PALO ALTO WEEKLY | 2018 EDITION
ur Palo Alto eighborhoods
PROFILES, MAPS AND VITAL FACTS OF FEATURED NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE COMMUNITY PaloAltoOnline.com HE’S THE ADDITION EVERY HOME DESERVES
Remarkable homes are about style and substance. Attributes you’d be fortunate to find in a Realtor as well. Brian Chancellor’s clients certainly have. He combines his skill as a top producing Realtor – locally and nationwide, with a commitment to integrity, family, his community, and honoring relationships above transactions. Buying or selling? Give THE ART AND SCIENCE him a call at 650.303.5511. Brian Chancellor – because it’s a great time to build success. OF REAL ESTATE™
BrianChancellor.com [email protected] 2 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com Derk Brill’s success in the Mid- Peninsula real estate market is no secret. Born and raised in Palo Alto with family roots in the area dating back to the 1920’s, he has 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 Palo Alto 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.
Alain Pinel Realtors’ partnership with Luxury Portfolio International ensures that in addition to local and national marketing, Derk’s clients benefit from extensive international exposure through a large network of brokerages throughout the world.
If you are considering selling or buying a home in the mid-peninsula, contact Derk to leverage the expertise of a true local.
DERK BRILL e-Pro, Certified Relocation Specialist M: 650.814.0478 [email protected] www.DerkBrill.com License# 01256035 Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 3 Can you say these things about your Realtor?
Licensed real estate broker for 21 years, licensed attorney for 36 years Trained and experienced negotiator and mediator; Court appointed Special Master to sell homes Teacher of law and real estate Bay Area native with extensive community involvement including Las Lomitas School Board Trustee Extensive construction, remodeling and renovation experience Team of professionals to assist buyers and sellers Top 1% of Coldwell Banker agents worldwide
Elaine’s Clients Say... ords can’t do justice to what a fabulous realtor Elaine is. She helped me sell a home, and just “Wrecently buy a home. Elaine is the most organized, efficient, knowledgeable and skilled pro- fessional I probably have ever worked with… in any aspect of business!! Not only is Elaine a Realtor, she is an attorney. This combination is extremely helpful with any property transaction. I like working with professionals that know what they are doing, get to the point, and get the job done efficiently and promptly... that defines Elaine.” — Karin, Menlo Park seller; San Jose buyer
n buying our new dream home, Elaine was creative & persistent. She continues to be there for our “Ifamily as a trusted adviser, friend & resource. We have & will continue to recommend Elaine to anyone looking to sell or purchase a home. Her knowledge, negotiating skills, great service, profession- alism & outstanding performance truly set her apart.” — Chet & Roxanne, Atherton buyers
laine helped us sell an inherited property – we were out of state and dealing with lots of compli- “Ecated factors, and Elaine made the entire process easy and created a strategy that maximized the sale value of the property.” — Suzie, Woodside seller
laine’s experience was invaluable as we looked at a variety of properties. She was patient when “Ewe got cold feet and was supportive when we were ready to take the plunge. She has remained in contact and been helpful after we closed on our homes. We cannot recommend her enough.” — Mike & Erin, Belmont Buyers
Elaine Berlin White Top 1% of Coldwell Banker Agents Worldwide Top 250 Real Estate Teams, Wall St. Journal 2016 Broker Associate, Attorney at Law www.elainewhite.com 1377 El Camino Real, Menlo Park 94025 [email protected] | www.elainewhite.com Find me on Facebook 650.465.4663 | CalBRE #01182467 www.facebook.com/EBWRealEstateRealEstate 4 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com INDEX
Palo Alto Adobe Meadow/Meadow Park ...... 44 ur Barron Park ...... 56 eighborhoods Charleston Gardens ...... 45 Charleston Meadows...... 53 College Terrace ...... 30 Community Center ...... 18 Crescent Park ...... 11 Downtown North ...... 10 Duveneck/St. Francis ...... 20 Esther Clark Park ...... 60 Veronica Weber Veronica Veronica Weber Veronica Evergreen Park ...... 28 Fairmeadow ...... 52 Greater Miranda ...... 59 Crescent Park Evergreen Park Green Acres ...... 58 Greendell ...... 47 alo Alto has about three dozen live in various parts of town. The Greenhouse ...... 46 Pneighborhoods, with distinct names, Maps of the city show the location of layouts and vibes. each neighborhood. Fact boxes provided Greenmeadow ...... 50 Yet across them all, their residents often information about schools, shopping, parks, Embarcadero Oaks/Leland Manor/ use the same words to describe their libraries, fire stations and other nearby chosen homes. Whether it’s Palo Alto Hills amenities. Garland Drive ...... 24 or Fairmeadow, residents describe their You can download neighborhood Mayfield ...... 34 neighborhoods as “serene,” “tight knit,” and maps or learn about other Midpeninsula “friendly.” neighborhoods not in this book by Midtown ...... 36 Homebuyers are impressed by neighbors visiting paloaltoonline.com/real_estate. Monroe Park ...... 54 who befriend them even before they’ve actually Neighborhoods in Los Altos, Mountain View, bought a home. New neighbors are touched by Menlo Park, Portola Valley and Woodside are Old Palo Alto ...... 26 offers of rides, meals, or invitations to block profiled there. Palo Alto Hills ...... 61 parties. From Greenmeadow to Barron Park At times, neighbors have to band together tradition prevails, whether it’s the Fourth of to protect the look of their streets, to keep too Palo Alto Orchards ...... 55 July or just a fall weekend. Many longtime many two-story homes from being built, or too Palo Verde ...... 38 residents celebrate as younger families move many cars from parking on their streets. But at in, spicing up their streets with tricycles and the end of the day, when they are walking their Professorville ...... 16 children’s laughter. Others appreciate the way dogs, going for runs, or driving home from work San Alma ...... 48 the world is drawn to Silicon Valley and how and their oak, magnolia, or sycamore-lined neighbors’ faces reflect that world. streets, they realize, in the words of one resident, Southgate ...... 28 This 2018 edition of Our Neighborhoods is “you don’t just have a house, you have a home.” South of Midtown ...... 42 peopled with anecdotes about what it’s like to Elizabeth Lorenz, Home and Real Estate Editor St. Claire Gardens ...... 40 STAFF Triple El ...... 22 University South ...... 14 Publisher: William S. Johnson Vice President Sales and Marketing: Neighborhoods Editor: Elizabeth Lorenz Tom Zahiralis Ventura ...... 35 Designer: Rosanna Kuruppu Sales representatives: Connie Jo Cotton, Walnut Grove ...... 49 Neal Fine and Rosemary Lewkowitz
Additional copies of Palo Alto Neighborhoods, as well as On the Cover: 467 Lincoln Avenue, a home companion publications — Almanac Neighborhoods and in Professorville. Photo by Veronica Weber. Mountain View/Los Altos Neighborhoods — are available at the Inset: Barbara and David Slone love the 450 Cambridge Ave. Weekly for $5 each. All three publications are available online at paloaltoonline.com/real_estate. large lots and proximity to amenities of Palo Alto, CA 94306 Leland Manor. 650-223-6500 Copyright ©2017 by Embarcadero Media. All rights reserved. www.PaloAltoOnline.com Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.
Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 5 East
Ravenswood Palo Alto Shopping Center
Menlo Park
2
1 UNIVERSITY AVE. MIDDLEFIELD RD. 6 Downtown Palo Alto 5 3
Stanford Shopping 7 Center 4 8 9 EMBARCADERO RD. 10
EL CAMINO REAL Palo Alto 11 17 12 Stanford University LOMA VERDE AVE.
OREGON EXPRESSWAY 18 13
19 15 ALMA ST. 21 14 20 EAST MEADOW AVE.
16 . 22 PAGE MILL RD. 23 28 CHARLESTON RD.
