Mountain View and Los Altos

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MOUNTAIN VIEW VOICE | 2018 EDITION

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2 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com Derk Brill’s success in the Mid- Peninsula real estate market is no secret. Having raised his family in Waverly Park, he has been a Mountain View resident for 20+ years, with a thorough and intimate knowledge of the community, and the personalities that shape it. His experience and expertise have enabled Derk to attain the status of top producing agent in the Alain Pinel office, as well as being among the elite agents in the United States.

Derk’s philosophy of client service differs signiﬁcantly from most top producing agents. He offers a hands-on, personal approach to the sale of a home. This extends from the preparation process through the close of escrow. Rather than handing a client off to a series of assistants, Derk manages every aspect of the sale including property prep, marketing, open houses, negotiation, and closing. This provides a seamless transaction from beginning to end.

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DERK BRILL e-Pro, Certiﬁed Relocation Specialist M: 650.814.0478 [email protected] www.DerkBrill.com License# 01256035 Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 3 Judy Judy Bogard-Tanigami 650.207.2111 [email protected] CalBRE# 00298975 Sheri Bogard-Hughes 650.279.4003 [email protected] CalBRE# 01060012 Cindy Bogard-O’Gorman 650.924.8365 [email protected] CalBRE# 01918407 ConsultantsInRealEstate.com

Ranked among Top Agents in Th e Wall Street Journal for the Sheri Cindy 9th Consecutive Year LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR TEAM. HERE IS WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING. We Provide Individual Expertise Combined in a Successful Team Approach “ I have known Judy, Sheri, and Cindy for the past 21 years as they helped us buy, and recently sell, our home. They are a ﬂ awless team from start to ﬁ nish and they make the process as easy and seamless as possible. They are the ultimate professionals and yet are also caring and compassionate individuals. Their expertise in real estate on the peninsula is unprecedented and their advice, judgement and negotiation skills are unparalleled. I recommend them as your real estate team without hesitation.” – Alison Taborek

We Listen Carefully & Communicate Effectively “ We have worked with Judy, Cindy, and Sheri since 1973 and have always been impressed with their knowledge, experience, and helpfulness. They guided us through three different moves. Their expertise concerning which property to buy, when to put our houses on the market, and at what price continues to give us conﬁ dence that we chose the right people to assist us with our real estate investments.” – Ann and George Limbach

91% of Our Business is Repeat Clients or Referrals “ We have nothing but gratitude for Judy, Sheri, and Cindy and for the way they conducted the sale of our property and the purchase of our new home. They came up with ideas that uniquely addressed and solved our situation that I doubt any other team would have presented.” – Dick and Joanne Provines Our Clients Trust Us & Highly Recommend Us! 4 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com INDEX Mountain View ...... 7 ur Mountain View and Los Altos Blossom Valley ...... 16 eighborhoods Castro City ...... 11 Cuernavaca ...... 34 Cuesta Park ...... 16 Dutch Haven ...... 35 Eastern Varsity Park ...... 19 Gemello ...... 18 Greater San Antonio ...... 8 Jackson Park ...... 24 Martens-Carmelita ...... 34

Carol Blitzer Moffett Boulevard ...... 25 File photo Monta Loma ...... 10 North Whisman ...... 27 Old Los Altos Cuesta Park Old Mountain View...... 20 Rex Manor-Mountain Shadows ...... 12 ocated side by side in the center of We’ve asked residents what they like, St. Francis Acres...... 14 Silicon Valley, Mountain View and what they’d like to see changed and L Shoreline West ...... 14 Los Altos share more than a common what intangible features make their border. Both are part of the epicenter for neighborhoods a place they like to call home. Slater ...... 29 entrepreneurs, emerging business and Included in each neighborhood vignette is Springer Meadows ...... 18 new ideas, and yet, both offer a strikingly a fact box, designed to help people thinking Stierlin Estates...... 26 different feel and experience. about moving to the area. Where will the One boasts a bustling, tech-centric kids go to day care or school? Where can Sylvan Park...... 32 downtown with lots of new transit-oriented you pick up a bottle of milk or loaf of bread Wagon Wheel...... 28 housing and office space for many of the on the way home from work? How far is the Waverly Park ...... 35 world’s largest tech giants. The other reveres nearest fire station? Whisman Station ...... 30 its quiet, secluded, village-like feel with a Long versions of some of the neighborhood quaint downtown purposely devoid of big stories and more photos can be found on our Willowgate ...... 22 box stores and large businesses. website, mv-voice.com/real_estate. Los Altos ...... 37 In our 14th guide to local neighborhoods If your area has been overlooked — or in Mountain View and Los Altos, we’ve you’ve found something just plain wrong — Central Los Altos ...... 44 provided an insider’s perspective on what please contact Linda Taaffe, who edited this sets these communities apart from other publication, at 650-223-6511 or ltaaffe@ Country Club ...... 44 Midpeninsula cities. mv-voice.com. We’d love to hear from you. Loyola Corners ...... 40 North Los Altos ...... 38 STAFF Old Los Altos ...... 38 Rancho ...... 42 Publisher: William S. Johnson Vice President Sales and Marketing: Editor: Andrea Gemmet Tom Zahiralis South Los Altos ...... 46 Neighborhoods Editor: Linda Taaffe Sales representatives: Connie Jo Cotton, Woodland Acres/The Highlands ...... 46 Designer: Kristin Brown Neal Fine and Rosemary Lewkowitz

Note on statistics: Statistics drawn from U.S. Census Bureau’s 2016 American Community Survey; Zillow Research, July 2017; Area Vibes; City-Data.Org; City of Mountain View.

Additional copies of Mountain View Neighborhoods, as well as On the Cover: A man walks past a home on Franklin companion publications — Almanac Neighborhoods and Palo Street in Old Mountain View, a neighborhood with Alto Neighborhoods — are available at the Weekly for $5 each. tree-lined streets and a mix of vintage bungalows, new All three publications are available online at paloaltoonline.com/ construction and apartments in the heart of downtown. 450 Cambridge Ave. real_estate. Photo by Veronica Weber. Palo Alto, CA 94306 Inset: Beatriz and Michel Szarindar stand out front of 650-964-6300 Copyright ©2017 by Embarcadero Media. All rights reserved. their Loyola Corners home with their children, Luis, left, www.mv-voice.com Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. and Lucas. Photo by Michelle Le. Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 5 GALLI TEAM

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6 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com • Blossom Valley • Castro City Mountain View • Cuernavaca S

101 s

• Cuesta Park

k • Dutch Haven • Eastern Varsity Park

r Middlefield Rd 101

• Gemello C

STIERLIN

e ESTATES

n • Greater San Antonio a WAGON

r MONTA LOMA e REX MANOR- P NORTH WHEEL MOUNTAIN • Jackson Park WHISMAN SHADOWS MOFFETT • Martens-Carmelita BOULEVARD JACKSON Central ExpresswayPARK WHISMAN • Moffett Boulevard GREATER STATION SAN ANTONIO CASTRO WILLOW- SLATER • Monta Loma CITY GATE 237 • North Whisman San Antonio Rd SHORELINE WEST OLD S. Rengstorff Ave • Old Mountain View MOUNTAIN 85 Castro St VIEW • Rex Manor- S. Shoreline Blvd Mountain Shadows GEMELLO 82 SYLVAN ST. FRANCIS El Camino Real PARK • St. Francis Acres ACRES • Shoreline West Mountain View

• Slater Springer Rd SPRINGER MEADOWS CUESTA

S PARK t e • Springer Meadows v CUERNAVACA e n MARTENS- s

CARMELITA

• Stierlin Estates C r e e Grant Rd k EASTERN • Sylvan Park VARSITY PARK Miramonte Ave • Wagon Wheel BLOSSOM VALLEY • Waverly Park WAVERLY PARK 85 DUTCH • Whisman Station HAVEN • Willowgate

rom an early stagecoach stop and 57 percent multifamily and 4 percent mobile FACTS Fagricultural center, Mountain View has homes. About 42 percent are owner-occupied. 2016-17 CITY GENERAL grown since its incorporation in 1902 Encompassing 12 square miles, Mountain OPERATING BUDGET: $128 to a thriving city of nearly 80,000 residents View is surrounded by Palo Alto, Los Altos million in the heart of Silicon Valley. Internationally and Sunnyvale. Highways 101, 85 and 237, POPULATION: 79,278 known corporations make Mountain View as well as light rail and Caltrain, offer quick MEDIAN AGE: 34.6 their home, swelling the daytime population access to the rest of the Bay Area. HOUSEHOLDS: 34,136 to more than 100,000. Mountain View’s diversified population HOMEOWNERS: 41 percent Today, Mountain View neighborhoods enjoys superb recreation and arts facilities, MEDIAN HOME VALUE: $1.54 million (single-family, July 2017) are as varied as the housing types, with 28 including Shoreline Park and the Mountain percent single-family, 11 percent townhouses, View Center for the Performing Arts.

Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 7 Greater San Antonio Veronica Weber Veronica

Greater San Antonio’s proximity to the Caltrain station and the shops and restaurants at San Antonio Center, Village at San Antonio and California Street are among the reasons residents say they moved FACTS into the neighborhood, which is made up of town houses, row homes and condominiums. CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Oak Tree Nursery School, 2100 University Ave. t’s bordered by California Street and Showers variety of eateries and other specialty shops for FIRE STATION: No. 3, 301 N. Rengstorff Ave. IDrive and nestled next to the San Antonio locals to enjoy. LOCATION: between San Antonio Road, Showers Drive Caltrain station, which is just one of the reasons Among the Greater San Antonio’s lesser loved and California Street. residents of the Greater San Antonio community features, said Morimoto, is a lack of parking. Many NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Greater San say it is a desirable area for home buyers. homes only have a single-car garage and street Antonio Community Association, Stephen Friberg, Another appealing feature, according to parking can be a problem. Also, noise from the president, [email protected]. Nancy Morimoto, a resident of the Greater train and increasing traffic along San Antonio are PARKS: Concord Circle and Sondgroth Way, Beacon San Antonio area for the past 20 years, is the negatives. But she cited plenty of pros as reasons Street and Laurel Way; nearby: Klein Park, Monta Loma community’s diversity. Residents come from a she loves the area, including neighborhood events Park. mix of ethnic and religious backgrounds and that bring the community together. POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. families range from couples with small children “The events can change from year to year, PRIVATE SCHOOLS: to baby boomers. depending on who takes on the planning, Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, 450 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto. Morimoto said she also enjoys the fact that the but we have had pumpkin decorating and a PUBLIC SCHOOLS: community, consisting of town houses, row homes Fourth of July kids’ parade,” Morimoto said. Los Altos School District — and condominiums, is a short walk to the Milk “Halloween brings lots of trick-or-treaters to Covington Elementary School, Egan Junior High School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District — Pail Market. She also likes that there’s a Mexican this well-lit neighborhood. The kids know you Los Altos High School. market around the corner where she purchases can reach many homes with a short walk.” SHOPPING: treats. Plus, it’s convenient to walk to the train Morimoto continued by saying other pluses San Antonio Center, Village at San Antonio, California Street. station, allowing residents easy access to travel to a to living within the community are that it is San Francisco Giants games or the airport. in the Los Altos School District and that her Additionally, the community is located near home’s small yard is a benefit for her because “I love the sense of community, with people the San Antonio Center, Pacchetti Way and of the minimal yard work needed to keep it meeting in the parks or at the pool,” Morimoto California Street, which has a Kohl’s, Wal-Mart, tidy. She also enjoys that residents share private said. “People make close friends with their Trader Joe’s and Ross Dress for Less, and the community parks, which contain features like neighbors who either have kids the same age or Village at San Antonio Center with a Safeway green space, a gazebo, children’s play structures have dogs.” grocery store, Starbucks, Sprint store and a and a community pool. — Melissa McKenzie, 2015

8 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com REDEFINING REAL ESTATE SINCE 2006 WWW.SERENOGROUP.COM

CHRIS TRAPANI CEO & FOUNDER LOS ALTOS

RYAN IWANAGA EXECUTIVE VP & CO-FOUNDER

OWEN HALLIDAY LOS ALTOS SALES MANAGER PALO ALTO

BRIAN CHANCELLOR PALO ALTO SALES MANAGER

PALO ALTO 258 HIGH STREET (650) 323-1900 LOS ALTOS 369 SOUTH SAN ANTONIO ROAD (650) 947-2900 SARATOGA // LOS GATOS // LOS GATOS NORTH POINT // WILLOW GLEN // WESTSIDE SANTA CRUZ // SANTA CRUZ // APTOS

Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 9 Monta Loma Michelle Le

Monta Loma has a distinct look and feel. Joseph Eichler, John Mackay and Mardall Building Co. — all leading developers of contemporary design — built the tracts during the post-World War II FACTS housing boom in the 1950s. CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Hobbledehoy hen Maren Whitson and her “When I first moved in, I could have fired a Montessori Preschool, 2321 Jane Lane. W husband moved to the Monta Loma rifle from my front door toward San Antonio, FIRE STATION: No. 3, 301 Rengstorff Ave. neighborhood where there are and I wouldn’t have hit any other houses,” he LOCATION: bounded by just south of San Antonio predominantly Eichler-style houses with garages recalled. Road, West Middlefield Road, Rengstorff Avenue and as the dominant facade, the couple’s reaction Baumgartner said all the homes in his tract were Central Expressway. was, “Whoa! What are all these garages?” prefabricated at a construction yard and hauled to NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Monta Loma But over the years since they moved into their the neighborhood on trucks. Neighborhood Association, montaloma.org. Eichler-built home near Thaddeus Park, they “When you have a construction yard that cuts PARKS: Monta Loma Park, 460 Thompson Ave.; have come to appreciate midcentury modern everything to exact size and nails it together and Thaddeus Park, 2395 W. Middlefield Road. architecture and its impact on the neighborhood. sets it up, everything fits perfectly,” Baumgartner POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. “Part of the architecture in our neighborhood said. PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Waldorf High School of the is you don’t get to the front door unless you walk Helen Wolter, who moved into an Eichler in Peninsula, 180 N. Rengstorff Ave. way onto the property because the front doors the neighborhood in 2004, said Eichlers used PUBLIC SCHOOLS: are set so far back. But, we’ve found that this to be cheaper than other homes because a lot of Mountain View-Whisman School District — Monta Loma Elementary School, Crittenden encourages people to go out front,” Whitson said. people didn’t like the style. But that’s changed. Middle School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High “A lot of people are playing on driveways and out Now, there’s a renewed appreciation for the sleek School District — Los Altos High School. walking dogs. I just love to come out here with and clean lines of the homes, possibly in part to SHOPPING: my kids and watch people go by.” Apple founder Steve Jobs, who lived in one of Central Expressway and Rengstorff Avenue; Monta Loma Plaza, West Middlefield Road and Located near the south Palo Alto border, the Monta Loma homes as a boy and attributed Rengstorff Avenue; The Village at San Antonio Center. Monta Loma has a distinct look and feel. Nearly the home’s style to influencing the design of his all of the approximately 1,008 homes are less computers. than 1,300 square feet and feature open floor Whitson said she believes the neighborhood’s many homes in our neighborhood are owned plans and large windows that integrate indoor strong sense of community is what makes Monta by people who’ve been around for a long time. I space with the outdoors. Joseph Eichler, John Loma so attractive. think that’s part of the character that we like and Mackay and Mardall Building Co. — all leading She and her husband initially moved to the want.” developers of contemporary design — built the area because it was more affordable than Palo Now, with two young sons, Whitson said living tracts during the post-World War II housing Alto and close to downtown, but after renting an in the neighborhood is a whole new experience. boom in the 1950s. apartment there for two years, the couple decided “It’s a fantastic neighborhood for a family with Ben Baumgartner used the GI Bill to purchase they wanted to stay long term, and purchased a kids,” she said. Every August, the neighborhood the last house in the Mardall Manor tract of house just down the street. holds an ice cream social, and in December, there the neighborhood near San Antonio Road in “When we moved in, people were very happy is a progressive dinner. Whitson also launched a 1957 to be close to his parents’ apricot farm on about having a young couple who seemed like play group for preschool-age children. Evelyn Road. they would be around for a while,” she said. “So — Linda Taaffe, 2014

