U N D E R C O V E R C O R O N A D O | A L L E Y W AY S
The Real Coronado
Alley Life
For outsiders, Coronado means the iconic Coronado Hotel Del, Glorietta Blvd, and the sixthbest beach in the country. For locals, Coronado is a quintessential community, made up of long-time and new-to-the-island residents who live, work, and play in this paradise they call home. One of the things that set Coronado apart from some cities is how residents own many local businesses. That helps with the strong sense of community that binds this island of 24,000 inhabitants together. Walking around town, one senses the affinity residents have for Coronado. If you ask a resident why they love it so much, they will inevitably mention a strong sense of community as one of the best things about living in Crown City. As in any town, there are places that the locals know about that make a place extra-special. In Coronado, one of those unique things is lovingly referred to as “alley life”. To find out what makes Coronado’s alleys so unique I’m going on a tour with residents and real estate partners Frances and Charlotte. Charlotte Rudowicz and Frances MacCartee are longtime residents and dear friends who both light up when they speak about the beautiful community they call home. Part of what makes Coronado, so great Charlotte tells me is that: “One can find everything they need right here on the island; pediatrician, accountant, dry cleaner, hardware store, not to mention some of the finest restaurants in San Diego County.”
The secret to a happy life
Charlotte grew up in Wisconsin but spent summers here with her grandparents. She lovingly recalls the carefree summers at the beach. After graduating from Miami University of Ohio, she knew Coronado was where she wanted to raise her family. Convincing Tom, her Ohio-born husband, was easy, and they moved here to begin their life. After working for a few years at the Coronado Eagle + Journal selling real estate ads, Charlotte decided
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF RUDOWICZ MACCARTEE GROUP
By Sharon Risse Photos by Vanessa Sottile
This beautiful Coronado home with an alleyway entrance is tucked away off the beaten path.
to get her real estate license and has been selling Coronado homes for almost 20 years. Charlotte and Tom have been married for over 21 years and have two sons, Tommy and Joey. Tommy is a sophomore at Coronado High School and is an avid sailor and Boy Scout. Joey is in 6th grade at Coronado Middle School and loves to play any sport that involves a ball. “My boys grew up riding their bikes to every activity or practice they needed to be at. My friends who live elsewhere often complain about how much time they spend driving kids all over San Diego, and living here, I just haven’t had to do that. It creates a sense of calm for our family, knowing the kids can get where they need to be on their own.” In her spare time, Charlotte loves to hike with her family and explore nature. She is the President of her PEO chapter, an organization she is passionate about that is dedicated to women’s education. Frances, the daughter of the US Navy’s most decorated SEAL, was born and raised here. After graduation from Coronado High School, she left to study fashion at The Fashion Institute of Design and