PALO ALTO NEIGHBORHOODS 27 1. Downtown North 20. South of Midtown 29 26 2. Crescent Park 21. Adobe Meadow/ 24 3. University South Meadow Park 32 4. Professorville 22. Charleston Gardens 25 5. Community Center 23. The Greenhouse 6. Duveneck/St. Francis 24. Greendell 31 30 7. Triple El 25. San Alma 8. Embarcadero Oaks 26. Greenmeadow 33 San Antonio 9. Leland Manor 27. Walnut Grove Shopping Center 10. Garland Park 28. Fairmeadow Mountain 11. Old Palo Alto 29. Charleston Meadows View 12. Southgate 30. Monroe Park Los Altos 13. Evergreen Park 31. Palo Alto Orchards 14. College Terrace 32. Barron Park 35 15. Mayfield 33. Green Acres 34 16. Ventura 34. Greater Miranda SAN ANTONIO RD. 17. Midtown 35. Esther Clark Park 18. Palo Verde 36. Palo Alto Hills 19. St. Claire Gardens
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Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 9 Downtown North Veronica Weber Veronica
alkability is what attracted Eric There’s even a booth set up to tell neighbors FACTS WRosenblum and his wife, Titi about the Emergency Preparedness Committee, CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (AND NEARBY): Liu, to their Downtown North as well as a fire truck that “draws the kids.” Discovery Children’s House — Montessori, 437 Webster neighborhood. They loved that they could Downtown North’s location also encourages St.; Downtown Children’s Center, 555 Waverley St.; First walk to restaurants, ice cream or the kids’ walking and biking to nearby spots. School, 625 Hamilton Ave. schools. “We’re close to everything downtown. I like FIRE STATION: No. 1, 301 Alma St. After college, the couple spent 10 years living in being close to services” like banks, and “the LIBRARY: Downtown branch, 270 Forest Ave. China, before settling in South Palo Alto, which library is a good substitute for a home office,” LOCATION: Rosenblum describes as “much more suburban.” Ball said. between San Francisquito Creek and University Avenue, Alma Street and Middlefield Road “We see people a lot more here,” he said. “We spend more time exploring new places,” PARKS: An additional motivation for the family was Rosenblum added, noting they’ve biked to Stanford Cogswell Plaza, Lytton Avenue between to find a place where their son, who has vision for concerts, and they’re very close to Caltrain. Ramona and Bryant streets; El Camino Park, 100 El Camino Real; El Palo Alto Park, Alma Street at El problems, could get around by himself, either “We will go for weeks without driving cars. Camino Real; Hopkins Creekside Park, Palo Alto Avenue by foot or bike. That’s a luxury,” he added. from El Camino Real to Middlefield Road; Johnson Park, “We had friends in Downtown North, and we While the Rosenblum/Liu family was Everett Avenue and Waverley Street were jealous. We asked them to keep their eyes attracted by the walk-ability, Geoff and Camille POST OFFICE: Hamilton, 380 Hamilton Ave. open” for a house, Rosenblum said. They waited Ball came to Downtown North in 1977 because PUBLIC SCHOOLS: more than a year. of the trees, Geoff Ball said. Addison Elementary School, Jordan Middle School, Palo Alto High School Besides being close to University Avenue’s By then the downtown area was “really SHOPPING: amenities, Rosenblum’s family enjoys the easy suffering, a pretty sorry space in terms of University Avenue, Stanford Shopping Center access to Johnson Park. retail,” he said. Some of the actions taken by He’s never found the park crowded and said the City Council then to induce people to Although car parking has become a major the kids can play on the jungle gym without return downtown have come back to haunt issue for some of his neighbors, Rosenblum having to wait their turn. them — especially by offering breaks in parking said “the trade-off of living close to friends and “Johnson Park is like a block party every responsibilities that encouraged people to travel work — you just can’t calculate that. It’s worth a week,” he said. by car, he said. lot,” he said. A major potluck has been held for the last But that dynamic is shifting, he said, and he’s “So much about the neighborhood is great. few years at Johnson Park the weekend before noticed more bicycles. People are overly obsessed with parking,” he Memorial Day, with close to 80 people in Rosenblum agreed that many more residents added. attendance, longtime resident Geoff Ball said. are biking rather than driving. — Carol Blitzer, 2015 10 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 11 Crescent Park Ben Hacker
ush tree branches reach over the wide is diverse in many ways, most of its residents FACTS L streets of Crescent Park, giving the Palo are professionals, such as doctors, lawyers, FIRE STATION: No. 3, 799 Embarcadero Road Alto neighborhood a small-town feel even professors and those in the tech industry, LIBRARY: Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road though it’s just blocks away from downtown’s including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. LOCATION: bustling University Avenue. One issue that has shaped the neighborhood in bounded by San Francisquito Creek, Newell Located between San Francisquito more ways than one is flooding. Connie Linton, a Road, Channing Avenue and Middlefield Road Creek, Newell Road, Channing Avenue and 30-year Crescent Park resident, said that flooding NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Norman Beamer, Middlefield Road. Crescent Park often gives has been a real issue in the neighborhood president, 650-327-7071 visitors and new Stanford students their first over the years. Flooding also has prevented PARKS: Eleanor Pardee Park, 851 Center Drive; Hopkins impression of Palo Alto as they exit U.S. “McMansions” from cropping up because Creekside Park along Palo Alto Avenue Highway 101 heading down University Avenue speculative developers cannot build large homes POST OFFICES: Hamilton, 380 Hamilton Ave.; Main, toward El Camino Real. with a basement in a flood zone, Linton said. 2085 E. Bayshore Road Most passersby likely will notice the “However, there are many spots in Crescent PRIVATE SCHOOLS: St. Elizabeth Seton School, 1095 neighborhood’s Spanish Colonial streetscapes, Park that are not in the flood zone,” she added. Channing Ave. which can mostly be attributed to the work of It’s in these areas where Crescent Park has PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Duveneck Elementary School, celebrated 20th-century architect Birge Clark. begun to see small changes to its generally Jordan Middle School, Palo Alto High School In addition to the mature trees and notable classic “Palo Alto style.” SHOPPING: The Willows Market, 60 Middlefield Road, architecture, the neighborhood is home to Eleanor Linton said despite the changing architectural Menlo Park; University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto; Pardee Park, one of the largest neighborhood styles, the neighborly vibe has not changed. Edgewood Plaza Shopping Center parks in Palo Alto, with a picnic area, playgrounds “If you go out and walk your dog, you will meet and even a community garden with plots for everybody,” she said. “It is a very friendly place.” residents to grow fruits, flowers and vegetables. The Crescent Park Neighborhood Association “The beauty, the architecture and the trees are (CPNA) has been a way to engage with what attracted us to the neighborhood as well community and citywide concerns, like traffic as kept us here for 30 years.” said Bob Wenzlau, and parking — two items neighbors say are who moved to the neighborhood in 1989 and big issues in Crescent Park. The association has watched his children stay connected with runs a monitored online chat room that allows their childhood friends through the years. members to post questions and suggestions. Wenzlau said he enjoys the multicultural Linton said she even adopted her dog through aspect of the neighborhood, which has the chat room after a neighbor posted a notice Ben Hacker allowed him to meet people from many about trying to find a new home for the pooch. different countries. While the neighborhood — Sophie Pollock, 2017
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f Palo Alto is known as the hometown of we moved in, it was a quiet neighborhood. It has FACTS ISilicon Valley, then the University South become a bit frenetic. It’s become much more CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Addison Kids’ Club, neighborhood is its birthplace. Transistor noisy Monday through Friday,” Brand said. 650 Addison Ave.; Children’s Creative Learning Center inventor William Bradford Shockley, amplifier The noise can largely be attributed to the Downtown Child Care Center, 848 Ramona St.; First inventor Lee de Forest, and of course Bill development of office buildings in downtown School, 625 Hamilton Ave.; The Learning Center, 459 Hewlett and David Packard all lived within the Palo Alto, which in turn means more traffic and Kingsley Ave. few blocks bounded by Homer Avenue, Alma parking issues. The city has attempted to solve FIRE STATION: No. 1, 301 Alma St. Street, Embarcadero Road and Waverley Street. this by approving a parking-permit program for LIBRARY: Downtown branch, 270 Forest Ave. Now the neighborhood is home to a diversity drivers who stay longer than 2 hours. LOCATION: bounded by Homer Avenue, Alma Street, of residents, from longtime Palo Altans to “The software revolution has created a lot Embarcadero and Middlefield roads newcomers, attracted to its close proximity to more jobs. Most people who have those jobs NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: University Avenue, as well as a library, grocery don’t live here. So there’s a lot of parking Elaine Meyer, 650-325-8057 