10 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com Castro City Natalia Nazarova

Cynthia Serrano, who returned to Castro City in 2002 to take of her grandfather, said she doesn’t plan on moving away any time soon. Her parents and cousins all grew up in the neighborhood. FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Oak Tree Nursery ynthia Serrano first moved into the neighborhood kids like her nephew. School, 2100 University Ave. CCastro City neighborhood from Gilroy Secondly, the neighborhood has changed from FIRE STATION: No. 3, 301 N. Rengstorff Ave. in 2002 to take care of her grandfather. families of predominantly Mexican-American LOCATION: bounded by South Rengstorff Avenue, She moved into one of the properties her heritage to a diverse group of residents. Families, University Avenue, College Street and Leland Avenue. parents own on Fair Oaks Street and sees no especially ones with young babies or toddlers, PARKS: Castro Park, Toft Avenue at Latham Street; reason to live somewhere else. Serrano said have started moving in as well. Rengstorff Park and pool, Rengstorff Avenue at Crisanto she is motivated to stay in the neighborhood She said the neighborhood is pretty quiet, Avenue. because her life and work are firmly rooted besides the Caltrain that runs by throughout the POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. there. day. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View Whisman School “It’s a tight community,” Serrano said. “A lot “It’s not as loud as other neighborhoods,” District— Monta Loma Elementary School, Graham of residents there have been there for years. My Serrano said. “Everyone pretty much keeps to Middle School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High parents and cousins have grown up here.” themselves.” School District— Los Altos High School. Staying put seems to be a trend for people in Castro City lies close to La Plaza Market, SHOPPING: La Plaza Market, 40 S. Rengstorff Ave. at the neighborhood nestled between Rengstorff Rengstorff Park and the Mountain View Leland Avenue. Avenue and Central Expressway. Sylvia Torres Community Center — which is undergoing is among those who has opted to stay put. She’s a $23.5-million overhaul — but there is some lived in Castro City for 50 years, along with her sense of seclusion. The quiet also could be are excited for any changes that will come to brother, who lives with his family a few houses considered a drawback since there is no formal Castro City and to Mountain View as a whole as down. Her family’s roots in the neighborhood neighborhood association and no traditions to the city grows. go all the way back to the 1950s, when her bring people together. In Serrano’s experience, “It’s definitely home,” Torres said. “It’s changed mother moved into the neighborhood and met the only informal tradition the neighborhood over the years, and it is a small neighborhood, her father. has is an annual religious party hosted by a but I like where I live. I stayed here for my Since her childhood, a lot about the neighbor from across the street. family, friends and because I want to be close to neighborhood has changed. For one, the Still, Serrano and Torres have no plans all the things I’ve become used to. Everything is empty lots Torres used to play baseball in are to move and wish to continue to live in the right here.” all gone — a loss for the new generation of neighborhood for years to come. They say they — Perla Luna, 2016

Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 11 Rex Manor-Mountain Shadows Michelle Le

The Rex Manor-Mountain Shadows neighborhood's proximity to shopping, entertainment and the Google campus make it an attractive community for singles and families looking for a suburban FACTS lifestyle with an urban feel. CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOLS: YMCA — Theuerkauf, 1625 San Luis Ave. ountain View’s Rex Manor-Mountain the side effects of noise and increased traffic. FIRE STATION: Shadows neighborhood is a potpourri “But that doesn’t happen too often,” she No. 3, 301 N. Rengstorff Ave. or No. 1, M 251 S. Shoreline Blvd. of diversity. Bounded by Central added. LOCATION: Expressway, Shoreline Boulevard, Middlefield Gloster said the rising cost of real estate, Rex Manor: between Farley and Burgoyne Road, Farley and Burgoyne streets, and San increased rents and the demolition of older streets, Central Expressway and West Middleﬁeld Road; Mountain Shadows: between Burgoyne Street Ramon and Montecito avenues, its proximity houses is perhaps creating the biggest change and Shoreline Boulevard, San Ramon and Montecito to shopping, entertainment and Google make in the neighborhood as many of the older avenues it an attractive community for singles and residents are being forced out. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Lawrence Shing, families looking for a suburban lifestyle with “We are losing diversity,” she said. chair, [email protected] an urban feel. Lesley Ruzon, who has lived in the Rex PARKS: Longtime resident Sharon Gloster describes Manor-Mountain Shadows neighborhood since Rex Manor Park, Farley Street and Central Expressway; Stevenson Park, San Luis Avenue and San the area as a “nice mixture of different types 2000 and in her current home since 2005, agrees Pierre Way of people. There are working-class people who with Gloster. POST OFFICE: have lived here for years as well as tech workers “The rents are going up so many of our Mountain View, 211 Hope St. who have moved here more recently,” she said. children’s friends have moved away,” she said, PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View-Whisman — School Gloster said she initially gravitated toward the adding that when she first moved to the area District Theuerkauf and Stevenson elementary schools, Rex Manor-Mountain Shadows neighborhood it was affordable and one of the few locations Crittenden Middle School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District — Los Altos High School based on its location. where her family could purchase a home. SHOPPING: “(It’s) close to downtown Mountain View, “We do have a range of older retirees who Bailey Park Plaza Shopping Center, the performing arts center, the library and bought their houses 50 years ago when they Shoreline Boulevard; shopping areas at 112 Rengstorff Ave. and 580 Rengstorff Ave. restaurants as well as CalTrain and highways, were first built and never left,” Gloster said. plus there is a nearby tennis court, schools and “There are a lot of apartments, so we also get Safeway within walking distance,” she said. some of the single techies — especially because That proximity, along with neighborhood’s we are so close to Google.” Other bonuses of living in the Rex Manor- closeness to Shoreline Amphitheater, gives Ruzon said she especially likes living close to Mountain Shadows community include a June residents “all the benefits of being close to local activities. barbecue and enrichment activities offered by downtown but without the noise and parking “Our kids can bike to school (and) sports Mountain View. problems.” practice,” she said. “Mountain View Los Altos “We have an annual neighborhood block One disadvantage of living within the Rex Girls’ Softball headquarters is at Stevenson Park. party,” Gloster said. “In addition, the City of Manor-Mountain Shadows neighborhood, It’s fun to see all the girls at various ages playing Mountain View has many summer activities, Gloster said, comes when Shoreline hosts a large- ball. (The neighborhood) is great for jogging which bring all residents together.” draw concert. That’s when residents experience and biking.” — Melissa McKenzie, 2016 12 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com BEFORE WE DON’T GET GREAT LISTINGS.

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650.543.8539 | [email protected] | www.deleonrealty.com | CalBRE Neighborhoods #01903224 | Mountain View Voice | 13 Shoreline West n the dusk, Mary Henry stands outside FACTS Iof her pink home in Shoreline West and watches as kids roll by on their scooters CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Castro Preschool, and bikes. Her home on Latham Street — a 505 Escuela Ave.; Children’s Learning Cottage, 675 short walk away from Eagle Park, the public Escuela Ave. library and downtown — is situated in a FIRE STATION: No. 1, 251 S. Shoreline Blvd. particularly residential part of Shoreline West. LOCATION: bounded by Shoreline Boulevard, El On weekends, she often sits out on her porch, Weber Veronica Camino Real, Escuela Avenue and Villa Street. drinking coffee and saying hello to passers-by. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Shoreline West Describing Shoreline West as “tight-knit Association of Neighbors, Leona Pearce, Pearce.leona@ without being oppressive,” Henry, a resident gmail.com. since 1997, will meet up from time to time Many of the homes in Shoreline West are PARKS: Castro Park, Toft Avenue and Latham Street; with neighbors for potlucks (particularly in the small, single-story houses built in the first Mariposa Park, 305 Mariposa Ave.; Eagle Park and Pool, summers) — either just to socialize or to discuss half of the 20th century. Over the years, some 650 Franklin St. community issues like earthquake preparedness. have been added onto, while a few have been POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. Many of the homes in her vicinity are small, replaced. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: single-story houses built in the first half of the Mountain View-Whisman School 20th century. Over the years, some have been District — Bubb and Castro elementary schools, Graham Shortly after moving in, Leona Pearce — then Middle School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High added onto, while a few have been replaced by six-months pregnant — met six other young School District — Los Altos High School. more modern versions. mothers who lived within a few blocks of their SHOPPING: While Henry has seen many homes on her Downtown Mountain View; California new home. She and her son still get together Street Market, 1595 California St.; El Monte Avenue at block turn over multiple times, she said that her with these other families for “play dates” and El Camino Real. area now seems to have a stable community — yet other functions. not one dominated by a single type of homeowner. She and a few other mothers started a “That’s one thing I hope Mountain View recurring event called “Silly on the Street”: A opportunity to make so many friends and doesn’t lose, is its sense of diversity, because block in the neighborhood is closed to traffic, watch as children in the neighborhood grow up. there are a lot of different ages, ethnicities, and children can play in the street while parents Looking back, she is very happy to have settled sexual orientations, single, married,” Henry and other neighbors chat. in Shoreline West. said. “It’s just wonderful.” Over the years, Henry has enjoyed the — Sam Sciolla, 2014

St. Francis Acres FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: ust between El Camino Real, Permanente Mountain View KinderCare, 2065 W. El Camino Real; St. Paul Lutheran Creek and El Monte Avenue, and walking J CDC, 1075 El Monte Ave. distance from downtown Mountain View, FIRE STATION: Saint Francis Acres is a community where people No. 1, 251 S. Shoreline Blvd. know their neighbors and anybody is welcomed LOCATION: bordered by El Camino Real, Permanente with open arms. Creek and El Monte Avenue. “Everyone on my street, we all know each other,” PARKS: McKelvey Park, Park Drive and Miramonte Ave.; Melinda Joffe said, a resident since August 2002. Eagle Park, Shoreline Blvd. and High School Way. Her first experience with that familiarity was POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. PRIVATE SCHOOLS: during the open house for her future home, she Michelle Le Canterbury Christian School, said. When she saw all her neighbors talking in the 101 N. El Monte, St. Joseph Catholic School, 1120 living room, she knew that they were tight-knit. Miramonte Ave., St. Francis High School, 1885 When she purchased her home, her neighbors Miramonte Ave. introduced themselves and explained that the St. Francis Acres neighbors Stef Lau, left, and PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District — neighborhood is like one big family. Dennis Buranek chat on Melba Court, a street Springer Elementary School, Egan Junior High School; Joffe describes Saint Francis Acres as “a Mountain known for hosting the neighborhood’s annual Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District — Memorial Day party. View home with a Los Altos school district.” Los Altos High School. SHOPPING: Since she moved in, the neighborhood has comfortable in for the long term.” Joffe said. Downtown Mountain View, El Monte undergone a lot of changes — stories, bedrooms In her early years in St. Francis Acres, the Shopping Center (El Monte Avenue near Marich Way), Clarkwood Center (El Camino Real). and bathrooms have been added to homes, neighborhood had five parties a year. Although and older bathrooms and kitchens have been the frequency has gone down since then, her cul- remodeled. de-sac of 13 houses is still very active. them in a bike parade around the neighborhood “We’ve seen a lot of movement in our street “When you’re just walking in the neighborhood, while blasting tradition American music from his and our neighborhood,” Joffe said. Because of people are just saying hi to each other, and the kids convertible. individual renovations and changes, each house will be playing outside,” Joffe said. According to Joffe, that is followed by a “bring is unique from its neighbor, and according to The neighborhood also gets together for your own meat” barbeque where everyone Joffe, the community has become more ethnically Memorial Day and Halloween parties, Joffe said. brings a food dish and drinks to share and the diverse. The Melba Court Memorial Day party has “grillmaster” neighbors cook their food on a “Our neighborhood used to be seen as a starter been going on for years. Joffe said one of her barbeque set up in a driveway. neighborhood, but no longer. People are here neighbors sets out decorations in his driveway so — Sanjana Garg, 2016 to stay and want to have a home they can be kids can decorate their bikes, and then he leads 14 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com "We are so grateful for Elizabeth’s wonderful guidance and support as she helped us through the selling process. We wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for a remarkable real estate agent.”

