Neighborhoods - Community Profile

BOUNDARIES:

Bay Island is located off Island Avenue in Newport Beach.

HISTORY:

Bay Island was a small natural island, in fact the only natural island in Newport Bay. At first it was used as a gun club, then in 1903 was incorporated as the Bay Island Club, and memberships were sold to individuals who built "hunting lodges" and vacation homes.

HOMES:

This 5.5 acre island features 23 bayfront homes.

FEATURES:

Each house has bay frontage, and all back onto a central park area which is about the size of a city block. A resident caretaker is employed by the Club, and is responsible for the daily upkeep of the gardens and common area. Each resident is a stockholder in a non-profit corporation, the Bay Island Club, whose sole business is the ownership and maintenance of the island and nearby garage.

It is unique in that no cars are permitted on the island, so residents and visitors either walk over the footbridge or boat in. Cars can be parked in the nearby parking garage; and many residents maintain electric golf carts for transportation to and from the garage. This unique island is such that inheritance is practically the only way to obtain a house on Bay Island.

SCHOOLS:

Newport Elementary, Ensign Junior High, and Newport Harbor High are the local public schools.

SHOPPING:

The Balboa Fun Zone features unique shops and restaurants as well as Lido Village. For the more serious shoppers, there is Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza within a short driving distance.