store, City Hall, and even a history museum. problems,” Brand said. PARKS: Dave Bubenik, who with his wife has lived Bubenik tolerates the traffic and noise, Scott Park, Scott Street and Channing Avenue; in the area for over 20 years, has watched the which he said is partially caused because the Palo Alto Heritage Park, Homer Avenue and Waverley Street neighborhood develop. In the 1990s, when he neighborhood has two busy one-way streets, POST OFFICE: first moved in, “it was mostly an older person’s but says that the city has plans to put in a bike Hamilton, 380 Hamilton Ave. neighborhood.” boulevard to deter traffic. “If you don’t like PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Addison Elementary School, Jordan Now, with Heritage Park, built after the noise, this is not a good place to be.” Middle School, Palo Alto High School departing Palo Alto Medical Foundation was Palo Alto City Hall is located inside the SHOPPING: University Avenue, Town & Country Village replaced by single-family homes, Bubenik has University South neighborhood — a fact that a different view. “From my front porch I see residents use to their advantage. Community the whole United Nations of people going by members are among the most politically active neighborhood comes with a variety of advantages. — different languages, different skin colors — in Palo Alto, using their proximity to turn plans “We are in a community and are not surrounded everything is right there in this neighborhood,” for office buildings into Heritage Park and to by an industrial area, so a lot of our visitors come he said. prevent the building of an 18-story hospital in by randomly,” she said. “What is advantageous Longtime resident Richard Brand, who the area. is that we’re close to downtown — it’s what gives technically lives on the edge of University South “If there’s a threat, then we band together and people something to do. They can go get food and and Professorville but considers himself a go talk to the council,” Brand said. then come to our museum and vice versa.” resident of both neighborhoods, agreed that the University South is one of few Palo Alto Overall, Bubenik values the neighborhood increasing number of children and diversity has neighborhoods that can boast that it is home to for its liveliness, diversity and history. With its energized the community. a museum: the Museum of American Heritage. placement a close walk from downtown, he “Now, the neighborhood is bursting at the seams American Heritage museum executive director finds no end to things to do. with children,” he said. “I think that is the biggest Allison Wong said the museum’s approach is to “Everything’s so handy,” he said. “It’s lively — change energizing the neighborhood for sure.” partner with a lot of different nonprofits to help and I like lively. You see a lot of people—lot of Despite the benefits of population increase, the community. The museum gets about 25,000 different kinds. Something’s always happening.” Brand said there have been drawbacks. “When visitors a year. Being in the University South —Elinor Aspegren, 2017 14 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com COMMITTED. CREATIVE. CONNECTED. monicacormanbroker mandymontoya
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Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 15 Professorville FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY) Addison Kids’ Club, 650 Addison Ave.; Downtown Child Care Center, 848 Ramona St.; The Learning Center, 459 Kingsley Ave.; Downtown Children’s Center, 555 Waverley St., Discovery Children’s House, 437 Webster St.; Duveneck Kids’ Club, 705 Alester Ave. FIRE STATION, No. 1, 301 Alma St., and No. 3, 799 Embarcadero Road LIBRARY: Downtown branch, 270 Forest Ave. LOCATION: Bounded by Addison Avenue, Webster Street, Embarcadero Road and Emerson Street. PARKS: Scott Street Mini Park, Scott Street and Channing Avenue; Heritage Park, Homer Avenue and Waverley Street. POST OFFICE: Hamilton, 380 Hamilton Ave. PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Castilleja School, 1310 Bryant St.; AltSchool, 930 Emerson St.; Veronica Weber Veronica PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Addison Elementary School, Jordan Middle School, Palo Alto High School SHOPPING: University Avenue; Town and Country Village
s one of the most highly sought- value and add to the neighborhood’s of 160 Lincoln brought together people who A after neighborhoods in Palo Alto, desirability—including paneling, trim and had lived near each other for years without Professorville continues to expand other fixtures that could be retained when meeting.” for real estate purposes to attract buyers, but modernizing the interior or exterior of a Thirty-two-year resident Perry Irvine lives not every resident is happy about including home. in one of Professorville’s early-expansion adjacent areas into their historic district. Homes are often shingled, with large bungalow- areas and was originally drawn to the Originally defined by a small cluster of style porches that wrap around the front of the neighborhood due to its proximity to his homes on Lincoln and Kingsley avenues as homes. Lots can be small, with cottage-style work and Palo Alto High School—where well as the intersecting blocks of Bryant, homes, or larger with two-story Craftsman or his children were attending at the time. Ramona and Emerson streets, Professorville, farmhouse style homes set on them. He believes the community’s proximity to named after the Stanford professors who “I am thrilled when neighbors value the downtown, shopping, public transportation chose to reside there, and its historic district, historic district they choose to join and find and schools are just a few of the reasons has grown to include Waverley Street to the ways to live in their houses, or rehabilitate the area has become desirable, despite the east side of Cowper Street. These sections them, while striving to preserve historic busyness of Waverley Street. “Different were added to the community in 1979 and fabric,” she said, adding that an appreciation architectural styles and older homes,” he said, 1993. More recently, and likely due to Realtors for Professorville’s history and origin is are part of Professorville’s charm, but while cashing in on its reputation, Professorville becoming muddled with each change. its unique features have made Professorville is now referred to as the section of homes “The physical Professorville is changing an attractive neighborhood for buyers and between Addison Avenue, Webster Street, rapidly as new residents adapt old houses investors, the current real estate market has Embarcadero Road and Emerson Street. to new times,” she said. “Many homeowners made it prohibitive toward many buyers. “It might seem that living in a historic appreciate the historic architecture and the “Palo Alto and especially the older parts, district should add some sort of distinction,” connection to early Stanford and early Palo are coveted, being close to most of what Palo said Barbara Wallace, whose Professorville Alto, when resident faculty members joined Alto has to offer, including excellent schools,” home has been in her family since it was other Palo Altans in organizing their city and he said. “The major problem, as I see it, is constructed in 1896. “But, in fact, the schools. Nowadays, a sale often precedes a that the cost of housing limits the potential rocketing value of the land and houses lengthy period of construction, commonly purchasers.” can put preservation into conflict with including interior remodeling, window Both Irvine and Wallace have noticed a the preferences of homeowners with big replacement, additional living space, and handful of younger families moving into budgets to substantially alter their new basement excavation. Such changes may the area. “It is now lively with children, as homes. Because Palo Alto does not have satisfy the owner’s desires but argue with the it was in the earliest days, when the original enforceable protections for Professorville — historic integrity of the district.” families built the neighborhood, and as it was it takes advisory action on exterior changes Despite its internal controversy, Wallace in the 1950s and ‘60s, when booming families — the district continues to see occasional said she’s lucky to live within the “dynamic found affordable houses,” Wallace said. “I demolitions, relocations of houses on their neighborhood,” noting the long-term see families with young children at Heritage lots and replication rather than preservation friendships of some residents and recent Park. When the adjacent Palo Alto History of exterior elements.” block parties on Scott Street and Lincoln Museum opens in the old Palo Alto Clinic, Many houses within the historic district Avenue. “We appreciate city support for another fantastic resource will be a short walk have elements no longer used in modern these events organized by enterprising from Professorville.” construction, — features that have historical residents,” she said. “The student residents Melissa McKenzie, 2017
16 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com The Dreyfus Group Representative Palo Alto Listings and Sales
1101 HAMILTON AVENUE 525 CENTER DRIVE 653 WILDWOOD AVENUE Offered at $5,295,000 · SOLD Offered at $7,498,000 · SOLD Offered at $3,998,000 · SOLD
1320 WEBSTER STREET 5 PHILLIPS ROAD 435 COLERIDGE AVENUE Offered at $5,150,000 · SOLD Offered at $4,300,000 · SOLD Offered at $15,000,000 · SOLD
345 COLERIDGE AVENUE 260 COLERIDGE AVENUE 221 KINGSLEY AVENUE Offered at $15,000,000 · SOLD Offered at $11,000,000 · SOLD Offered at $8,150,000 · SOLD