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Martina Tolbert is community manager of Gemello Village Apartments. The Gemello neighborhood has experienced a shift from ranch-style houses to higher-density housing in recent years. FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Childrens Learning hen Jeanne Evilsizer moved to the Los Altos,” she said. “I enjoy walking as often as Cottage, 675 Escuela Ave.; Mountain View KinderCare, Gemello neighborhood in 1977, there possible, and I am able to walk to almost all of 2065 W. El Camino Real; St. Paul Lutheran CDC, 1075 El W Monte Ave.; Wonder World, 2015 Latham St. was a winery in the spot where today’s my necessary services.” Gemello Village retail complex now stands. Nearby are food stores, doctors offices, a FIRE STATION: No. 3, 301 N. Rengstorff Ave.; No. 1, A few years later, the Gemello Winery veterinarian, a gym, restaurants and a library. 251 S. Shoreline Blvd. disappeared when Mario Gemello sold the While most of the homes in Gemello are LOCATION: bounded by El Monte Avenue, Jardin Drive, family business to his niece, who renamed it ranch-style houses, the neighborhood has seen Karen Way and El Camino Real. Obester Winery and moved it to Half Moon Bay. a shift as more and more apartment complexes PARK: Gemello Park, Marich Way and Solana Court. The surname Gemello, however, has stayed as have been built there in recent years, according POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. the name of the verdant neighborhood — and to Bonfert and Evilsizer. PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Canterbury Christian School, 101 so has the semi-rural feel from when most of the “I don’t mind the living units,” Evilsizer said. N. El Monte Ave.; The Waldorff School of the Peninsula, ranch-style homes were built there in the 1950s. “I’d rather have living units than businesses in the 180 N. Rengstorff Ave. Set back from El Camino Real near the Los neighborhood. The only problem is the increased PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View-Whisman School Alto border, Gemello is a quiet neighborhood traffic ... otherwise, this would be a perfect area.” District — Bubb Elementary School, Graham Middle with streetscapes blanketed by mature trees, One of the largest apartment complexes in School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School white picket fences, window boxes and large Gemello is the Gemello Village Apartments and District — Los Altos High School. front yards. Townhomes, located behind Gemello Village SHOPPING: Downtown Mountain View, Downtown Los “It’s a quaint neighborhood still and has a Shopping Center on El Camino Real. Altos, Blossom Valley Shopping Center, Gemello Village, nice family atmosphere. That’s why we’re still The gated apartment complex has 52 units Clarkwood Center, San Antonio Shopping Center. here,” said Rick Bonfert, who moved to the — all of which are currently rented, according area in 1998 and by neighborhood standards is to community manager Martina Tolbert, who considered a “relative newcomer” compared to said she’s seen a rapid increase of higher-density where Doganay works as a researcher. Evilsizer’s immediate neighbors, who were there housing in the neighborhood over the past While Doganay said housing costs are more when she moved in 40 years ago. seven years. expensive there compared to San Jose, it’s worth it. Evilsizer said she’s not surprised that the “Most of the residents in the community are “Here, I can put my baby boy in a stroller neighborhood has so many longtime residents. young families,” Tolbert said. and take long walks,” Doganay said. “There are Gemello has a rare combination of convenience Soltan Doganay and her family rent a two- many trees and few cars in the residential area. and peacefulness, she said. bedroom condo about two blocks away from This is what I really love about Gemello; it’s a “I love the location with quick access to Gemello Village. They moved there from north kid-friendly neighborhood.” shopping on El Camino Real and to downtown San Jose to be closer to Stanford University, — Crystal Tai, 2017

16 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com Springer Meadows FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: n a typical Wednesday night in the Children’s House of Los Springer Meadows neighborhood, Altos, 770 Berry Ave.; Little Acorn School, 1667 Miramonte O Ave.; St. Timothy’s Nursery School, 2094 Grant Road children may be playing basketball FIRE STATION: with neighbors in their backyards. Weekend No. 2, 160 Cuesta Drive. afternoons can be peaceful with residents LOCATION: bounded by Marilyn Place, Marilyn Drive, trimming shrubs and people chatting in their Fordham Way and Barbara Avenue. driveways. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS: Springer Meadows These are just a few of the things residents of Natalia Nazarova Neighborhood Association, Carole Stepp, president, the Mountain View neighborhood like about the [email protected]. place they call home. The community is a subset PARKS: Varsity Park, Duke Way and Jefferson Drive; Bubb of the Blossom Valley area, located between Park, 680 Barbara Avenue; Cuesta Park, Cuesta Drive. POST OFFICE: Marilyn Drive, Barbara Avenue, Marilyn Place Heather Quick (left) and her husband, Andrew Mail All Center, Blossom Valley, 809-B and Fordham Way. Cuesta Dr; Grant Park Plaza, 1250 Grant Road (inside Davidson, like to spend time with their three Nob Hill Foods). Heather Quick has lived in Springer Meadows children at Varsity playground. for more than six years and she couldn’t be PRIVATE SCHOOLS: St. Joseph Catholic School, 1120 Miramonte Ave.; St. Francis High School, 1855 happier. find time to come together. Every September, the When she and her husband, Andrew Davidson, Miramonte Ave. neighborhood association hosts a block party. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: were looking for a home, they targeted areas If you ask Quick’s children what they like (Eligibility for school districts depends on resident’s address) Los Altos School District with nice housing and good school districts. As most about their neighborhood, the decision is luck would have it, they found Meadow Lane, — Springer Elementary School, Blach Intermediate unanimous: the block party. It’s their second- School; Mountain View-Whisman School District — a cozy, curved street with trees, well-kept lawns favorite day of the year behind Christmas, Quick and ranch-style homes. Just around the corner is Bubb Elementary School, Graham Middle School; said with a smile. Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District — Marilyn Drive, a street including several cul de In addition to the block party, other Los Altos and Mountain View high schools. sacs and multi-story homes. neighborhood events include a Halloween SHOPPING: “It’s a great pocket of Mountain View,” she said. Blossom Valley Shopping Center, parade and an Easter egg hunt. Miramonte Avenue and Cuesta Drive; Rancho Shopping “It’s very quiet. We really like that.” The only thing she would change is the Center, Foothill Expressway and Springer Road; Grant Some families have lived there for many years; expensive housing market, which is a huge Road Plaza Shopping Center, Grant Road and Phyllis others are new and have small children, Quick said. barrier for families, she said. Avenue. While everyone has busy lives, neighbors still — TaLeiza Calloway-Appleton, 2016

Eastern Varsity Park FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Little Acorn ou can’t help but be impressed with the Christian Preschool, 1667 Miramonte Ave.; Abracadabra Ycaliber of street names in and around Child Care, 1120 Rose Ave.; St. Timothy’s Preschool, Eastern Varsity Park. Tulane wraps 2094 Grant Road. around Cornell and Duke, while Fordham FIRE STATION: No. 2, 160 Cuesta Drive. Way parallels Lee. The streets embrace LOCATION: between Fordham Way, Sladky, Tulane the tiny actual Varsity Park, a perfect Drive and Tulane Drive. neighborhood space with a well-maintained PARKS: basketball court, several modern play Varsity Park, Duke Way and Jefferson Drive; Cuesta Park, Cuesta Drive. structures and swings. Lush grass and shady Michelle Le POST OFFICE: trees surround the playground’s sand, bouncy 1525 Miramonte Ave., Los Altos. rubber mats and concrete surfaces, with PRIVATE SCHOOLS: St. Joseph Catholic School, 1120 Miramonte Ave; St. Francis High School, 1855 benches scattered throughout the park. Catherine Cowley relaxes on the porch of her Ashley Richards brings her niece and Miramonte Ave. Tulane Drive home in the Eastern Varsity Park PUBLIC SCHOOLS: young nephew to the park almost daily in the neighborhood. Los Altos School District — Springer summer. Elementary, Blach Intermediate School; Mountain View- “Daytime is very quiet here,” she said, “but Los Altos Union High School District — Mountain View around noon, nannies and toddlers arrive, and of fruit trees, with ripening apples, guavas, High School. SHOPPING: at 4 p.m. the older kids show up to play. lemons and carefully pruned figs and Blossom Valley Shopping Center, Miramonte “It feels so safe here, and much easier to persimmon happily hearkening back to the Avenue and Cuesta Drive; Rancho Shopping Center, era of shared front-yard bounty. A few blocks Foothill Expressway and Springer Road; Grant Park Plaza manage than Cuesta Park,” she added. “The Shopping Center, Grant Road and Phyllis Avenue. neighbors keeps an eye on each other.” over on Columbia, a front-yard garden hosts Built in 1962, the tract is often referred a summertime stand with truly local produce for neighbors. to as part of the Blossom Valley area, which be a wonderful place for their three children, Tulane resident Katie Cowley has been part includes Springer Meadows, Eastern Varsity who became part of the bike-to-school of the area for 10 years, purchasing a fixer- Park, Blossom Valley Estates and Gest Ranch. culture. Their handsome home is in the upper with her husband. Today, the area is a mix of modernist Springer Elementary district, which feeds into “We bought this house by mistake,” she remodels boasting Sunset Magazine-worthy Mountain View High School. School access is a laughed. “We wanted to be in the Cuesta Park xeriscaped front yards and traditional facades strong topic in the neighborhood, with district (area).” with well-established suburban landscaping. lines running through Eastern Varsity Park. Tulane Drive boasts a veritable orchard She said the neighborhood turned out to — Ruth Handel, 2016

Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 17 Blossom Valley FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Children’s House t’s been about two decades since Theodore of Los Altos, 770 Berry Ave.; Little Acorn School, 1667 IPeng and his cousin Benny Hung first started Miramonte Ave.; St. Timothy’s Nursery School, 2094 playing basketball at the neighborhood park Grant Road. next to their grandfather’s Blossom Valley home FIRE STATION: No. 2, 160 Cuesta Drive. when they were kids. Peng is now a medical Amieva-Wang Sofia Ana LOCATION: student in San Francisco, and Hung lives five Between Springer Road and Miramonte Avenue, Marilyn and Lincoln drives. hours away in Pasadena, but the two continue to PARKS: meet up on the court at Varsity Park for a game Varsity Park, Duke Way and Jefferson Drive; whenever they’re both in the neighborhood. Cuesta Park, Cuesta Drive. The cousins still consider Blossom Valley home. POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. “I loved growing up here, said Peng, pointing PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District— Springer out that the hoop with the chain net is the same Now a medical student in San Francisco, Elementary School, Blach Intermediate School; Mountain Theodore Peng regularly returns to Blossom one after all these years. View-Whistman School District — Bubb Elementary Valley to shoot hoops in the neighborhood park School, Graham Middle School; Mountain View-Los Altos Hung, who spends every Thanksgiving in the near his grandfather’s home where he learned to neighborhood with his extended family, said the Union High School District— Los Altos or Mountain View play basketball. high schools. area still has a rural feel and many families who SHOPPING: have lived there for generations. Park, Blossom Valley Estates, and Gest Ranch — Blossom Valley Shopping Center, “This is a close-knit community with continuity. all built on orchard land in the 1950s. Miramonte Avenue and Cuesta Drive; Rancho Shopping It was the area’s colorful flowers, 1950s ranch- Center, Foothill Expressway and Springer Road; Grant I think residents here want to keep it a welcoming Road Plaza Shopping Center, Grant Road and Phyllis area,” he said. style homes, proximity to three neighborhood Avenue. Brad Ashmore, a resident since 1987, echoes parks, an outdoor shopping center, major freeways PRIVATE SCHOOLS: and access to those top-rated schools that St. Joseph Catholic School, Hung’s and Peng’s sentiments. He, too, spent 1120 Miramonte Ave.; St. Francis High School, 1855 much time at Varsity Park as a father when prompted Christine Hung (no relation to Benny Miramonte Ave. his children were young. He considers the Hung) to arrive in 1991. She’s been there ever since. playground as a key reason why Blossom These days, she said, there are more families Valley residents have formed such strong with young children, a more ethnically diverse return to the neighborhood one day to start their neighborhood bonds. population and many of the ranch homes have own families. The adults make friends with one another while been renovated, but the neighborhood character “It would be ideal to raise my future children the children play together at the park, he explained. has changed little. It’s still a quiet, family- here,” Peng said. Blossom Valley is comprised of four smaller friendly enclave that echoes those earlier days. — Crystal Tai, 2017 neighborhoods — Springer Meadows, Varsity Benny Hung and Peng said they would like to

Cuesta Park FACTS amed after the lush park that anchors CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Little Acorn the neighborhood, Cuesta Park is a mix Preschool, 1667 Miramonte Ave.; St. Timothy’s Preschool, N 2094 Grant Road; YMCA Kid’s Place, 525 Hans Ave. of single-family homes and apartments facing narrow tree-lined streets along Mountain FIRE STATION: No. 2, 160 Cuesta Drive. View’s western edge along Los Altos. El Camino LOCATION: bounded by El Camino Real, Grant Road, Real separates the neighborhood from the Cuesta Drive, Miramonte Avenue, Castro Street. bustling downtown, giving the area a surprising NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Cuesta Park sense of serenity. Neighborhood Association (CPNA), Aileen La Bouff,

It’s this quaint feel and proximity to downtown Michelle Le president, 650-804-0522, [email protected]. Mountain View that attracted Lisa Gefken to the PARKS: Bubb Park, Barbara Avenue and Montalto neighborhood 17 years ago. Drive; Cuesta Park, 615 Cuesta Drive. “I love that we are walking distance from Longtime resident Lisa Gefken walks under POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. downtown. There is an amazing busy library, giant redwood trees that shade one of the PRIVATE SCHOOLS: St. Joseph Catholic School, a beautiful performing arts center and lots of walking paths at Cuesta Park for which the 1120 Miramonte Ave.; St. Francis High School, 1885 enriching activities for kids year round,” Gefken neighborhood is named. Miramonte Ave. said. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View-Whisman School Aileen La Bouff has lived in the area for large park and playground. With facilities for barbecues, tennis, volleyball District — Bubb Elementary School, Graham Middle 16 years. As president of the Cuesta Park School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School Neighborhood Association, La Bouff oversees the and swimming, the park draws many families — District — Mountain View High School. 750-member group, which holds a variety of social residents and outsiders alike — on weekends. SHOPPING: Littig said his family spends much time there. Grant Park Plaza, Grant Road at El Camino events from picnics and holiday celebrations to Real; Blossom Valley Shopping Center, Miramonte emergency response trainings. As a renter, Littig said he’s concerned about the Avenue at Cuesta Drive; Downtown Mountain View. She attributes the association to bringing neighborhood’s shortage of housing. residents together. “Construction is happening, but we need a Newcomer John Littig, who moved to Cuesta whole lot more, “ he said. “I think the changes close by have made Park with his family in December 2016, about two La Bouff said there’s been a lot of development Cuesta Park more desirable, as it has retained its months after the birth of his second daughter, was around the outside edges of Cuesta Park in recent residential charm and has stayed quieter than looking for a larger home for his growing family years. She believes the new development has been some of the surrounding (areas),” La Bouff said. when he discovered the neighborhood with its good for the neighborhood. — Crystal Tai, 2017

18 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com When it comes to Mountain View the Agent choice is clear: Tori

