New Horizons South Bay sits in the heart of Torrance at 22727 Maple Avenue, and the whole place is for adults aged 55 and up, so things stay quiet and you get a real sense of community, where folks can walk along the landscaped greenbelts that wind through the park-like grounds between the 600 garden-style homes, and you notice the well-kept lawns, the tropical plants, and all these little touches-they even ran the utility lines underground-which make it feel clean and open. The homes have designs that blend Oriental and Polynesian Modern styles, each with soundproofing to cut down on noise, and they're usually condos with one to three bedrooms, one or two bathrooms, kitchenettes, private baths, cable TV, and fast internet, and the homeowners' association covers things like maintenance, water, and trash, so you don't have to do everything yourself.
Over near the center, they've built a big 10,000-square-foot clubhouse on a Polynesian theme, and that space is really where people gather for activities like billiards, card games, bridge, a ballroom for dancing, movie nights, all sorts of crafts-ceramics and woodworking, painting and photography too-and there's a kitchen and serving bar if folks want a bite to eat. Outside, the community keeps everyone busy with things like pickleball, tennis, shuffleboard, horseshoes, croquet, and two swimming pools with a spot for aerobics, plus a sauna, a gym, and walking paths. A big draw is the nine-hole par-3 golf course, designed by Ray Watts, with this fun Island Putting Green laid out in a Polynesian style, which kind of matches the rest of the place, and that's private for residents, so it never feels crowded. They've got a golf shop, locker rooms, and showers for golfers too, and there's even a lagoon with a waterfall where you can just sit and relax.
Food is handled in the dining room with restaurant-style meals, and they offer choices for special diets like diabetes and food allergies, plus help with things like dressing and taking medicine if you need it, along with laundry, cleaning, and move-in help, and there's always trained staff around with a 24-hour call system for safety. You see neighborhoods of all-electric Gold Medallion houses-some say that's a selling point, but it just means everything runs on electric-and the place offers everything from independent living and active adult homes, to assisted living and memory care, and even skilled nursing if medical needs come up, so people can stay even if their health changes.
The grounds have spaces for hobbies, a wellness room, library, business room, movie theater, and high-speed Wi-Fi everywhere, and the staff run regular scheduled programs, resident-led activities, family support, transportation to local shops, parks, theaters, and places to eat or see doctors. Every month there are social get-togethers, holiday parties, and clubs for crafts or games-so the calendar's always full-but some just like a quiet walk on the paths, or reading by the lagoon. The community sits close to cultural attractions like the Lomita Railroad Museum and Chen Art Gallery, and it's the sort of place where most folks know each other, look out for each other, and try new things, whether that's ceramics, water aerobics, or just a game of golf in the sun.