1115 RAMONA STREET 644 SENECA STREET 649 SENECA STREET Offered at $5,850,000 · SOLD Offered at $8,000,000 · SOLD Offered at $2,995,000 · SOLD
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Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 17 Community Center Veronica Weber Veronica
alo Alto’s Community Center has been at his current Community Center home FACTS Pneighborhood became home for Karen on Fulton Street for nearly two decades. CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Walter Hays Kids’ Ewart in 1974 when she moved into a new Built in 1921, he describes the house as Club, 1525 Middlefield Road Eichler with her family. “French-country style with a nice picket fence.” FIRE STATION: No. 3, 799 Embarcadero Road She spent time at the local community center, “It just feels like home,” McIntyre said. “Most LIBRARY: listened to live music at Frost Amphitheater, of the neighbors here have been here since I Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road; Children’s Library, 1276 Harriet St. enjoyed Eleanor Pardee Park (which she fondly moved in.” LOCATION: calls Eleanor Party Park), and frequented the His neighbor Irene Kane, has been living in bounded by Middlefield Road, local coffee house for its 70s rock music. She Community Center with her husband since 2001. Channing Avenue, Newell Road and Embarcadero Road NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: said growing up in Community Center was “I like the fact that it’s quiet, and there are not Peter Allen, “freaking awesome.” a lot of through streets, so kids can play on the [email protected] Ewart, who has now returned to live with her streets,” she said. PARK: Rinconada Park, 777 Embarcadero Road mother, Terri, in their original home on Hawker Kane and her husband live along the peaceful POST OFFICE: Main, 2085 E. Bayshore Road; Avenue, said that many of her neighbors have streets in their 1920s Craftsman house. Hamilton, 380 Hamilton Ave. returned to or had remained in their original “There are very few of the original houses PRIVATE SCHOOL: St. Elizabeth Seton School, homes with their families for years. left,” she said. “I loved being able to walk around 1095 Channing Ave. “Most families were here long term, and when all the houses were different. It’s sad for PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Addison, Duveneck and Walter people had a chance to bond,” she said. “Most me to see all the Craftsman bungalows go.” Hays elementary schools, Jordan Middle School, of the kids I met had gone through 12 years of To Jane Gee, a Community Center resident of 22 Palo Alto High School schooling together but still welcomed the new years, the neighborhood still lives up to its name. SHOPPING: Midtown, Downtown Palo Alto kids from New York.” “We’re a real caring community and if Terri fell in love with the modern feel of the someone has a hardship ... we make sure they’re Eichler on a brief visit to Palo Alto. In keeping helped along,” she said. Small alleyways that run between houses with Joseph Eichler’s trademark of bringing the Gee lists empty nesters, the elderly, singles make Community Center ideal for dog-walking, outside in, the house features a terrace off the and renters among the Community Center and in October and November, residents enjoy living room and 11 sliding doors. residents, in addition to families from a the yellowing of the large gingko trees that line “They couldn’t keep us in,” Ewart said of her multitude of cultures. the streets, Gee said. parents. “I love the wonderful traditions and “They are the most beautiful yellow leaves, Today, however, she feels the neighborhood friendships they all contribute to make this and then they drop and we call our street ‘Yellow has lost its convivial atmosphere. neighborhood friendly,” Gee added. wood,’” said Gee, who lives on Greenwood Avenue. “It’s a beautiful place to live; it’s just getting harder Her children attended three of Community She and her husband have taken up to be here,” she said, citing increased real estate Center’s five public schools: Duveneck hydroponic gardening (growing plants in water costs, a dearth of casual arts and culture events, and Elementary, Jordan Middle and Palo Alto High. without soil) in their backyard, and hand out a recent string of car thefts on her street. Now an empty-nester herself, Gee, along with lettuce to neighbors on occasion. Robert McIntyre moved to Palo Alto in 1946 her husband, Bruce, still enjoys seeing families “In addition to being a gorgeous street, we and still recalls the unloading of circus elephants walk to school on weekday mornings. are friendly and supporting of each other and on the site of the current Town & Country Village. “I love watching toddlers turn into teens respectful of each other,” Gee said. “It’s things Since then, he has owned six houses in town, three throughout the years in the neighborhood,” she like this that make a neighborhood a home.” of which were located in Community Center. He said. — Muna Sadek, 2015
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Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 19 Duveneck-St. Francis File Photo
ucked away behind Embarcadero Road sense of community. FACTS and San Francisquito Creek lies the The strong community of Duveneck/St. T CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Duveneck Kids’ Club, Duveneck/St. Francis neighborhood. Francis is enhanced by its proximity to a 705 Alester Ave. Here, one can find a diverse group of variety of shopping, entertainment and other FIRE STATION: neighbors and above all, a strong sense of amenities. No. 3, 799 Embarcadero Road community. The neighborhood has certainly changed LIBRARY: Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road It’s this sense of community that has become over time, while maintaining its strong LOCATION: bounded by San Francisquito Creek, very important to longtime resident Anne community feel. Many homes have been Oregon Expressway, Greer Road, Embarcadero Road Stewart. “When neighbors move in, we want remodeled, or rebuilt altogether. Everything and Newell Road to make sure that we keep that community from ultra-modern homes with glass walls NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Karen White, feel. ... I want people that come into the and sharp angles, to stucco and clay-shingled 650-494-7026, [email protected] neighborhood to have that value.” Spanish-style residences fill the blocks. Much PARKS: Eleanor Pardee Park, Stewart raised three children in the of this change came as a result of the San 851 Center Drive; Rinconada Park, 777 Embarcadero Road neighborhood and can attest not only to its Francisquito Creek flood in 1998, which POST OFFICE: Main, 2085 E. Bayshore Road sense of community but also to how kid- damaged many residents’ properties. PRIVATE SCHOOLS: International School of the friendly it is. Duveneck Elementary School Garr said that she couldn’t imagine a Peninsula, 151 Laura Lane; St. Elizabeth Seton, 1095 is at the heart of the neighborhood and is more perfect location. “I’m a huge fan of Channing Ave. certainly a strong community fixture. our neighborhood. It’s kind of what I always PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Duveneck Elementary School, “Proximity (to Duveneck) allows you to see hoped to live in in terms of quiet streets, great Jordan Middle School, Palo Alto High School quite a bit of your neighbors, and that helps neighbors, and a supportive community.” SHOPPING: Edgewood Shopping Center; keep the neighborhood quite close,” Stewart —Ian Malone, 2016 University Avenue said. Fellow resident Elizabeth Garr, who moved there in 2011, is especially fond of the role that the elementary school plays in the community. “The school ... is like the centerpiece,” Garr said. “Everyone knows each other through school, and it’s not surrounded by busy streets. ... It’s like a park or another gathering point.” Garr said the neighborhood has much to offer families with older children as well. Both Garr and Stewart enumerated some of the small things, such as people walking their dogs at night, or kids playing baseball File Photo in the street that contribute greatly to the
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wouldn’t expect anyone to have a single-story overlay, officially prohibiting any FACTS “I any kind of problems and not end second-story construction in the subdivision. CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): First up getting full support from the Plock and Baum agree that the legal motions Congregational Church Nursery School, 1985 Louis community,” said Jon Baum, a resident of Palo helped draw the community together: “Around Road; Parents Nursery School, 2328 Louis Road; Alto’s Triple El neighborhood since 1971. Memorial Day we get as many neighbors for Duveneck Kids’ Club, 705 Alester Ave. “It’s not as prestigious as Old Palo Alto. And a potluck in this corner of the horseshoe. FIRE STATION: No. 3, 799 Embarcadero Road certainly everybody’s their own individual, but There’s a slight fee collected to cover the cost of LIBRARY: Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road at the same time it’s a really serious community putting that on, and with whatever’s left over, LOCATION: in terms of people being there for each other we get together around Labor Day and have an Elsinore Drive, Elsinore Court and El Cajon Way and knowing each other.” ice cream social.” PARKS: Rinconada Park, 777 Embarcadero Road; Greer The neighborhood is named after three Ed Yao and Amy Yang, who moved into the Park, 1098 Amarillo Ave. residential streets — Elsinore Drive, Elsinore neighborhood in 2006, learned to love the POST OFFICE: Main, 2085 E. Bayshore Road Court and El Cajon — between North relatively small size inherent to Eichler designs. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Duveneck Elementary School, California Avenue and Oregon Expressway “Once you move into one of these homes and Jordan Middle School, Palo Alto High School and by Louis and Greer roads. Its sinuous you see all the lighting you get inside, and the SHOPPING: Midtown streets are lined with Modesto ash and Chinese openness of these Eichler designs ... you realize elm trees and comprise 68 homes; most are that’s part of the value, not having somebody Eichlers built rapidly in the post-war era. towering over you,” Ed said. A single-story mandate is a point of pride Like many neighbors-to-be, they had been for most residents. According to Stew Plock invited to the neighborhood’s gatherings (Triple El’s unofficial mayor), “Eight years ago, before moving in. “Obviously we know the somebody wanted to build a second story,” people around us the best, but it is quite he recalled. Although the city allowed that, astounding how many people we do know in covenants in the deeds prohibited building a these couple of streets here, in the Triple El Weber Veronica second story. It took a vote by residents, who neighborhood,” he said. achieved a supermajority of 70 percent, to create — Pierre Bienaim, 2014