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Located in the heart of downtown, Old Mountain View is among the most bustling areas of the city. Its close proximity to tech companies and startups and Castro Street’s bars and restaurants have FACTS made this neighborhood a hangout for young adults and professionals. CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: YMCA Kids’ Place at Landels School, 115 W. Dana St. ld Mountain View is not quite living city also boasts several parks and a well-funded FIRE STATION: No. 1, 251 S. Shoreline Blvd. Oup to its name. Old trees line the public school system. While being kid friendly, LOCATION: Bounded by El Camino Real, Shoreline sidewalks and populate the various Old Mountain View is also a hangout for young Boulevard, Evelyn Avenue and Highways 85/237. parks, but beneath their aged shade, new adults and professionals. The close proximity NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Old Mountain View young families are out and about enjoying, of the world’s biggest technology companies, Neighborhood Association, omvna.org. once again, the perpetual blue skies. The including Google, to Castro Street’s bars and PARKS: Dana Park, West Dana Street at Oak Street; patter of children’s feet and the clacking and restaurants attracts the regular patronage of its Eagle Park & Pool, S. Shoreline Boulevard at Church trilling of bikes and birds drift between the employees. Street; Pioneer Park, Church and Castro streets; Mercy- cottages that sit peacefully behind freshly Roberta Goncalves had been living in the Bush Park, Mercy and Bush streets; Fairmont Park, planted gardens. neighborhood with her husband since 2004. Fairmont Avenue and Bush Street; Landels Park, West The ethereality of Old Mountain View’s They have two young children and found a Dana Street near Calderon Avenue. residential area is interrupted, though, by the private school for them to attend in Los Gatos. POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. dynamism of Castro Street. Here, dozens of As a result, they moved to Los Gatos in 2014, PUBLIC SCHOOLS:Mountain View-Whisman School restaurants and cafes, many of them younger but they plan to return to Old Mountain District — Landels Elementary School, Graham Middle than the children that run past, boast new, View after their kids finish school in several School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School diverse flavors from Asia, the Middle East, years, so they decided to rent their house. District — Mountain View High School. Europe and South America. Cars coast up Their tenant, Angela Siddall, is a retiree from SHOPPING: Downtown Mountain View, Grant Park and down the street, their drivers looking for Portola Valley looking for a fresh change to Plaza. parking in vain as young professionals look on her lifestyle. from restaurants’ outdoor seating. “I moved here for the climate, access to People want to live here. Residents transportation, and the restaurants on Castro have to get used to the noise level here, but I like repeatedly cite the temperate climate, access to Street,” Siddall said. “I won’t be able to drive the idea of walking and eating around Castro at transportation and cultural diversity as reasons forever and want to be active. You can hear your 9 at night.” why they moved to Old Mountain View. The heartbeat at night in Portola, so I will probably — Joshua Alvarez, 2014

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Kieran Gonsalves cuts dinosaur kale from his neighbor’s plot at the Willowgate Community Gardens. There is typically a long waiting list to secure a plot. FACTS LOCATION: bounded by Central Expressway, Moffett esiding in a townhouse complex in Avenue, which includes 92 individual plots for Blvd., Middleﬁeld Road and Highway 85. Willowgate feels like living in a park, Mountain View residents and city employees R FIRE STATION: No. 1, 251 S. Shoreline Blvd. according to Anna Kogan, a teacher to rent. Currently, there are no plots available, PARKS: who works in Menlo Park but has lived in the according to Shaun Chilkotowsky, recreation Jackson Park, Jackson Street and Stierlin Road; Willowgate neighborhood of Mountain View supervisor of the City of Mountain View. Willowgate Community Garden. with her family for eight years. “The waiting list is a mile long,” said longtime POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. “This is a nice little section because of all the resident Barry Fujii. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View-Whisman School trees. It sort of feels like living in a park if you Fujii said his favorites places in the District — Landels Elementary School, Crittenden live in one of the townhouse complexes here, neighborhood include the Mexican restaurant Middle School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High but it’s close to downtown Mountain View, close Tres Hermanos Taqueria and JL Produce School District — Mountain View High School. to a Safeway store, and close to the Stevens grocery store. The restaurant and the market ADULT SCHOOL: Mountain View-Los Altos Adult Creek Trail. That’s why we bought our place,” are both located at Moffett Central Shopping Education Center, 333 Moffett Blvd. Kogan said. Center on the northeast corner of Moffett SHOPPING: Moffett Central Shopping Center, Indeed, tall trees are ubiquitous in the Boulevard and Central Avenue. Downtown Mountain View, Sunday farmers market at neighborhood bounded by Central Expressway, Kogan also said she likes JL Produce for the Caltrain parking lot (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year round). Moffett Boulevard, Middlefield Road and store’s incredibly attractive prices and quick Highway 85. Towering redwood and magnolia turnover of inventories. sometimes takes ESL (English as a second trees shade the quiet streets, making them Owner Jose Ordaz, who bought the small language) classes at the Mountain View-Los walking, jogging and biking friendly even supermarket from his uncle four years ago and Altos Adult Education Center at 333 Moffett during a hot summer day. changed its name from Oakmont Produce to JL Blvd., in walking distance from the studio Kogan likes jogging in the neighborhood Produce, said he kept everything else about the apartment, Sanchez said. before picking up her children from day care, store the same. “Rents were not so high when I was small. she said. “I used to live close by, but I moved to a more My mom and I used to live in a one-bedroom Besides townhouses like the one Kogan owns, affordable place in San Jose,” said Ordaz. “Rents apartment, but now we can barely afford a there are apartments, condominiums and are crazy around here. I often hear customers studio here. We don’t want to move away traditional single-family homes in Willowgate, complain about their rent.” because we’ve always lived here, and we love which presents an eclectic mix of architectural Amelia Sanchez and her mother live in a it here. This is a beautiful and convenient styles. studio apartment in Willowgate for $1,900 per neighborhood,” she said. The centerpiece of the neighborhood is the month, the recent high school graduate said. Willowgate Community Garden on Andsbury Her mother, who works as a nanny, — Crystal Tai, 2017 22 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com

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Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 23 Jackson Park Michelle Le

Longtime neighborhood resident Jim Holmes describes Jackson Park as “a nice, quiet pocket in the middle of a bunch of commotion all sides.” FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: The Wonder Years ituated on an island between the busy only a small backyard, having the park nearby Preschool, 462 Stierlin Road. thoroughfares of Central Expressway makes up for it. He and his wife appreciate the S FIRE STATION: Station No. 1, 251 S. Shoreline Blvd. and Shoreline and Moffett boulevards, activity that younger families lend to the park, LOCATION: the Jackson Park neighborhood can be where there are often birthday parties and bounded by Shoreline Boulevard, Stierlin Road, Windmill Park Lane, Central Avenue, Moffett easy to miss. However, a little investigation almost always kids playing. Boulevard and Central Expressway. reveals an eclectic mix of old and new homes, Anne Selin and her children are one such PARK: surrounding a small but lively city park. family from the Jackson Park neighborhood Jackson Park, Jackson Street and Stierlin Road. Sprinkled throughout Jackson Park’s streets who makes frequent use of the park facilities, POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. are new groups of houses, older properties, which sport a grassy area, tall trees and two PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View-Whisman School unique construction and even some apartments. playground setups, one for toddlers and another District — Theuerkauf Elementary School, Crittenden Some homes are hidden on narrow back streets for older children. Selin also likes to walk Middle School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High like Jackson Alley. downtown to the library or to have breakfast School District — Mountain View High School. According to longtime resident Jim Holmes, with her kids at local establishments like SHOPPING: Moffett Boulevard, Downtown Mountain the neighborhood has become increasingly Olympus Caffe & Bakery on Castro Street. View, Bailey Plaza. residential over the years, as some old In 2011 Selin and her husband bought their industrial properties have been replaced by new home on Washington Street, also a “newer — and residents of different ages and cultural developments. The result today is a peaceful build,” and started raising their family. Though backgrounds. atmosphere remarkably close to downtown and they have thought of moving elsewhere, Selin Despite the differences, the atmosphere is the Mountain View Caltrain station. said that the neighborhood definitely has its friendly and supportive, she said. When a “It’s just kind of a nice, quiet pocket in the advantages. house caught fire around the corner, multiple middle of a bunch of commotion on all sides,” “We were looking at other houses ... but it’s neighbors alerted her immediately and the Holmes said. just so hard to beat this location,” she said. family was able to stay the night with some Holmes, a retired dentist who has mostly Close food shopping options include a other friends down the street. lived in Mountain View since 1971, moved Safeway down Stierlin Road; a market called JL Since moving in, the family has become to Jackson Park in 1988 when he and his wife Produce with Mexican, European and Russian close with some neighbors. Many of those purchased one of a handful of newly built foods; and Ava’s Downtown Market on Castro. acquaintances were made at the nearby park, homes. As part of its agreement with the city, For running and biking, the neighborhood also Selin said. That’s one more good excuse for the the developer — who built more homes on the has quick access to Stevens Creek Trail, which is family to drop by the park often, beyond the other side of Moffett — gave the land up for the just a bit more than a half mile away. entertainment it affords her kids. creation of Jackson Park, just across Fountain Selin described the Jackson Park “That’s why I like to go to the park myself ...” Park Lane from Holmes. neighborhood as having a socioeconomic mix she said. “We’re going right now.” Though Holmes’ 1,700-square-foot home has — with some renters and some homeowners — Sam Sciolla, 2014 24 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com Moffett Boulevard

n the 1970s, George Markle came to IMountain View for a job — a similar story for many today. He originally chose Moffett Boulevard, and specifically Cypress Point Lakes because of the ease of commute. Today, people will find the same proximity to transportation options, including Caltrain, light rail and Highways 85 and 101. In addition, Markle said access to bike trails is excellent and the neighborhood has been earmarked for further development to enhance bike lanes and connections to companies on the north side of Highway 101, such as LinkedIn, Microsoft and Google. Courtesy of George Markle “This is where the future is invented,” he said. The Moffett neighborhood is where “the future is invented,” says George Markle, who lives in FACTS “And that’s why I still want to be here. It’s the the Cypress Point Lakes condo complex. place to be if you have any shred of nerd in you.” FIRE STATION: No. 1, 251 S. Shoreline Blvd. But back at his condo at Cypress Point Lakes, these days, Markle said he still connects with LOCATION: bounded by Central Expressway, West one wouldn’t know high-tech companies and the community, but through the social network Middleﬁeld, San Veron Avenue, San Lucas Avenue and the bustle of traffic share the same city. Here, Nextdoor.com. There he is the co-lead of the Highway 85. redwood trees reach toward the sky while ducks forum. This online community has helped the NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Moffett Boulevard quack and float around on the little ponds within neighborhood connect and stay in the know Neighborhood Group, George Markle, forum lead, the development. Markle said they also have about neighborhood matters. [email protected], 650-391-8693, squirrels, other birds and the occasional raccoon. Terrie Rayl, another Moffett Boulevard moffettneighborhood.org. “It’s like you are up in the mountains at a resident, shares Markle’s love of Mountain View. PARK: Jackson Park, Jackson Street and Stierlin Road. resort,” he said. She has lived here for more than 15 years and POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. Markle has also lived in other parts of the really appreciates the neighborhood’s location. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View-Whisman School neighborhood, but Cypress Point Lakes will “Everything is just so accessible,” she said. “It’s District — Landels Elementary School, Crittenden always bring back fond memories because that’s the only place I have ever lived in California. Middle School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High where he met his now wife, JoAnne. In the Once I found it, I knew I had found a little piece School District — Mountain View High School. clubhouse many years ago, Markle met JoAnne at of heaven here.” SHOPPING: Moffett Boulevard, Downtown Mountain a party while he was dressed up as Santa Claus. — Brenna Malmberg, 2015 View, Sunday farmers market at Caltrain parking lot. While not dressing up as Santa Claus much

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Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 25 Stierlin Estates Michelle Le

Built in 1962, the Stierlin Estates development consists mostly of single-story homes. Residents say the “secluded little neighborhood” is within in a four-mile radius of everything you need. FACTS FIRE STATION: No. 5, 2195 N. Shoreline Blvd. t’s not uncommon to see people tending we moved to this neighborhood.” LOCATION: between Terra Bella Avenue, North to their gardens or children playing in Carter said his immediate neighbors are Shoreline Boulevard, West Middleﬁeld Road, Moffett I Boulevard and Highway 85. their front yards in the Stierlin Estates pretty social. However, some people tend neighborhood; that’s a typical weekend to stay to themselves. Residents don’t have PARKS: San Veron Park, San Veron Avenue and afternoon. communitywide events, like block parties. Middleﬁeld Road. While bustling Middlefield Road and Flora Grimminger remembers when POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St.; Mountain Shoreline Boulevard are nearby, the Mountain Shoreline Boulevard was named Stierlin View Carriers Annex, 1070 La Avenida St. View community appears calm. From Road in Mountain View. A resident of the PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View-Whisman School manicured lawns to the close proximity to life neighborhood since 1969, she has seen the District— Monta Loma Elementary School, Crittenden essentials, many who live here like the “tucked community transform over the last 40 years. Middle School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High away” vibe. These are just some of the things “It’s changed,” Grimminger said. “There’s a School District— Mountain View and Los Altos high that Ken Carter likes. lot of big buildings coming in. It was much schools. Carter has lived in the quaint neighborhood quieter when we moved here.” SHOPPING: Bailey Park Plaza, 570 N. Shoreline Blvd. for 22 years. His brother-in-law actually lives Grimminger’s late husband, who grew up four doors down from him. Carter and his on a farm, was attracted to the rural feel of the had an uncle who lived about a mile away near wife, Georgia, used to live one mile away Mountain View neighborhood. At the corner Theuerkauf Elementary School in Mountain before moving to Stierlin Estates in 1978. of Moffett Boulevard and Middlefield Road View. This was an additional draw as she was “It’s a secluded little neighborhood,” Carter there was an old farm house, and if one was new to the country and wanted to be close to said. “Kids have been known to play ball in the lucky, one could see peacocks, she recalled. family. She is glad she stayed. streets.” That rural atmosphere no longer remains, as “It’s really a great area,” Cardestam said. “It’s Carter said the location of the neighborhood orchards and farmland have been replaced a nice quiet neighborhood.” is convenient as shopping and groceries are with businesses and additional housing. Perci and her husband, Perr, like that it is close by. He commends the easy access to the They moved to Mountain View from the a safe community. Cardestam said her family freeway and the location less than a mile from East Coast. The location of the property was used to travel often and would be away for downtown Mountain View’s Castro Street. As a nice, with easy access to U.S. Highway 101 — a weeks at a time. They would simply ask their retiree, this is a bonus, he added. benefit considering her husband worked for neighbors to keep an eye on their property and “Everything you need is within a four-mile the San Francisco International Airport. nothing ever happened, she said. radius,” he said. “That’s what sold us on the home,” she said. “You can trust (your neighbors),” she said. Another aspect of the community that While Grimminger is not a fan of the The neighborhood is near outdoor amenities Carter is fond of is its ethnic diversity. For increased nearby traffic and construction, she as well, such as parks and walking trails. example, just across the street from him lives a believes the influx of development is due to an Cardestam used to take walks along Shoreline Japanese family and to the left of them resides increased need for housing. Boulevard. a Filipino family, he said. His neighbors behind Perci Cardestam has lived in the The Stierlin Estates development was built his home are Russian and the family to the left neighborhood since 1974. She said the location in 1962 and consisted of single-story homes. It of his home hails from Taiwan. was appealing in terms of access to work and has grown over the years. “It’s quite diverse,” he said. “I like that part. to school for her children. I didn’t discover the diversity of our area until A native of the Philippines, Cardestam also — TaLeiza Calloway-Appleton, 2016

