity marathons and walks in which you can participate that utilize these trails at different times of the year.

As a resident, one is also close to major business and commercial centers and major shopping centers, such as the Irvine Business District, South Coast Plaza, and Fashion Island, as well as being in close proximity to freeway access (the 405, the 5, and the 55 Freeways, as well as the 73 and the 133 Toll Roads. John Wayne Airport (Orange County Airport) is within a ten minute drive, and the Upper Newport Ecological Reserve is a bike ride, jog, stroll, skateboard, or short drive from all the communities within the University Town Center.

Robin has been representing buyers and sellers in their purchase of town homes and condos within the University Town Center's community of Oxford Court since it was built and would delight in assisting in any way possible your move to the community. Eric has been involved in the financial, business and investment side since 1979. Together Robin and Eric have raised two children in the local school district, and are actively involved in the community. 

If Robin or Eric can further elaborate on anything contained herein or if you have any questions regarding the University Town Center neighborhoods, including Oxford Court, Columbia Square, Cambridge Court, and Princeton Townhomes,  please do not hesitate to e-mail Robin. Robin and Eric Fenchel would be delighted to assist in any way possible your move to the community in and around the University of California at Irvine.

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