22 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com AVOID SANITARY SEWER BLOCKAGES Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) poured down your sink may be costing you money, time and hassle. Pouring fats, oils and grease into the sanitary sewer system is an environmental and public health issue. FOG builds up in sewer lines and clogs pipes causing backups in your home, and can spill raw sewage into streets, storm drains, and creeks. Repairing clogged pipes can cost hundreds of dollars to fix and thousands of dollars if the clog causes wastewater to spill out and damage bathrooms and floors. To prevent sewer backups: • Never pour grease down sink drains or into toilets. • Try removing grease from plates and utensils by wiping oily dishes with paper or a rag. • For small amounts of oil and grease, consolidate them into a compostable container such as a milk carton and place in your green compost cart— cityofpaloalto.org/foodscraps • Don’t pour grease or cooking oil down garbage disposals. Put baskets/strainers in sink drains to catch food scraps and other solids, and empty the drain baskets/ strainers into your green compost cart. • Bring large amounts of unwanted cooking oil (salad dressing, fryer oil) to the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Station—cityofpaloalto.org/hazwaste What To Do With Food Scraps: • Try composting produce scraps at home to reduce waste, create healthy soil and improve your garden—cityofpaloalto.org/compost • Toss any meat scraps, bones or dairy products into your green compost cart. Have a clogged sewer line? ALWAYS call us before calling a plumber! • The City will need to check the line to make sure no other utility services will be damaged by clearing it. For more information on avoiding sewer backups and safety information, call us at (650) 496-6995 or visit cityofpaloalto.org/safeutility
www.cityofpaloalto.org/safeutility (650) 329-2161 Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 23 Embarcadero Oaks / Leland Manor / Garland Drive FACTS CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOLS: First Congregational Church Nursery School, 1985 Louis Road; Parents Nursery School, 2328 Louis Road, Walter Hays Kids’ Club, 1525 Middlefield Road. FIRE STATION: No. 3, 799 Embarcadero Road. LOCATION: Embarcadero Oaks: triangle formed by Embarcadero Road, Seale Avenue and Middlefield road; Garland Drive: between Middlefield and Louis roads; Leland Manor: a rectangular segment between Middlefield and Louis roads, Seale and North California avenues. LIBRARY: Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road. PARK: Rinconada Park, 777 Embarcadero Road.
Veronica Weber Veronica POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. PRIVATE SCHOOL: Hwa Shin Bilingual Chinese School, 750 N. California Ave. (Jordan Middle School); Stratford School, 870 N. California Ave. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Walter Hays Elementary School, he oak and magnolia trees that line family moved into the quiet neighborhood three Jordan Middle School, Palo Alto High School. T the streets in what may look like one years ago. SHOPPING: Midtown. neighborhood to those unfamiliar with “I actually moved into our current home sight the area is really three micro-neighborhoods unseen, as my wife was the one who had been — Embarcadero Oaks, Leland Manor, Garland primarily traveling back and forth between poles are out of the picture. Although the Drive — each with unique characteristics and Chicago and Palo Alto to look at homes,” he neighborhood is mostly made up of Baby mix of new and longtime residents. said. The neighborhood’s “phenomenal location” Boomers and retirees, there has been a slight next to Walter Hays Elementary and Jordan influx of younger families moving in recently. EMBARCADERO OAKS Middle schools and his wife’s office at Palo Alto Square was a huge selling point, he said. GARLAND DRIVE Embarcadero Oaks, a triangular “Neighbors are proud of — and consequently neighborhood between Embarcadero Road, supportive of — the neighborhood schools,” Magnolia trees and an unusually curvy street Seale Avenue and Middlefield Road, is an easy he said. “Neighbors are friendly and outgoing. in a flat part of Palo Alto are two of the defining walk to the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo Since we’re a younger family, we use the characteristics of Garland Drive, the third and Rinconada Park. Resident Michelle Zhang, community facilities regularly. There are great segment of the three neighborhoods. Most of who moved to the area from the East Coast in parks in almost every direction, and we’re a the homes were built in the late 1940s and early 2013, said she was drawn to the neighborhood’s stone’s throw from the Palo Alto Art Center, 1950s and although many have been updated over family-oriented, friendly makeup. Rinconada Library, the Children’s Theatre, the the years, residents have done so thoughtfully to “For me, it is a very vibrant neighborhood Rinconada Pool and the Children’s Library, all retain the neighborhood’s character. as we are close to one elementary and one of which are staffed by exceptional people.” Roy Levin has lived on the street for nearly middle school,” said Zhang, whose two children Although moving to a suburban 35 years. He said at the time of his arrival, his go to Walter Hays Elementary School. “The neighborhood was an adjustment from living family was seeking a kid-friendly area close to community center, art center and two libraries in downtown Chicago, with the biggest change schools, but over time he has gotten to know his are all within walking distance. We feel being that Leland Manor doesn’t have the same neighbors — who have all resided on Garland fortunate to live in such a community that is full walkability to bars and restaurants, Carlson said Drive for years and said the street holds an of great resources.” the accessibility of safe bike routes makes it an annual Fourth of July barbeque. Zhang said the neighborhood, lined with even trade. “Garland has gone through several cycles as large oak trees, has a mix of young families, Longtime resident David Slone said his street, families with kids have moved in, then the kids baby boomers and empty nesters that adds Barbara Drive, is just over a mile away from a have grown up and moved on,” Levin said. “At to its diversity, and she feels safe living there. Caltrain station and the entire neighborhood is the time we moved here, families with young Additionally, Zhang feels there are plenty of only two miles from downtown Palo Alto. kids, like ours, were moving in. About a decade events that not only bring the Embarcadero Oaks When Slone and his family moved into the ago, most of the kids had grown up, but now the neighborhood, but the entire community, together. neighborhood 28 years ago, it was initially cycle is beginning again.” “We love the events, such as summer because they found a home that fit into their Levin said turnover of homes is low and concerts,” she said. “The library is a great place price range, but he said he’s happy living there, neighborhood residents are close. Prior to this to be, with some interesting family activities.” despite an increase in traffic over the years, and year, residents often complained of the street’s recommends the neighborhood to new home disintegrating asphalt but the city recently LELAND MANOR buyers, because of its proximity to amenities, as rebuilt the street and replaced the water and gas well as the plethora of relatively large lots. mains. The neighborhood also is near VTA bus Leland Manor is “relatively quiet but near Directly adjacent to Embarcadero Oaks is routes on Middlefield and Louis roads and a to main arteries so (you) can get to Bayshore mile away from a Caltrain station, making it an Leland Manor, a rectangular segment between Freeway and downtown fairly quickly,” he said. Louis Road, California Avenue, Middlefield ideal location for public transportation-minded One of Leland Manor’s most distinguishing people who desire a more suburban lifestyle. Road and Seale Avenue bisected by Newell road. characteristics is its underground utilities, Slone —Melissa McKenzie, 2017 Midwest transplant Kevin Carlson and his said, which means that wires and telephone 24 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.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.