26 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com North Whisman Brenna Malmberg Brenna North Whisman is about as close as a residential neighborhood can get to Google’s main campus. Since the tech giant moved in down the street, the neighborhood has seen a building boom, and FACTS home prices have skyrocketed. CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: German orth Whisman is about as close as a Kelley Ketchmark, president of the Wagon International School of Silicon Valley, 310 Easy St.; residential neighborhood can get to Wheel Association, describes the area as Kiddie Academy, 205 E. Middlefield Road; NASA Ames N Child Care Center, Mail Stop N-270-1 Moffett Field. Google’s main campus. And while “eclectic.” Single-family homes, town houses, the high-tech company’s buses may make condominiums and apartment complexes all FIRE STATION: No. 4, 229 N. Whisman Road. getting onto U.S. Highway 101 a problem at co-exist along the streets. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: North times, North Whisman is still a great place “It has great access to the highways,” Whisman Neighborhood Association, Jessica to live, said Lisa Burns, who has lived in the Ketchmark said. “We also have easy access to Gandhi, [email protected]; Wagon Wheel neighborhood for 29 years and has witnessed the Hetch Hetchy and Stevens Creek trails, Neighborhood Association, Kelley Ketchmark, the area’s increased traffic, new housing which are great for walking, running and [email protected]. PARKS: developments and skyrocketing home prices biking.” Whisman Park, Easy Street and Middlefield since Google moved in down the street. Cynthia Sanchez, who grew up in the Road; Devonshire Park, 62 Devonshire Ave. One thing that hasn’t changed, however, is the neighborhood, said escalating housing prices POST OFFICE: Moffett Field, Bldg. 67. neighborhood’s close-knit community feeling, have made it more difficult for her family to PRIVATE SCHOOLS: German International School of Burns said. remain in the area. Silicon Valley, 310 Easy St. “Neighbors know each other and look out for “The cost of living has gone up too much here PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View-Whisman School one another,” said Burns, who joined the Wagon in the past four or five years,” said Sanchez, who District — Huff, Landels or Monta Loma elementary Wheel Neighborhood Association — one of two is a cook at Google. schools, Crittenden Middle School; Mountain View-Los associations in the area — more than a decade In recent years, the city provided some Altos Union High School District — Mountain View High ago to help preserve that quaint neighborhood relief in the neighborhood and opened Tyrella School. character. Garden Apartments, an affordable-housing SHOPPING: Strip mall on Leong Drive; retail centers on In 2008, the association successfully defeated community developed, owned and managed by Middlefield Road and Whisman Road. a high-density, three-story development that Midpen Housing. would have been built on land once owned by There currently is no vacancy in the 56-unit not have been able to stay in the neighborhood the Public Utilities Commission, she said. As apartment complex, according to property without Tyrella Garden. a result, a new developer is building a much manager Daniel Gutierrez. “Rent out here has gotten ridiculous,” Schulz smaller project with input from residents. Besides affordable housing, Tyrella Garden said. “There is no way a low-wage worker or a Neighbors say the Wagon Wheel and North also offers free after-school programs for low-income retiree can afford these rent prices Whisman neighborhood associations have been children, as well as adult education classes and anymore.” instrumental in pulling the neighborhoods recreational activities. together as it experiences growth and change. Mark Schulz, who is retired, said he would — Crystal Tai, 2017

Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 27 Wagon Wheel Michelle Le

Steve Bell holds Spencer as he and his wife, Vicki Chang, swing Sebastian in front of their home in the Wagon Wheel neighborhood. FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: German International School of Silicon Valley, 310 Easy St.; n Friday nights, Steve Bell calls in they can easily walk to the smaller Devonshire Kiddie Academy, 205 E. Middlefield Road; NASA Ames Oto place an order at Mario’s Italiano. Park, which is great for younger kids, or Child Care Center, Moffett Field. Right away, he is asked if he wants Whisman Park, which is much larger, Chang FIRE STATION: No. 4, 229 N. Whisman Road. the usual, and he replies, “Yes, that would be said. Nearby trails also welcome those up for LOCATION: great.” more adventures. bounded by East Middlefield Road, Tyrella For Bell (or “Friday Night Steve” as he is “We love the area, but ... we feel the only thing Avenue, Fairchild Drive and North Whisman Road. known at Mario’s) and his family, that small- lacking is a school,” said Chang, who helped NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Wagon Wheel town feel is one of the many reasons they campaign for the reopening of Slater School, Neighborhood Association, Kelley Ketchmark, are glad they moved to the Wagon Wheel which closed in 2006. The Mountain View- [email protected], wp.wagonwheelna.org. PARKS: neighborhood in 2009. Bell and his wife, Vicki Whisman School District board voted in 2015 to Devonshire Park and Whisman Park. Chang, looked all over for a new home, but open an elementary school on the Slater campus. POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. decided on this area for affordability and the The school is scheduled to open in 2019. PRIVATE SCHOOLS: German International School of appeal of its “nerdy” history, Chang said. Gary Rosen, a resident of Wagon Wheel for Silicon Valley, 310 Easy St. The neighborhood gets its name from more than 20 years, said the lack of schools is PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View-Whisman School Walker’s Wagon Wheel, a local watering hole definitely a problem. His own child actually District — Huff, Landels or Monta Loma elementary back in the day whose patrons were some of the attended Slater School many years ago, and schools, Crittenden Middle School; Mountain View-Los engineers from Fairchild Semiconductor, Intel knows that families with kids will appreciate the Altos Union High School District — Mountain View High and National Semiconductor, Bell said. The new school. School. stories live on, even though the building was Since his time in the neighborhood, he has demolished in 2003. also watched it grow as companies have moved community uses its Yahoo group to talk about “It’s really cool to drive along and see streets into the area. He understands that people want issues, such as Slater School, and plan activities, named after Fairchild and National,” Bell said. to live near their work because he chose Wagon such as community breakfast or pumpkin “That’s all a part of our neighborhood. I just Wheel for that very reason. decorating around Halloween. love it.” “It’s definitely a lot more congested now,” he “We had so many people come out to decorate Today, the neighborhood is still next door to said, “but there is a lot of diversity.” that we kept running out of pumpkins,” Rosen tech companies, such as Google, but that’s not That diversity can be seen in its houses — said. “It was fun to see.” all it offers. Now that the couple has two boys, from apartments to single-family homes — and Sebastian and Spencer, the family enjoys that its residents. To bring everyone together, the — Brenna Malmberg, 2015 28 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com Slater Veronica Weber Bounded by Highway 85, Central Expressway, North Whisman Road and East Middlefield Road, Slater has experienced rapid growth in the past five years. Its proximity to Stevens Creek Trail, FACTS which connects to downtown, is a big attraction. CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: German International School of Silicon Valley, 310 Easy St.; ssi Romem and his family often use the years, according to Williams and his wife, Marty. Kiddie Academy, 205 E. Middlefield Road; NASA Ames IStevens Creek Trail to walk downtown on the “It’s progress, I guess,” said Marty. “There are Child Care Center, Moffett Field; Google Children’s weekends, and his children love Creekside bound to be changes.” Center at the Woods, 325 Gladys Ave. Park, according to the Slater resident, who Even so, the neighborhood has retained much FIRE STATION: No. 4, 229 N. Whisman Road. sometimes takes Caltrain to get to his of its original Western-style character in terms LOCATION: bounded by Hwy. 85, Central Expressway, workplace in San Francisco. of architecture, according to the Williamses. North Whisman Road, East Middlefield Road. “The neighborhood’s within walking range The couple expressed deep concerns about NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Robert Rich, of Caltrain and within a short commute of the traffic on Easy Street. They said many cars president, [email protected]. my wife’s job. It’s also a shade more affordable coming out of Central Expressway drive too PARKS: Whisman Park, Easy Street and Middlefield than some other nearby neighborhoods,” said fast and hardly stop at the stop sign at the Road; Devonshire Park, 62 Devonshire Ave.; Creekside Romem while naming the reasons for his intersection of Easy Street and Gladys Avenue. Park, 200 Easy St.; Slater School Park, 220 N Whisman choice to move into the neighborhood bounded The Williamses suggested putting up a traffic Road. by Highway 85, Central Expressway, North light at the intersection to prevent accidents, POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. Whisman Road and East Middlefield Road. especially given Creekside Park is located on PRIVATE SCHOOLS: German International School of “The proximity to downtown Mountain View one corner of the intersection. Silicon Valley, 310 Easy St. and Creekside Park, as well as the shopping “When they kept building more houses in the PUBLIC SCHOOLS: center at Middlefield and Whisman, are neighborhood, they didn’t consider how much Mountain View-Whisman School District — Huff, Landels or Monta Loma elementary definitely pros,” added Romem, who moved to traffic the housing developments would bring,” schools, Crittenden Middle School; Mountain View- Slater three years ago. Williams added. Whisman School District — Mountain View High School. By contrast, Kenneth Williams has lived in Traffic is also of concern to Romem, though SHOPPING: strip mall on Leong Drive; retail centers the area for 64 years. The longtime resident said he likes the neighborhood’s quick access to on Middlefield Road and Whisman Road; downtown he’s seen tremendous changes over the years. It Highways 85, 101 and 237. Mountain View. only cost him $24,500 to buy a big house near “The commute to San Francisco is miserable, Creekside Park, and his house is now 117 years whether you take Caltrain, drive to Daly City old, the 90-year-old veteran said. BART or drive all the way into the city via 101 make ends meet, and others avoid moving “Central Expressway wasn’t here; Highway or 280,” said Romem. “But commuting within here for the same reason,” said Romem. 85 wasn’t here. The Stevens Creek Trail hadn’t the area is reasonable. The easy access to 101 is “Single-family homes should give way to been built. Middlefield was half gravel. Gladys very convenient, especially on the days I am too more townhouses, condos and apartment Avenue used to be all the way through,” late to park at Caltrain.” buildings. The more, the better. Sooner rather said Williams, when describing the Slater While recognizing the traffic issue caused by than later.” neighborhood six decades ago. overpopulation, Romem believes there needs To this day, homes in Slater are generally Slater started going through a sharp increase to be more new housing to keep housing prices one- or two-story buildings. Apartments are no in population about 15 to 20 years ago, and the from skyrocketing. taller, hidden behind lush trees. growth has been the most rapid in the past five “Many people must leave if they want to — Crystal Tai, 2017

Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 29 Whisman Station Michelle Le

The Whisman Station planned neighborhood was part of the city’s vision to transform industrial land near Moffett Federal Airfield into a housing and transportation hub. Today, the area FACTS boasts tree-lined streets and two acres of public parks surrounded by a mix of condos, townhouses CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: and single-family residences. Kiddie Academy, 205 E. Middlefield Road; Building Kidz, 250 E. Dana St.; German International School of Silicon Valley, 310 Easy ven before ground broke on the first phase maintenance,” Pollart said. St.; Yew Chung International School, 199 E. Middlefield Eof construction in Whisman Station, Whisman Station boasts tree-lined streets, Road. competition to own a home in the planned manicured picnic areas, tot lots, community FIRE STATION: No. 4, 229 N. Whisman Road. community was fierce. pools and two acres of public parks surrounded LOCATION: Central Expressway, Ferguson Drive, streets “If you wanted a house there, you had to sign by a mix of condos, townhouses and single- off Kent Drive, Snyder Lane, N. Whisman Road. up on a waiting list,” said Ed Schlosser, who family residences. The nearby Stevens Creek NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Community was among the earliest residents to purchase Trail provides easy access for the many Googlers Management Services, 408-559-1977. a single-family home when the development making the 10-minute bicycle trek to work. And PARKS: Magnolia Park, Magnolia Lane and Whisman opened in 1997. just across the street at the Slater School campus Park Drive; Chetwood Park, Chetwood Drive and Nearly 18 years later, demand for housing in on Whisman Road, Google operates a private Whisman Station Drive; Light Rail Trail, from station to the 53-acre neighborhood designed around the day care for its employees’ children. Middlefield Road. Whisman Light Rail station hasn’t waned. The neighborhood was part of the city’s PRIVATE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES: three “I think the neighborhood has kind of moved vision to transform industrial land near mini parks, two tot lots, four swimming pools, three up in the world,” said Jim Pollart, who was Moffett Federal Airfield into a housing and clubhouses. project manager for the neighborhood’s KB transportation hub and has continued to see POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. Homes subdivision and purchased the first more phases of development. PRIVATE SCHOOLS: German International School of house on his street. “For many years, this was Nayema DiFazio moved to the neighborhood Silicon Valley, 310 Easy St.; Yew Chung International considered a starter neighborhood, and when with her husband in 2011. The engineers were School, 310 Easy St. you could afford it, you would move over to a looking for a larger place when her husband saw PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View-Whisman School bigger home on the south side of El Camino.” a posting from another Google employee about District — Landels Elementary School, Crittenden Then, along came tech companies like Google a vacant three-bedroom townhouse. Middle School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High and LinkedIn that opened headquarters nearby, DiFazio, who is now a mother, said she School District — Mountain View High School. attracting hundreds of new workers to that area appreciates the neighborhood’s family-friendly SHOPPING: El Camino Real, Downtown Mountain of Mountain View. character, whether participating in holiday View. “It’s become really attractive for families potlucks or the July 4 parade. who want to be close to their work and — Linda Taaffe, 2014 want amenities, like pools, without the 30 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com WE MEASURE QUALITY BY RESULTS Is Quality Important to You?

