Pierce legacy was permanent change in Alpine landscape and culture
By Chris Mac Kenzie
The Alpine Sun
ALPINE — When Auren M. Pierce died Dec. 19, 2005, Alpine said good bye a man whose vision changed a mountain village into the active town of today.
Pierce, 82, died in a nursing facility in Encinitas.
He was a pioneer developer and community leader whose dream in the 1960’s resulted in Palo Verde Ranch, with its palatial homes, and a large dam on the Sweetwater River that filled a 50-acre lake.
A native of San Diego, Pierce lived in Alpine for almost 50 years.
Old-timers recall that he lived in what has long been known as the Gustafson house on South Grade Road. He eventually sold it to a client who was looking for a small home in the country.
He became involved with his new project, Palo Verde Ranch, and, after coping with numerous legal restrictions, he created the smaller of the two lakes on the ranch, and built his own home on its shores.
One of the stories about him, according to a neighbor Bob Gustafson, was that he hated the big bull frogs in the lake waking him up every day, so one morning he got his shotgun and blew them right out of the water.
After the dam and the “big lake” were finished, he built a new, larger home overlooking the water as the community of Palo Verde Ranch began to take shape.
Palo Verde was one of the first of its kind, with large lots and space for horses and big houses.
Pierce made it clear that he wanted it to be both classy and restrictive, so it was developed under four covenants, one for each section, modeled after the covenant for the Rancho Santa Fe development.
With the so-called old ranch nearly completed by 1976, Pierce turned his attention to the large piece of land just to the west and Rancho Palo Verde began to take shape with even more elaborate estates and attractive facilities.
He also subdivided several smaller pieces of property contiguous to the old ranch but not actually a part of it.
These projects, as well as several less elaborate land developments in other parts of San Diego, were the work of the Pierce Development Company.
At the same time, he operated as a real estate broker with offices at the corner of Tavern Road and Alpine Boulevard — essentially the main entrance into town.
He also had a partial interest in Lazy A Ranch, the horse stables to the east of the Palo Verde Ranch. Known for his expertise, he was often called upon to advise other developers.
Mary Smith, manager for the Palo Verde Ranch Homeowners Association, speaking for the residents said, “We are very grateful for his foresight and vision. He had so much love for this area, the mountains, the open space, and he wanted owners to enjoy it too.” She remembers him as being energetic and happy when his plans worked out well.
Pierce was also very active in community service projects for Greater San Diego.
As one of the founding directors of the East County Boys and Girls Clubs, he served 10 years from 1990 to 2000 as the first president of the Boys and Girls Clubs of East County Foundation which gave him the Golden Eagle award after he had served 35 years on that board.
He was also founder of Grossmont Bank in 1972, a member of the Stadium Board of Governors and a director for Grossmont Hospital.
“He was an amazing, amazing man,” said Sharon Haven, who knew him well. “I’ve never seen anyone else like him. He had great charisma.
“I remember when “his dam” was finished. He took us over to see it, and he was so proud of it. He loved helping people. I know he taught me so much about the business world that I’ll be forever grateful.”
Services for Pierce were delayed until after Christmas. They were held Saturday, Jan. 7, at the El Camino Memorial Park on Carroll Canyon Road.
He is survived by his wife, Ann K. Parker of Del Mar, who was also his friend from childhood; a brother, Phillip; three children, Gary, Dennis and Lisa Mulfur, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
 E-mail
the Editor
|
|