EDUCATION To whom are you selling? From whom are you buying? Who is the agent on the other side of the transaction? What’s happening in the neighborhood? What’s happening with the market? The more knowledge you have, the stronger position you will be in.
PREPARATION In our pent up and competitive market, you’ve got to be able to make quick decisions and move with speed and confidence. Whether a buyer (understanding values, location, recent market activity) or seller (preparing your property for the market), being primed, poised, positioned and ready are only a few of the essential elements to your success!
NEGOTIATION Everything is negotiable. Not only the price, but the terms of the contract, the length of escrow, allowances for repairs, seller rent-back….and so much more. Asking for what you want and knowing what to ask for helps ensure your success . 8EOMRKXLIƃVWXWXITMWIEW]NYWXGSRXEGX7MSFLER /RS[PIHKIEFPITVITEVIHERHHVMZIR WLIœPPLIPT]SYKIXXLIFIWXVIWYPXWTSWWMFPI
SIOBHAN O’SULLIVAN License# 01298824 650.776.5445 [email protected] osullivanteam.com Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 25 Old Palo Alto FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): Addison Kids’ Club, 650 Addison Ave.; Neighborhood Infant- Toddler Center, 311 N. California Ave.; Walter Hays Kids’ Club, 1525 Middlefield Road FIRE STATION: No. 3, 799 Embarcadero Road LIBRARY: Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road LOCATION: between Embarcadero Road and Oregon Expressway, Alma Street and Middlefield Road NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Old Palo Alto Neighborhood Association, Nadia Naik, [email protected] PARKS: Bowden Park, Alma Street and California Avenue; Bowling Green Park, 474 Embarcadero Road; Kellogg Park, next to Bowling Green Park POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. PRIVATE SCHOOL: Castilleja School, 1310 Bryant St. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Addison and Walter Hays elementary schools, Jordan Middle School, Palo Alto High School
Michelle Le SHOPPING: Town & Country Village; Midtown; California Avenue
ver the years, the Old Palo Alto Alto High School at a time when Palo Alto was Kemp pointed out homes and who has come Oneighborhood has garnered a reputation not as crowded. She reminisced that back then and gone from them over the years. It was for housing some of the wealthiest, homeowners were mostly doctors, lawyers and literally — and metaphorically — a window into most influential residents in town. It’s not, for small business owners, and that the only big the neighborhood’s layered history. example, uncommon to see tourists stop by the tech name in town was Hewlett Packard — back “(Old Palo Alto) has become a combination late Steve Jobs’ home, and the neighborhood is when computers were the size of rooms. of very wealthy people in palace-like structures peppered with ongoing construction sites, where When describing the feel of the and more or less ordinary people,” Kemp said, modern mansions are replacing older homes. neighborhood, Nichols used words like “My husband and I were lucky that we were able The face of Old Palo Alto is rapidly changing, “genteel,” “mature” and “established,” noting that to buy this house.” but a stroll through the quiet, tree-lined it’s a neighborhood where houses are “well- Kemp took out a faded Polaroid photograph neighborhood with its shaded sidewalks and maintained” and “don’t look alike.” That said, of the house that used to be across the street. fragrant gardens, can offer a glimpse of — or Nichols acknowledged that the neighborhood is A very modest yellow bungalow, it in no way even a feel for — Old Palo Alto’s past, and an and has been changing. resembles the current, impressive home. understanding of why it is and has long been “Newer people and foreign investors love the “This neighborhood has changed radically. ... such a coveted spot in town. historic feel of Old Palo Alto, but they change it,” (There were) almost no two-story homes in this Among the palatial odes to modernism, she said. “Old Palo Alto won’t be old for long!” particular neighborhood. They were cottages there are still original houses, many built in One of the effects of Old Palo Alto’s appeal and bungalows,” Kemp said. the Spanish Colonial Revival style and dating to foreign investors has been the increasing Though the neighborhood is clearly undergoing back to the early and mid-20th century. occurrence of “ghost houses,” which are houses constant transformation, the large, mature trees, Debbie Nichols, a local Realtor and longtime that are vacant, she observed. many of which are protected, remain. resident, pointed out that in addition to having “It’s hard to have a house sit vacant,” Nichols “In South Palo Alto, in the Eichler designed local quintessential landmarks, Palo said, “It’s like a hole in the neighborhood.” neighborhoods, the trees were getting their Alto architect Birge Clark is responsible for Just a few blocks away lives Sue Kemp, a start, and here there were 80-foot cedars in my designing many of the Spanish Colonial Revival resident of Old Palo Alto since 1961, when she front yard. ... My son loved to climb up to the style homes in the neighborhood. moved to the neighborhood with her husband top,” she said, smiling at the memory. Nichols’ home is one of those gems that and two children after her husband was Kemp finds a silver lining to the construction preserves the neighborhood’s past. Next to her accepted into Stanford University’s law school. sites in the area. She’s been taking Spanish front door is a plaque denoting her home, built “We wanted to be in the Walter Hays school classes at the Palo Alto Adult School for over 10 in 1925, as a historic property. Sitting in her district ... so we borrowed 5,000 dollars from years and welcomes the opportunity to practice quiet, peaceful dining room, Nichols spoke of my father and (bought this house for) the with Spanish-speaking construction workers. how Old Palo Alto became her home in 1956 awesome sum of 22,500 dollars,” Kemp said. “Actually, I kind of like the construction sites when her family moved from Boston. This is a stark contrast to current home values around here because I speak Spanish, and I “My mom liked the neighborhood because in her neighborhood. Kemp told of a recent know those guys would help me if I asked for it was reminiscent of the New England houses conversation with a neighbor selling her home help - they’re all of them very friendly and very — older houses with more feeling and more in which Kemp said she told her neighbor that family-oriented, very nice people. ...(they) don’t character. ... My dad used to say there was the house could probably sell for $5 million. The even believe that someone my age or race would nothing like living in a college town,” she said. owner laughed, saying that she wouldn’t take a even know a word of Spanish, so I enjoy teasing Nichols remembers attending Walter Hays penny for under $7 million. them,” she said, chuckling. Elementary, Jordan Middle School and Palo Looking out her large dining-room window, —Anna Medina, 2016 26 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 27 Southgate hen it comes to the location of FACTS W neighborhoods in Palo Alto, few have it better than Southgate. CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Casa dei Bambini, Bordered by Alma Street, El Camino 457 College Ave.; Escondido Kids’ Club, 890 Escondido Real, Churchill Avenue and Park Boulevard, Road; Walter Hays Kids’ Club, 1525 Middlefield Road Southgate is adjacent to both Palo Alto High FIRE STATION: No. 6, 711 Serra St. on the Stanford School and Stanford University and close to