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Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 31 Sylvan Park Michelle Le

Centered on the spacious park that gives the neighborhood its name, Sylvan Park has it all — a strong sense of community, a multitude of shops and restaurants nearby (the neighborhood is a FACTS stone’s throw from downtown Mountain View) and easy access to freeways and public transport. CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Western Montessori Day School, 323 Moorpark Way; YMCA — Slater, 325 very year, Laura Freiberg, resident of neighbors sharing a friendly chat as they work Gladys Ave. ESylvan Park since 1994, counts the on their garden or home projects, or pick up a FIRE STATION: No. 4, 229 N. Whisman Road. number of kids she hands out Halloween game of tennis or soccer at the playground. LOCATION: bounded by West El Camino Real, Highway candy to. Centered on the spacious park that gives 85, Highway 237 and the Sunnyvale border. “Usually, I hand out candy to an average of the neighborhood its name, Sylvan Park NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Linda Reynolds, 200-300 kids. This year, it went over 350,” she has it all — a strong sense of community, a chair, [email protected]. said. Freiberg, who has three kids herself, calls multitude of shops and restaurants nearby PARKS: Halloween nights in Sylvan Park “beautiful,” (the neighborhood is a stone’s throw from Sylvan Park, Sylvan Avenue and DeVoto Street. POST OFFICE: with lots of costumes, candy and fireworks, downtown Mountain View) and easy access to Mountain View, 211 Hope St. and children from many of the surrounding freeways and public transport. PRIVATE SCHOOLS: St. Stephen Lutheran School, 320 neighborhoods dropping by for trick-or- The prime location is one of the biggest Moorpark Way. treating. attractions, according to Denise Smith, who PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View-Whisman School Halloween isn’t the only time the moved to the neighborhood two years ago. District — Landels Elementary School, Graham Middle neighborhood comes together; neighbors “It’s basically in a mixed residential area; School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School gather for Fourth of July celebrations, potluck there are homeowners and mobile home District — Mountain View High School. dinners every six weeks — even Thanksgiving parks, as well as duplex rentals and some SHOPPING: Americana Shopping Center — Lucky and Christmas nights, which is “unusual” apartments — all in one area, close to the Stores. because holidays are mostly celebrated within park,” she said. individual families, Freiberg said. Both mobile home parks, Sunset Estates Philip, who moved to the neighborhood from “To a large extent, the whole neighborhood and New Frontier, are vibrant communities Sunnyvale eight years ago. feels like an extended family,” she said, calling filled with retired adults who come together For Philip, it may have been “big skylights” Sylvan Park a very friendly, supportive, regularly for potlucks, knitting groups, themed on some of the homes that brought him comfortable and safe neighborhood. parties and book clubs. to Sylvan Park, but it was the “sense of Like many Mountain View neighborhoods People in Sylvan Park are a “nice” mix of community” that made him stay. on a weekend afternoon, Sylvan Park comes both longtime owners and young families with alive with most garage doors wide open, and kids who have just moved in, said Stephen — Ranjini Raghunath, 2014 32 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com Making your real estate dreams come true! ely on a life-long area R resident to sell or buy your next home. I am committed to providing the “absolute best service” to you.

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www.jmateo.com Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 33 Martens-Carmelita nce an unincorporated part of the FACTS Ocounty, the Martens-Carmelita neighborhood is one of the only CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Baby World, 1715 neighborhoods in Mountain View where Grant Road; Montecito Preschool, 1468 Grant Road; St. families can find a particular amalgamation of Timothy’s Preschool, 2094 Grant Road; YMCA — Huff a near pin-drop quiet noise level, a hodgepodge Kids’ Place, 253 Martens Ave. of cottages, midcentury moderns and two- FIRE STATION: No. 2, 160 Cuesta Drive. story homes partitioned by tall hedges and LOCATION: Martens Avenue and Carmelita Drive and ranch-inspired fences, tiny cul-de-sacs, large Michelle Le nearby streets. lot sizes and only half a street’s worth of NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Martens-Carmelita sidewalks. Neighborhood Association, Robin Iwai, 650-961-8257, “The housing side has no sidewalk because The Martens/Carmelita neighborhood retains [email protected]. that was formerly county. The school side has a much of the rural feel from when it was part of PARKS: Huff Park, Martens Avenue. sidewalk. And when you go back past Barcelona unincorporated Santa Clara County. POST OFFICE: Court, that’s the newer houses — codes require Mountain View, 211 Hope St. that they put sidewalks back there. Carmelita PRIVATE SCHOOLS (NEARBY): St. Simon Catholic itself ... they don’t have a sidewalk, so that’s the neighborhood have lived there for a number School, 1840 Grant Road, Los Altos. unique,” said Tori Atwell, a real estate broker of years, or are families with children who have PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View-Whisman School whose children attended the neighborhood’s attended the local school. District — Huff Elementary School, Graham Middle former Abracadabra daycare center, which is “It’s just got that kind of country, rural feel. School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School now Frank L. Huff Elementary School. You know it’s a great location for kids, if you District — Mountain View High School. Many of the rustic cottages on the C-shaped have your kids at the school. And also if you SHOPPING: Grant Park Plaza, Grant Road at El Camino street of Carmelita feature backyard storage want to build,” Atwell said. “It used to be that Real; Mountain View Shopping Center, El Camino at sheds large enough to be visible from the street. when people wanted a bigger home, they would Grant Road. “Whenever you have a big yard, you tend to go out and buy a bigger home, but now it’s so expensive that now it makes sense to build if have a lot of yard stuff, or at least you used to. rather than moved out seems to show a true you like your neighborhood. So people stay So when people had a big lot, they’d put a big statement about how much residents love the where they are.” shed on it,” Atwell explained. neighborhood. Not surprisingly, many of the residents within The fact that so many of the families in the neighborhood have rebuilt their homes, — Chrissi Angeles, 2015 Cuernavaca hose living under the red-tiled roofs FACTS T with tailored green landscapes appear content in the community Irv Statler CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Western Montessori calls his “Camelot.” Statler and his wife, Day School, 323 Moorpark Way; St. Timothy’s Nursery Renée have lived in the Cuernavaca School, 2094 Grant Road; YMCA — Huff Kids’ Place, neighborhood for about 30 years. 253 Martens Ave. Homes were still under construction when FIRE STATION: No. 2, 160 Cuesta Drive. the Statler family decided to move to the Weber Veronica LOCATION: off Crestview Drive, near El Camino Real Mountain View neighborhood in August and the Sunnyvale border. 1988. To him, they could not have chosen a NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Cuernavaca better place to live. Homeowners Association, Lisa Tenover, president; Lisa “We didn’t realize how wonderful it would Spanish-style homes with red-tiled roofs Lenoci, CMS property management, 408-559-1977, be,” Irv said. “I’ve seen it grow for more than dominate the streetscape in the 30-acre cuernavacahoa.com. 30 years. We didn’t realize at the time the Cuernavaca neighborhood. PARKS: Green belt on the property. perfect retirement home we have.” POST OFFICE: The development was completed in 1989 Nob Hill Foods, 1250 Grant Road. through five phases. It consists of 170 what she likes most is the diversity of the PRIVATE SCHOOLS: St. Stephen Lutheran School, 320 Spanish-style homes that rest on 30 acres of community. Moorpark Way. land. Homes vary in design and size with “That’s the nice thing about it,” Renée said. PUBLIC SCHOOLS:Mountain View-Whisman School floor plan options ranging from 1,500 square “There are families with small children; there District — Huff Elementary School, Graham Middle feet to 2,500 square feet. are retirees like us and everyone gets along School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School Located off Crestview Drive near the very, very well.” District — Mountain View High School. Sunnyvale border, the nearest hospital is less Access to main thoroughfares such as SHOPPING: Cala Center, 1111 W. El Camino Real than half of a mile away. Grocery stores and Interstate 280 and the community vibe are in Sunnyvale; Grant Park Plaza, 1350 Grant Road, restaurants are within walking distance. Just just two factors that attracted Peter Panfili to Mountain View. one block away from bustling El Camino the neighborhood. He and his wife, Natalie, Real, the Cuernavaca neighborhood is its own have lived there since 1987. a lovely community. It’s a neighborhood,” he hamlet tucked away from the rest of the city. “We’re the original owners. What we like said. “It really is.” While Renée enjoys this element of solitude, most is the sense of community,” Peter said. “You really get to know your neighbors. It’s — TaLeiza Calloway-Appleton, 2015

34 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com Dutch Haven FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: El Camino YMCA, ot a week has gone by in which Dutch 2400 Grant Road; Mountain View Parent Nursery NHaven resident Rohit Sawhney hasn’t School, 1325 Bryant Ave.; Primary Plus, 333 Eunice Ave.; used the local YMCA or the Stevens St. Timothy’s Nursery School, 2094 Grant Road; YMCA Creek Trail. Having these recreational Way to Grow Full-Day Preschool, 1501 Oak Ave., Los opportunities nearby appealed to Sawhney and Altos (nearby). his family as they sought a new home in 2005. FIRE STATION: No. 2, 160 Cuesta Drive. File photo “We thought, ‘How nice that we can just walk LOCATION: bounded by Carol Avenue, Grant Road, across the street to these places,’” he said. Sleep Avenue and Villa Nueva Way. Besides the local amenities, Sawhney said the NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Dutch Haven sense of community was apparent right away, Residents say Dutch Haven’s close proximity to Stevens Creek Trail, parks, a baseball field and Association, Susie Go, [email protected]. especially because they were seeking a safe place the local Y make it an attractive neighborhood PARKS: Cooper Park, 502 Chesley Ave. to raise a family. for families. POST OFFICE: Throughout the year, the Sawhneys build on Blossom Valley, 1768 Miramonte Ave. their neighborhood relationships by attending PRIVATE SCHOOLS: St. Joseph, 1120 Miramonte Ave.; the summer social and progressive dinners. elsewhere. It wouldn’t be the same.” St. Francis High School, 1885 Miramonte Ave. Plus, Halloween is a big event, with pumpkin Susan Chang, who has lived in Dutch Haven PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View-Whisman School carving and trick-or-treaters roaming the for more than 14 years, also points to the District — Huff and Bubb elementary schools, Graham neighborhood. community’s involvement and local facilities Middle School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High The residents of the neighborhood also stay as a highlight of the neighborhood. Chang and School District — Mountain View High School. connected through an email thread, which her family make the most of them by biking SHOPPING: Blossom Valley Shopping Center, includes fun social topics and city matters. around the neighborhood or walking over to Miramonte Avenue at Cuesta Drive; Grant Park Plaza; In recent years, residents have attended City Cooper Park for a baseball game. While out and Nob Hill Shopping Center, Grant Road; Downtown Mountain View. Council meetings to stay advised of projects about, Chang said she can see the age diversity (such as the El Camino Real expansion) and in the neighborhood, from longtime residents voice their concerns. to school-aged children. And as Sawhney traditions,” Chang said. “People get creative “We know we will be staying in our mentioned, the special neighborhood activities to get people out. It’s a very family-oriented neighborhood,” Sawhney said. “We know our bring even more people out into the community. neighborhood.” neighbors, and it’s sometimes hard to find that “Generations have created and passed on — Brenna Malmberg, 2015

Waverly Park or longtime residents of Waverly Park, the FACTS Fcommunity is remembered as one full of apricot orchards, a local pumpkin patch CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: and regular block parties. El Camino YMCA, 2400 Grant Road; Mountain View Gayle Levin has lived in Waverly Park since Parent Nursery School, 1325 Bryant Ave.; Primary Plus, 2004 and grew up nearby in Los Altos. She 333 Eunice Ave.; St. Timothy’s Nursery School, 2094 resides in the historical Huff House with her Grant Road; YMCA Way to Grow Full-Day Preschool, husband, Jonathan Gentin, and three kids, Julia, Weber Veronica 1501 Oak Ave., Los Altos (nearby). Gemma and Rowan. FIRE STATION: No. 2, 160 Cuesta Drive. Over the years, Waverly Park has changed, LOCATION: bounded by Grant Road, Highway 85 and Levin noted. Sleeper and Bryant avenues. “The community was not as diverse growing Although Waverly Park continues to change, PARKS: Cooper Park, 502 Chesley Ave. up. Now, they say there are 41 languages spoken the strong sense of community has not. POST OFFICE: at Huff,” she said. Blossom Valley, 1768 Miramonte Ave. Another family, the Kaos, moved from PRIVATE SCHOOLS: St. Joseph, 1120 Miramonte Ave.; Sunnyvale to Waverly Park in 2013. Both Both Levin and the Kaos agreed that safety is St. Francis High School, 1885 Miramonte Ave. New York natives, Steven and Jeanette Kao, one of Waverly Park’s many attributes. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View-Whisman School find Waverly Park to be a welcoming and safe Due to the amount of traffic on Grant Road District — Huff and Bubb elementary schools, Graham neighborhood. in the morning, Levin and her kids, as well as Middle School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District — Mountain View High School. “There are some neighbors who have lived many other Huff families, bike to school. SHOPPING (NEARBY): here for 30 years. For us that’s a really good sign, “We bike to school everyday. The cars Blossom Valley Shopping because they have stayed here. We love this area. around Huff are incredibly courteous,” Levin Center, Miramonte Avenue at Cuesta Drive; Grant We haven’t had any regrets whatsoever,” said Park Plaza; Nob Hill Shopping Center, Grant Road; said. Downtown Mountain View. Jeanette Kao. Steven Kao explains that safety was one of Levin also remembers the pumpkin patch, a the key factors in their decision to move. 15-acre site, which was located off Grant Road “You don’t have to worry as much about your “We have friends who live on cul-de-sacs and is now the site of a SummerHill Homes kids. As a parent one of the biggest things is nearby where they have lots of block parties. development known as the Enclave. you want to have that peace of mind,” he said. We know our nearest neighbors very well,” “Julia and I would go on the train, visit the Although this flourishing area of Silicon Levin said. animals, and we would walk to get fruits and Valley continues to change, the strong sense of — Madeleine Gerson, 2015 vegetables during the summer,” Levin said. community has not. Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 35 Make the move I view each that is right for you home sale or purchase as a

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36 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com • Central Los Altos

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hat once was a brief stop on the Mountain View and Los Altos Hills. Highways Southern Pacific Railroad evolved have replaced local railroad service, with easy FACTS W after World War II to a tree-lined access via Highway 85 and Interstate 280 to 2017-18 CITY GENERAL city providing a quiet housing enclave for nearby metro centers. OPERATING BUDGET: $37.3 Silicon Valley. Since incorporation in 1952, Known for its excellent schools and million Los Altos has grown to a community of neighborhoods replete with mature trees, POPULATION: 31,402 mostly single-family homes rather than Los Altos supports seven commercial areas MEDIAN AGE: 47.7 HOUSEHOLDS: 11,204 apricot and plum orchards, a winery and serving its 31,000 residents. And for those HOMEOWNERS: 84.6 percent ranch land. still yearning for apricot orchards, a weekly MEDIAN HOME VALUE: $2.8 Today, Los Altos encompasses seven square farmers market offers a chance for neighbors million (single-family, November miles, stretching from Palo Alto to Sunnyvale to interact while shopping for local produce 2017) and Cupertino, sandwiched between and flowers.

Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 37 North Los Altos FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Children’s Corner, hey say real estate is all about location, 97 Hillview Ave.; Children’s Creative Learning Center, T location, location, and residents in North 700 Los Altos Ave.; Los Altos Parents Preschool, 201 Los Altos believe they have found their Covington Road; Tiny Tots Preschool, 647 S. San Antonio haven. Within this area, bordered by North El Road. Monte Avenue, El Camino Real and Foothill FIRE STATION: No. 15, 10 Almond Ave. Expressway, people can find a large library, LIBRARY: 13 S. San Antonio Road. community center, a performing arts center for LOCATION: children, a downtown filled with restaurants bounded by Foothill Expressway, El Monte Road, El Camino Real and Adobe Creek. and shops, great public schools, and more. Michelle Le PARKS: Almost everyone in the area lives within easy Village Park, Edith Avenue at San Antonio walking distance of these attractions. Road; Shoup Park, 400 University Ave.; Lincoln Park, University at Lincoln Avenue. Deb Stricharz and her husband grew up in POST OFFICE: Southern California and moved to Los Altos North Los Altos is considered haven for those 221 Main St. after her husband finished his medical training at looking for close proximity to downtown’s PRIVATE SCHOOLS : Los Altos Christian School, 625 UCLA and landed a job at El Camino Hospital. amenities. Magdalena Ave.; Canterbury Christian School, 101 N. El She chose Los Altos because of its proximity to Monte Ave. “We had an absolutely fantastic experience at PUBLIC SCHOOLS: her husband’s job in Mountain View and her the public schools,” Strichartz said. “I feel the Los Altos School District — Santa Rita or Almond elementary schools, Egan Intermediate job as a children’s transplant nurse at Stanford kids were really enriched by going to high school Hospital in Palo Alto. Even after leaving Los School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School that was really diverse ... and has such great District — Los Altos High School. Altos for Kentucky, Strichartz knew she would opportunities.” SHOPPING: return. Downtown Los Altos, Los Altos Village Ginny Strock has lived in Los Altos for twice Court and San Antonio Center. “We took a detour. This is where we felt at as many years as Strichartz. Even though she home. When we moved back, there was no worked in the Palo Alto Unified School District, question that we would live anywhere else,” she Strock moved to North Los Altos for the same her children were growing up, the neighborhood said. reasons as Strichartz. threw a block party with square dancing and a Strichartz moved back to Los Altos in 1996 Strock moved with her husband and children big barbecue. after two years in Kentucky. She chose Sioux to the quiet neighborhood on Frances Drive in “We were the youngest people when we Lane because it was a cul-de-sac, close to 1978. She liked that her children could walk to moved in, and now we are the oldest people,” downtown. She also picked North Los Altos school and be close to the Hillview Community she said. “We love having young families in our because of the schools her two daughters would Center, and her husband enjoyed being near his neighborhood as it keeps us all young.” be attending. work in Silicon Valley. Every Fourth of July when — Lisa Kellman, 2015

Old Los Altos FACTS very couple of months, Sip & Stitch potlucks CHILD CARE: Children’s House of Los Altos - Gardner Ebring women together to get to know their Bullis, 25890 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills. neighbors in Old Los Altos. And a couple of FIRE STATION: No. 15, 10 Almond Ave. times a year, the guys hang out at Burp & Slurp, LIBRARY: Los Altos, 13 S. San Antonio Road. sometimes to watch a sporting event. LOCATION: between El Monte and Edith avenues, Located just west of Foothill Expressway and Foothill Expressway and Los Altos Hills border. an easy walk to downtown Los Altos, Old Los PARKS: Village Park, W. Edith Avenue at San Antonio Altos is no post-war tract. Instead, homes range Road; Shoup Park, 400 University Ave.; Lincoln Park, W. from a mega-million-dollar Italianate Revival to Michelle Le Edith and University avenues; Redwood Grove Nature Craftsman, Tudor, Spanish and a few Victorians. Preserve, 482 University Ave. Although Nomi Trapnell served on the board POST OFFICE: 221 Main St. of the Los Altos History Museum and now on Nancy Bremeau stands in front of her home in PUBLIC SCHOOLS: the Los Altos Historical Commission, she and Los Altos School District — Gardner the Old Los Altos neighborhood. Bullis School, Egan Junior High School; Mountain View- her husband Frederick (Fritz) weren’t drawn to Los Altos Union High School District — Los Altos High Old Los Altos in 1993 because of its historical Preserve that introduced Nancy and Christian School; Bullis Charter School. significance, but rather its location. They spent Bremeau to Old Los Altos. Each day, as she SHOPPING: The Village (the triangle bordered by Edith, the next two years building their new home. dropped off their 5-year-old son, she’d get a good San Antonio and Foothill). With two teenagers at home, they soon jumped glimpse of the neighborhood. Soon she spotted into getting to know their neighbors. an overgrown lot — and the Bremeaus also built Trapnell noted that “before, in north Los Altos, a new home and moved in, in 2011. Commission, is brimming with ideas about how we knew a few neighbors but there were few “We loved the proximity to downtown,” Nancy to beautify Old Los Altos. She would like to see events. (Here) neighbors know each other.” Bremeau said, adding that their son, now a the many utility lines undergrounded, so the She has hosted Sip & Stitch, where “no teenager, often heads downtown with friends. trees wouldn’t need to be trimmed so radically. stitching goes on, mostly sipping and food.” “That independence that they have. ... Los Altos One thing she would never change is Shoup Participants range from their 30s to their 80s, she is such a safe town. Everyone knows everyone, Park, a hidden gem in Old Los Altos that boasts added. looks out for each other’s kids,” she added. two children’s play areas and a meandering creek. It was nature camp at Redwood Grove Nature Bremeau, who joined the Los Altos Arts — Carol Blitzer, 2016

38 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com STEPS TO SUCCESS COMMUNICATION Communication is key. Things will crop up and the market can change on a dime. Knowing market trends and local activity is crucial, and keeping my sellers and buyers informed and up to date on the most subtle nuances is of paramount importance.

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Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 39 Loyola Corners Michelle Le

Beatriz and Michel Szarindar and their children, Luis, left, and Lucas moved to the Loyola Corners neighborhood from London three years ago. FACTS hen Michel Szarindar and his family shopping district, a post office, three parks and a CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Children’s Creative moved from London to Los Altos’ cluster of medical offices. The residential streets Learning Center, 2310 Homestead Road, Suite E; W Mountain View Parent Nursery School, 1535 Oak Ave., Loyola Corners three years ago, they that wind through the neighborhood resemble were excited about the tree-lined, open streets wide country roads with no sidewalks and lots of Los Altos; St. Simon’s Catholic Church Extended Day Care Center, 1840 Grant Road, Los Altos. that gave the neighborhood a village feel. They low-hanging trees. FIRE STATION: did not, however, expect to be surrounded by Mary Anne and Jeff Dazel moved to Richardson No. 16, 765 Fremont Ave. other Europeans. Avenue in 1978 when Mary Anne was pregnant LIBRARY: Los Altos, 13 S. San Antonio Road; Woodland, After moving into their home on Richardson with their daughter. Although nearly 40 years that 1975 Grant Road. Avenue, they quickly discovered that they were have passed since then, Mary Anne thinks that LOCATION: a triangle roughly bounded by Fremont part of an eclectic mix of neighbors with families newer residents come to Loyola Corners for the Avenue, Miramonte Avenue and Clinton Road. from around the world, including France, Spain exact same reason she did: to let their kids grow PARKS: McKenzie Park, 707 Fremont Ave.; Heritage and Belgium. up in a safe and comfortable community where Oaks Park, Portland and Miramonte avenues. Szarindar, who is originally from France, said they can express themselves. POST OFFICE: Loyola Corners, 1525 Miramonte Ave. he thinks the neighborhood’s large lots and The longtime resident said she is worried that PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Canterbury Christian School, abundance of greenery make the neighborhood with new construction and planned upgrades 101 N. El Monte Ave.; Los Altos Christian School, 625 particularly attractive for those looking to move to the commercial district, the neighborhood Magdalena Ave.; Ventana School, 1040 Border Road; into the area. There’s much less concrete in Loyola may lose its rural charm. She praised the 2016 Pinewood School, 327 & 477 Fremont Ave.; Saint Francis Corners than other neighboring communities, he renovation of the Loyola Bridge that connects High School, 1885 Miramonte Ave., Mountain View. said. the neighborhood to the country club across PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District — “It was really a nice coincidence to have three Foothill Expressway but is leery about a mixed-use Loyola Elementary School, Blach Intermediate School; French people on the road,” he said. “Everybody’s project near the commercial center that the city is Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District — really interested to know us as well, which is good.” reviewing. Mountain View High School. Located in south Los Altos, Loyola Corners is “I can see fixing things up,” she said. “There are SHOPPING: Loyola Corners, Rancho Shopping Center. located about 10 minutes from the new Apple some two-stories that are well constructed and campus in Cupertino and 15 minutes from the keep with the flavor of everything. ...There are Googleplex in Mountain View. Loyola Corners some two-stories that are horrible. So that’s what For Szarindar, whose family spends many started out as a train stop for the Southern Pacific kind of scares (me).” happy hours outdoors, the barring of three-story Railway, but when the city incorporated in 1952, In the past, residents have clashed with the city buildings is important to preserve the history attention shifted north to building up the city’s council and developers over plans to revitalize the and idyllic beauty of the neighborhood. His two downtown business district. Once out of the area’s commercial businesses and provide more boys often “bike-pool” to school with other kids spotlight, Loyola Corners remained relatively affordable housing. (Los Altos’ median home price on the block, and his wife sometimes runs the unchanged in the following decades, and the is $2.8 million.) Last April, the council scrapped eight miles to work. He also would like to see residential neighborhood that grew around the a potential plan to build more housing units after the neighborhood’s above-head power lines put former station retained that rural feel from the residents voiced concerns over the size and scope underground. city’s earlier era. of the dwellings. In October, the council ultimately “Progress can be a good thing, but take a Roughly bounded by Clinton Road and approved the addition of 20 housing units that breath,” Dazel said. “Take a deep breath, and take Fremont and Miramonte avenues, the triangular were smaller in height and scope. The location of it slow — everybody wants the same thing.” neighborhood is like a compact town with its own the new buildings has yet to be determined. — Fiona Kelliher, 2017 40 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com It takes a LYNN closer look ORTH ...to find the right HOUSE N for your HOME 4th Generation Resident Serving the communities of Los Altos, Mountain View, Sunnyvale and Cupertino Wine Country The City Marin, Sonoma San Francisco County I am personally & Napa Counties committed your success in selling or finding your dream home

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Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 41 Rancho Michelle Le

While there have been some changes to the streetscape in the Rancho neighborhood, which lies south of downtown, the area has retained much of that small-town, rural feel. FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: helley Rosenthal moved to Edge Lane in The booming tech industry also has brought Children’s House of the Rancho neighborhood of Los Altos in change to the neighborhood. Rosenthal tells Los Altos, 770 Berry Ave.; Los Altos Christian Preschool, S 625 Magdalena Ave.; Los Altos Parent Preschool, 201 December 1995, but she called Los Altos an all-too-familiar story about living in Silicon Covington Road; Los Altos United Methodist Children’s her home long before that. Valley: “It’s crazy. The housing market has just Center Preschool, 655 Magdalena Ave. “I was raised in Los Altos, but it’s changed exploded,” she said. FIRE STATION: No. 16, 765 Fremont Ave. so much, so it’s really not the same town it was She described the incredible jump in her LIBRARY: when I grew up. ... Downtown is now bustling,” home’s value and how tech workers eager to buy Los Altos, 13 S. San Antonio Road; Woodland Rosenthal said. a home in the area have offered to buy her house Branch Library, 1975 Grant Road. While there have been some changes to even though it isn’t on the market. LOCATION: bordered by Foothill Expressway, Parma the streetscape in the Rancho neighborhood, Rosenthal said she and many of her neighbors Way, Riverside Drive and Springer Road. which lies south of downtown, the area has plan on holding onto their properties as long as PARKS: Rosita Park, 401 Rosita Ave.; McKenzie Park, retained much of that small-town, rural feel they can. 707 Fremont Ave. that Rosenthal remembers from her childhood. “They’re going to stay until they can’t do POST OFFICE: Loyola Corners, 1525 Miramonte Ave. The ranch-style homes she admired are still a the stairs or need the money for retirement,” PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Pinewood School, 327, 477 & predominant fixture along Rancho’s wide, often Rosenthal said, “I don’t see a big turnover. We 26800 Fremont Ave.; Los Altos Christian School, 625 curving streets lined with lush foliage. see houses pop up for sale, but I don’t see a huge Magdalena Ave.; Canterbury Christian School, 101 N. “We moved here because we loved the amount of real estate out there.” El Monte Ave.; Saint Francis Catholic High School, 1885 ‘Rancho’ feeling,” Rosenthal said. Bob Jacobsen, who moved into the neighborhood Miramonte Ave., Mountain View. The longtime resident described the area as “a in 1974, said in addition to the staggering jumps in PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District — Loyola community of family-oriented, neighborhood- housing prices, the demographic has shifted, too. or Springer elementary schools, Blach Intermediate friendly, low-key, educated people.” When Jacobsen moved to the area, he said the School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School But like other neighborhoods in the neighborhood was mostly Hewlett Packard and District — Los Altos or Mountain View High School. area, Rancho hasn’t stayed frozen in time. Lockheed Martin engineers. SHOPPING: Rancho Shopping Center, Loyola Corners, Rosenthal said over the years, more and more Now, Jacobsen estimated that of Rancho’s Downtown Los Altos. nontraditional two-story homes have popped residents, “maybe one-third of the people are up between the cozy clusters of single-story retired.” close by,” Rosenthal said. homes. While some of these, like Rosenthal’s, While the neighborhood’s rural, tight-knit Ultimately, Rancho has enough to keep some attempt to blend the simplistic ranch-style feel may have initially attracted Jacobsen and residents around for the long haul. into a subtle two-story dwelling, others have Rosenthal to the area, both said they like the “I love Los Altos, because I still feel like it’s foregone that style completely giving some many amenities Rancho provides. a small town and not a big city. You can get to streets an eclectic look that includes everything “There’s a lot that’s accessible,” Rosenthal said. know any one of your store owners. The whole from original ranch-style homes and wood With Rancho Shopping Center, McKenzie milieu of the Bay Area is changing, but Los A-frames to villas with fountains. and Rosita parks, and the post office right Altos is fighting to keep it a friendly, home-style “Some of the new houses are tasteful for the around the corner, residents, for the most part, town.” Rancho area and some of them are kind of have what they need right at their fingertips. ridiculous, unfortunately,” she said. “In terms of my daily needs, everything is — Alexandria Cavallaro, 2017 42 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com www.DENISE-WELSH.com