Veronica Weber Veronica Campus both the shops and restaurants along California LIBRARY: Rinconada Library, 1213 Newell Road; and Avenue and Town and Country Village. College Terrace branch, 2300 Wellesley St. One would think that Southgate’s proximity LOCATION: bounded by El Camino Real, Park to multiple schools and shopping destinations Boulevard, the railroad tracks and Churchill Avenue would bring unwanted traffic and congestion to NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: the neighborhood. But that is not the case, said is the narrowness of the lanes; residents claim Jim McFall, Neighborhood Watch, [email protected], 650-327-4428 Jim McFall, a Southgate resident for over 30 years that a multitude of cars parked next to the curb PARK: who helps run the neighborhood watch program. essentially turns the roads into one-way streets. Alexander Peers Park, 1899 Park Blvd. McFall said there is “very little through-traffic” “We have significant issues with parking right POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. in the neighborhood because there are few now,” McFall said. “We’re seeing a significant PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Escondido and Walter Hays entrances from the main streets. The Caltrain increase in student parking here.” elementary schools, Jordan Middle School, Palo Alto tracks run parallel to Alma Street, while there is McFall added that he is working with the City High School no way in from Park Boulevard near Peers Park, of Palo Alto to address the parking concerns. SHOPPING: Town & Country Village; California Avenue blocking it off from two of four sides. In May 2016, the City Council endorsed a “It’s a well-defined neighborhood with Residential Preferential Parking Program geographic boundaries,” McFall said. “Not for Southgate, a plan which would require the times, said Jim Corbett, a retired longtime many streets go through the neighborhood. You permits for those who park their cars in the resident who lives on Sequoia Avenue. don’t know about it unless you go to a specific neighborhood for longer than two hours. The positive aspects of Southgate are enough location within Southgate.” Southgate, first developed in the 1920s, received to offset its parking troubles. Recently, the city However, Southgate is not free from all the its name because it bordered Stanford University’s repaved the streets and inserted open landscape problems that usually come with living in a southern side. The Stanford family actually owned basins to collect rainwater that would often popular area — namely, parking. the land until it sold and subdivided it. settle in the flat neighborhood after a storm. The main culprits are students from Palo Alto Construction has been a constant in the Residents also appreciate the bike paths to High School, who park in the nearby streets neighborhood through the years, with new California Avenue and downtown. close to campus. What exacerbates the issue families moving in and adjusting their homes to —Eric He, 2016 Evergreen Park
ordering the California Avenue shopping B district and just a mile away from FACTS Stanford University’s campus, sits what Paul Machado calls “a real gem.” CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): Casa He’s talking about his neighborhood, Palo Alto’s dei Bambini Montessori School, 463 & 457 College Evergreen Park, where he was born and raised, Ave.; Escondido Kids’ Club, 890 Escondido Road started a family and stuck around for the long haul. FIRE STATION: No. 2, 2675 Hanover St.
The Stanford Avenue resident said he’d describe Weber Veronica LIBRARY: College Terrace branch, 2300 Wellesley St. Evergreen Park as “a close-knit community LOCATION: between California Avenue, Park Boulevard comprised of diverse families and individuals.” and El Camino Real Evergreen Park has gone through its fair share NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Evergreen Park of growing pains over the last couple of decades as Neighborhood Association, President David Schrom, Silicon Valley has come into prominence, including 650-323-7333 the addition of Visa’s new 62,000-square-foot office neighborhood has lost some of its sleepy quality PARKS: Alexander Peers Park, 1899 Park Blvd. and research-and-development space on Sherman over the years, Au said, as traffic and parking POST OFFICE: Avenue. The formerly blue-collar neighborhood is challenges have begun to compromise the Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. now a little more upscale, boasting bigger houses quality of life in the neighborhood. These days, PRIVATE SCHOOL: The Living Wisdom School, 456 than the traditional two-bedroom ones of days cars block fire hydrants, double park in front of College Ave. past, Machado said. people’s driveways, and cruise the neighborhood PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Escondido Elementary School, “It’s become a destination spot,” he said. “It’s a looking for places to park as the area has become Jordan Middle School, Palo Alto High School residential neighborhood in what’s becoming a more popular, she said. SHOPPING: California Avenue very urban setting.” Christina Justiz Roush, an artist who moved Homes in the neighborhood are eclectic, with into the neighborhood a year ago, is enjoying different sizes, styles and lot sizes. Oxford Avenue living in Palo Alto after 10 years of life in place and not being walking-distance to resident Irene Au moved to the neighborhood Brooklyn, New York. stores was very scary for me, so it was a bit of in 1999. She likes the neighborhood’s proximity “It’s a very community-minded place. The serendipity (to find Evergreen Park).” to California Avenue and its walking ability. The thought of moving to a much more suburban Angela Swartz, 2017
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Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 29 College Terrace FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: College Terrace Children’s Center, 2300 Wellesley St.; Bing Nursery School, 850 Escondido Road; Escondido Kids’ Club, 890 Escondido Road; Pepper Tree After School Program, 865 Escondido Road FIRE STATION: No. 2, 2675 Hanover St., and No. 6, 711 Serra St. on the Stanford campus LIBRARY: College Terrace, 2300 Wellesley St. LOCATION: Bounded by Stanford Avenue, El Camino Real, California Avenue and Amherst Street NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Richard Stolee, president, College Terrace Residents’ Association, [email protected], collegeterrace.tumblr.com, ctra.org PARKS: Cameron Park, 2101 Wellesley St.; Mayfield Park, 2300 Wellesley St.; Weisshaar Park, 2298 Dartmouth St.; Werry Park, 2100 Dartmouth St. POST OFFICE: Cambridge branch, 265 Cambridge Ave. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Escondido Elementary School, Jordan Middle School, Palo Alto High School SHOPPING: California Avenue
Avenue and Amherst Street. James Cook moved to College Terrace in 2006. For him, the attraction was “its proximity to Stanford, Caltrain and the restaurants and shops of California Avenue.” “College Terrace has a great mix of young and old, locals and people from far away, owner residents and renters, single-family homes and small apartments. ... It is a true community with a small town feel,” Cook said, who now serves as the CTRA director of communications. Along with the pleasures of living in College Terrace come some concerns. One has been the cost of rent, which has gone up in recent years. Summa has watched a few of her neighbors depart during her time there. “I’ve lost three long-term neighbors on my block because of rent, and that’s kind of sad,” she said. Another issue is development. There are now File photo two recently completed large projects, one on the 2100 block of El Camino Real and the other is Stanford’s 17-acre Mayfield project, which will provide housing for Stanford faculty members. he College Terrace neighborhood of Palo Stolee described College Terrace as very Stolee said that, as the connection with T Alto has a definite college feel. In addition diverse, which “has been the hallmark of this Stanford continues to grow, the construction to its location adjacent to Stanford community.” projects are noisy distractions. University, there are streets named after East “A lot of the diversity comes from being in the “It takes away some of the quietness of the Coast colleges such as Bowdoin, Harvard, Yale, melting pot of Stanford,” Stolee said. neighborhood,” he said. Columbia and Oberlin. Doria Summa, a College Terrace resident since Despite these concerns, College Terrace has The College Terrace Residents’ Association 1991, agreed with Stolee about the diversity. maintained its reputation as a diverse and friendly (CTRA), enables residents to come together. “It’s eclectic ... Eclectic and friendly,” Summa neighborhood with strong connections to Stanford. The association also represents and looks after said. Summa originally moved to College Terrace the residents’ interests in working with the city Summa lives with her husband and two cats because of its walkability and nearness to and Stanford. and serves as the CTRA’s city observer, keeping California Avenue and Caltrain. She hasn’t been Richard Stolee, the president of the CTRA, the association board and other residents disappointed. initially lived in the neighborhood in 1975 informed about issues that impact College “I ended up being in a neighborhood that I when he had a job at Stanford. He lived there Terrace. Another unique feature of College love,” Summa said. for six years before moving to East Palo Alto Terrace, she noted, is its distinct boundaries of — Jamauri Bowles, 2015 and then returned in 1989. El Camino Real, Stanford Avenue, California 30 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com LIVE SILICON VALLEY