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Graduate BayCommissioner, Area Realtor DENISE WELSH LeadershipHistorical Academy, Commission, 2009 Broker Associate, SRES City of Los Altos Innovators Program, Stanford 650.209.1566 Innovators Program,University StanfordGSB, 2016 University GSB (2016) [email protected] UCLA Alumni Association, UCLA AlumniLifetime Association Member License# 00939903

167 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos | apr.com Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 43 Central Los Altos FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: CCLC School Age at ary McCusker chalks it up to chance Covington Elementary, 201 Covington Road; Children’s Mthat her neighborhood in Central Los House of Los Altos, 770 Berry Ave.; Los Altos Parents Altos has “the best mailman in the Preschool, 201 Covington Road; St. Simon’s Catholic world. His name is Ray Rios. Everybody knows Church Extended Day Care Center, 1840 Grant, Road; him, and he knows the name of everybody here. St. Timothy’s Nursery School, 2094 Grant Road; Little He’s like what the neighborhood cops used to Acorn School, 1667 Miramonte Ave. be, a hundred years ago,” she said. FIRE STATION: No. 15, 10 Almond Ave.; Loyola station, Mary and her husband moved from No. 16, 765 Fremont Ave. Connecticut to her ranch-style home in 1974. Michelle Le LOCATION: between Foothill Expressway, El Monte and Adjusting wasn’t easy, but the friendly spirit Springer, and Covington and Grant. now embodied by Rios — and by many of the PARKS: Heritage Oaks Park, Portland at Miramonte interactions among neighbors — helped their Residents in Central Los Altos say the Avenue; Marymeade Park, Fremont Avenue at Grant new home feel like one. neighborhood’s quarter-acre lots and Road; McKenzie Park, 707 Fremont Ave.; Rosita Park, A woman across the street walks her elderly abundance of green space are what attracted 401 Rosita Ave. neighbor’s dogs daily, and every Fourth of July them to the area. POST OFFICE: Blossom Valley, 1768 Miramonte Ave., one of the nearby families hosts a summer picnic Mountain View; Rancho, 1150 Riverside Drive; Main, with hired musicians. “There’s more green space and room per 100 First St. The McCuskers picked their neighborhood property. My husband is a gardener, so a quarter LIBRARY: Los Altos, 13 S. San Antonio Road; Woodland, largely for the reputed school district to which acre allows him to wield his green thumb,” she said. 1975 Grant Road. it belonged. Beyond their backyard fence stand The annual cookie exchange allows neighbors PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Canterbury Christian School, playing fields adjoined to Covington Elementary to exhibit and share their recipes for holiday 101 N. El Monte Ave.; Pinewood School, 327 and 477 School. sweets. The tradition was started by a neighbor Fremont Ave.; St. Simon Catholic School, 1840 Grant The McCuskers enjoy watching the of the Eders and now reaches beyond the Road; St. Francis High School, 1855 Miramonte Ave. neighborhood kids’ evening walk home from neighborhood around Covington Elementary PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District — school. Mary knows some of them especially well, School. Covington, Loyola, Oak or Springer elementary schools; as she offers to babysit for recent, young move-ins. “Sixty to 70 people bring a few dozen of their Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District — Larger lot sizes was partly what attracted home recipes for holiday cookies. It’s a great way Los Altos or Mountain View high schools. Noelle Eder when she and her family moved to get together with and meet people.” SHOPPING: Blossom Valley Shopping Center, Miramonte Avenue and Cuesta Drive; Downtown Los Altos; Rancho back to the Bay Area in 2010. — Pierre Bienaimé, 2016 Shopping Center, Foothill Expressway and Springer Road. Country Club topiary golfer stands sentinel on the FACTS Alawn of a stately home overlooking the Los Altos Golf and Country Club, as if CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Los Altos Christian enjoying the view of the verdant rolling hills of Preschool, 625 Magdalena Ave.; Los Altos United the private, member-owned club that gives the Methodist Children’s Center, 655 Magdalena Ave. neighborhood its longtime moniker. Formally FIRE STATION: 765 Fremont Ave. known as Loyola, the area was nearly the site LIBRARY: Woodland, 1975 Grant Road. of Santa Clara University; the 1906 earthquake LOCATION: bounded by Magdalena Avenue, Foothill derailed the plan, giving way to the golf course Michelle Le Expressway, Permanente Creek and Interstate 280. and home development. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Richard Blanchard, vice president of the Nelson Hansen: San Antonio Hills Neighborhood Association, President, San Antonio Hills Inc. Homeowners Named after the private, members-only Association, 650-941-5406. arrived in 1978. Los Altos Golf and Country Club, the PARK: “The area was incorporated in the late ‘40s,” he Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve, Cristo neighborhood provides scenic green views of Rey Drive. said, “and the single-family dwelling provision the surrounding hills. has helped Loyola maintain this country charm.” POST OFFICE: Loyola Corners, 1525 Miramonte Ave. The neighborhood has a variety of home styles. PRIVATE SCHOOL: Los Altos Christian School, 625 Blocky modernist homes are comfortable amidst Bounded by Interstate 280 and Foothill Magdalena Ave. classic ranchers, newer Craftsmen and singular Expressway, the neighborhood is a close hop to PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District — Loyola architectural designs. Mature trees line the neighboring cities and shopping, but popular Elementary, Blach Intermediate, Mountain View; Los streets, and heavily laden branches of well-tended local spots include the Los Altos Golf and Altos Union High School District — Mountain View fruit trees grace yards. Country Club, a classic vintage diner at Loyola High School. Jennifer Stasior has lived in the neighborhood Corners, and the Rancho Shopping center, where SHOPPING: Loyola Corners, Miramonte Avenue, for seven years. kids gather for after-school treats. Rancho Shopping Center. “We wanted more space for guests, a more With its towering pine trees that line Arbor private setting and buffer between homes,” she Avenue, the neighborhood is a hot spot for summertime, children are selling lemonade on said. “We discovered this unique area that was Halloween. corners, there are always families out walking, close to downtown and walking distance to “People come from all over to enjoy the festive and lots of dog walkers and bikers.” Loyola Corners, but with larger lots and a more decorations,” Stasior said. private wooded setting.” “Our community is vibrant,” she added. “In — Ruth Handel, 2015 44 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com DETAILS Keen negotiating skills Broad network of As a long time resident professional associates of Los Altos Hills with and contacts 22 years of Peninsula real estate experience, I Strong understanding of bring a wide variety of the local market and the people who call the skills and expertise to Peninsula home help make YOUR home buying or selling process Solid background feel effortless handling a wide range of real estate transactions, including extensive properties and estates

161S. SAN ANTONIO ROAD, LOS ALTOS DIRECT: 650.917.7983 EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: WWW.VICKIGEERS.COM Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 45 Woodland Acres/The Highlands FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Children’s Creative n the middle of 1981, Patti and Phil Rose Learning Center, 2310 Homestead Road, Suite E, Los Altos. were driving around Los Altos, looking I FIRE STATION: No. 16, 765 Fremont Ave. for a larger home for their family that then LIBRARY: included two pre-schoolers. Woodland, 1975 Grant Road. They soon found Woodland Acres and The LOCATION: between Foothill Expressway and Interstate Highlands, two neighboring areas west of 280, Beechwood Lane and Permanente Creek. Foothill Expressway at the south end of town. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Patti Rose, They were especially drawn to Woodland Acres, Michelle Le president, Woodland Acres Association, 650-968-7211. an enclave of 123 homes on lots that ranged PARKS: Montclaire Park, St. Joseph Ave.; (nearby) Grant from 1/4 acre to an acre. Park, 1575 Holt Ave.; Rancho San Antonio Preserve, According to the history put together by Residents Bob and Diane Claypool walk their Cristo Rey Drive. J.L. Pritchard in 1963, the land was once part dog, Annie, through the Woodland Acres POST OFFICE: Loyola Corners, 1525 Miramonte Ave. neighborhood, an enclave of 123 homes on lots of Rancho San Antonio. Ultimately, about PRIVATE SCHOOL: St. Simon Catholic School, 1840 100 acres were held by Edward Hohfeld from that ranged from 1/4 acres to one acre. Grant Road. 1927 to 1948, when he sold 86 acres to Serra PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Cupertino Union School District — Development Co. Lots were sold and the original Altos and the association worked together to get Montclaire Elementary School, Cupertino Middle School; homes built between 1950 and 1957. them repaved, and that worked out really well,” Fremont Union High School District — Homestead High The name, Woodland Acres, wasn’t blindly she said. School. chosen. During his tenure, Hohfeld tried Neighbors used to get together for a “traveling SHOPPING: Foothill Crossing; Loyola Corners; Rancho to rehabilitate an old orchard, but soon dinner” potluck held at three different homes, Shopping Center; Woodland Plaza. began planting (and caring for) hundreds of but now there’s an annual Christmas party. ornamental trees that joined the native oaks. “Everybody brings something, it’s held at Patti Rose is now head of the Woodland Acres different houses (each year),” Rose said, noting but now we have a real eclectic group. We have Association, which meets every three months to that there have been as many as 90 people and young, middle-aged and old. A committee deal with current issues ranging from speeders, as few as 50 attending. organizes the setup and cleanup. It works like burglaries and barking dogs to repaving the “It’s a social function for everybody in the clockwork. It’s fun to see people’s houses.” streets. neighborhood. Some people come every year, “Everybody who lives in this neighborhood “Our streets were a problem. The city of Los some once in awhile. ...We’ve had lots of seniors, feels very lucky that they live here,” she added. — Carol Blitzer, 2016 FACTS South Los Altos CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Children’s Creative Learning Center, 2310 Homestead Road, Suite E; graceful canopy of trees lines Fremont Enlighten School, 1919 Annette Lane; Mountain View AAvenue, the near-center line of Parent Nursery School, 1535 Oak Ave., Los Altos, St. quiet South Los Altos. Bounded by Simon’s Catholic Church Extended Day Care Center, Cupertino, Mountain View and Sunnyvale, 1840 Grand Road; YMCA, Way to Grow Full Day and flanked by Highway 85 and Foothill Preschool, 1501 Oak Ave. Expressway, South Los Altos offers more FIRE STATION: Loyola Fire Station , 765 Fremont Ave. approachable real estate with easy access to LIBRARY: Woodland, 1975 Grant Road. nearby communities. Michelle Le LOCATION: Bounded by Grant Road, Homestead Road, A family environment imbues South Los Stevens Creek, Joel Way, Harwalt Drive, Oak, Truman, Altos, with hives of activity around the many Miravalle Avenues. schools. On mornings near Oak Elementary, Modern takes on the one-story classic ranch PARKS: Grant Park, 1575 Holt Ave.; Marymeade Park, children and parents stroll hand-in-hand to the home dominate the streetscapes in South Los Fremont Avenue at Grant Road. campus, giving way to brisk-walking groups Altos. POST OFFICE: Loyola Corners, 1525 Miramonte Ave. and joggers after drop-off time. Mountain View PRIVATE SCHOOL: High School’s field stays busy most days with bought hers in 2012, fulfilling a longtime St. Simon Catholic School, 1840 Grant Road. athletics. dream. A strong proponent of conservation, PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Vintage ranch-style homes mix with she is working toward historic designation Los Altos School District — Mediterranean and Craftsman styles, with for the homes. While there are purists who Oak Elementary School, Blach Intermediate School; prefer keeping all parts of the homes original, Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District midcentury-modern homes sprinkled — Mountain View High School; Cupertino Union School throughout. Remodels and new homes abound, she said, some renovations have to be made as the homes age. Her upgrades resulted in District — Montclaire Elementary School, Cupertino with one-story-modern takes on the classic Middle School; Fremont Union High School District — rancher that remains popular. returning parts of her home to the original plan. Homestead High School. Paige Bennion moved to her South Los Virginie Leborgne, who purchased her Clay SHOPPING: Drive Eichler in 2001, agrees. “We did some Foothill Crossing, Homestead Road; Altos home in 2011, and has remodeled her Greenhaven Plaza, Grant Road. home twice, adding on square footage for her remodeling with the Eichler spirit,” she said, large family while maintaining the area’s single “The house is artwork in itself.” story designation. “Everyone I know who has Of the neighborhood, Gibbons adds, “It’s an sidewalks, the Eichler neighborhood stands out purchased here has remodeled,” she said. interesting mix of people — some here since the with complementary modernist streetlamps Leafy Clay Drive and Alexander Way boast a beginning and others just moving in.” created by the architect, as well as underground subdivision of 37 custom Eichlers, built during She points out that while the residential parts utilities. the famed architect’s later years. Tracy Gibbons of South Los Altos do not have streetlights or — Ruth Handel, 2015 46 | Mountain View Voice | mv-voice.com TOO MAJOR TOO MINOR JUST RIGHT FOR HOME FOR HOSPITAL FOR STANFORD EXPRESS CARE

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Neighborhoods | Mountain View Voice | 47 I have been busy in your neighborhood! If you are thinking of buying or selling, call me!

1585 CAROB LN., 978 HIGHLANDS CIR., 466 APRICOT LN., 454 ORANGE AVE. LOS ALTOS LOS ALTOS MOUNTAIN VIEW Represented the Seller Represented the Buyer Represented the Seller Represented the Buyer

761 THORSEN CT. 945 LORNE WY., 25463 ADOBE LN., 153 FREMONT AVE., Represented the Seller SUNNYVALE LOS ALTOS HILLS LOS ALTOS Represented the Buyer Represented the Seller Represented the Buyer

KINGSLEY, 945 YORKSHIRE DR., 998 LEIGHTON AVE., 1 ADOBE CREEK WY. LOS ALTOS HILLS LOS ALTOS SUNNYVALE Represented the Seller Represented the Buyer Represented the Seller Represented the Buyer

1204 EUREKA CT. 13826 TEMPLETON PL., 733 EHRHORN AVE., 736 BRENTWOOD PL., Represented the Seller LOS ALTOS HILLS MOUNTAIN VIEW LOS ALTOS Represented the Buyer Represented the Seller Represented the Buyer

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