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t isn’t marked on Google Maps, and its It’s made parking difficult. Since the majority FACTS size is not extraordinary, but the Mayfield of housing complexes are condominiums and I CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): Casa neighborhood is a busy and vibrant hub in apartments, residents often have to find a spot dei Bambini Montessori School, 463 & 457 College Palo Alto. on the street. On a typical weekday, commuters’ Ave.; Escondido Kids’ Club, 890 Escondido Road Nestled in between Oregon Expressway, Park cars add to the mess, with not enough parking FIRE STATION: No. 2, 2675 Hanover St. Boulevard, El Camino Real and Cambridge spaces to go around. LIBRARY: Avenue, Mayfield is home to a number of The other issue, due to the rising cost of living College Terrace, 2300 Wellesley St. offices, shops and restaurants — most of which and renting in Palo Alto, is that the homegrown LOCATION: between Oregon Expressway, Park line the popular California Avenue. businesses that have called California Avenue Boulevard, El Camino Real and Cambridge Avenue From Antonio’s Nut House, one of Palo Alto’s home for years are being forced out in favor of NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Palo Alto oldest bars, to contemporary burger joint The corporate or chain restaurants. Neighborhoods members: Joe Villareal, 650-326-7519 Counter and Cafe Pro Bono, an Italian eatery, “Palo Alto’s becoming very saturated,” Jacobs PARKS: Sarah Wallis Park, 202 Ash Street. there is a unique blend of cuisine and nightlife said. “It’s becoming cookie-cutter. It’s sad.” POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. options that makes California Avenue a It wasn’t always this way. Unbeknownst to PRIVATE SCHOOL: The Living Wisdom School, 456 frequented destination on a daily basis. many, Mayfield has a long and rich history. It College Ave. But with popularity comes downsides. Alice was founded as its own town in 1855, but in SHOPPING: California Avenue Jacobs lives on Sherman Avenue with her 1925 was annexed by Palo Alto. The story may husband and three children, whom she drives to have been different had Mayfield accepted and from school. She has only been a resident for Leland Stanford’s proposal to build what would restaurants have outdoor seating, giving off four years, but she has already seen changes to become Stanford University in the town of a relaxed, European-style ambiance that is the neighborhood, with an influx of construction Mayfield. Known for its bars, the town did not welcoming and comforting to walk through. projects and commuters arriving for work. like Stanford’s request to be alcohol-free. While the hubbub of California Avenue “It’s stressful just getting out of my street,” So Mayfield became an almost forgotten and and the popularity of the many shops and Jacobs said. “I feel blocked in. I can’t drive down overshadowed part of Palo Alto, and California restaurants irritate some residents, others my street. Construction workers are coming in Avenue became the taboo part of town. Bill enjoy the location and relish the small pocket just as we’re getting to school. They don’t pay Roberts, who lives in Menlo Park but has been parks that provide a neighborhood feel. Pamela attention to us.” coming to California Avenue for decades, said it Brown has lived on Park Boulevard for more While noting the convenience of living close used to be a center of prostitution. than a decade and has nothing but good things to Mollie Stone’s Market and the post office, “There used to be a Round Table there,” Roberts to say about Mayfield. Jacobs expressed concerns about residing in said, pointing near the intersection of California “It’s peaceful,” said Brown after finishing an area that has transformed into a center of Avenue and Ash Street. “I was eating with some up a workout near Sarah Wallis Park, on the business activity and a nightmare to navigate friends at the Round Table once, and I saw a corner of Ash Street and Grant Avenue. “It’s real in. A car almost backed into her son while prostitute doing business in there. But those times convenient. I’ve never had a problem in 11 years.” they were biking on California Avenue. She are long gone. The city has done an awful lot.” Mayfield is prime real estate for a reason. once nearly ran into a cellphone-distracted According to Roberts, the city eventually It is steps away from the hubbub of the tech pedestrian. broke up the illegal activity. Nowadays, companies and startups of Silicon Valley and the “That’s the drawback of living here in this area California Avenue has become Palo Alto’s convenience of Palo Alto’s second downtown. of mixed-residential-commercial area,” she said. “second downtown,” and Mayfield is emerging —Eric He, 2016 “It’s kind of souring our experience.” as a vibrant neighborhood. Many of the 34 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com Ventura Veronica Weber Veronica
he Ventura neighborhood can be easily moved in people were on the streets more. FACTS T missed while driving along El Camino “The culture was such that (her children) CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Country Day Little Real or Alma Street. Its narrow streets could play outside all the time and just go to the School, 3990 Ventura Court; Heffalump Cooperative and close-together houses create a cozy, park and they were looked after,” Kelly said. Nursery, 3990 Ventura Court; Leaping Lizards Nature neighborhood feel. Mature trees shade the Kelly also explained, sitting in her golden Awareness Preschool, leapinglizardspreschool.com; sidewalks, and there is little through traffic. yellow living room, that an impactful change for Sojourner Truth Child Development Center, 3990 “It felt like a hidden neighborhood. ... The Ventura has been the lessening of class diversity Ventura Court blocks felt like places you’d imagine, like, that’s taken place over the last 15 years. In 1972, FIRE STATION: No. 5, 600 Arastradero Road having block parties and having my daughter ... she bought her house for $24,000; it is now LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road riding her bike up the street and playing in the worth $2 million. LOCATION: bounded by Oregon Expressway, Alma street with her friends,” said Lisa Gibson, who “It’s made a difference to who moves here and Street, West Meadow Drive and El Camino Real moved in with her family in 2013, of her first who can move in,” Kelly said. PARK: Boulware Park, 410 Fernando Ave.; Ventura impression of Ventura. On her first visit to the neighborhood, she Community Center, 3990 Ventura Court Gibson lives in a Craftsman-style house with remembered seeing a sign from the Black POST OFFICE: a gray exterior, a little porch and a lush front Panther organization of the area advertising a Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. garden. Ventura architecture varies from small, community meeting and a free clinic testing for PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Barron Park Elementary School, one-story bungalows with deep backyards to sickle-cell anemia. Terman Middle School, Gunn or Palo Alto high schools two-story modern designs that occupy the “It was greater, much greater diversity. Now majority of the lot. ... I’m sure there are people from all over the the area, because we meet them here and there, Gibson spoke to her experience of Ventura world, but they’re more homogeneous in that but it would be kind of fun to have all of them as “down to earth.” Since moving in, she has they belong to professional classes,” she said. together,” Gibson said. frequently met new people in the area when out Now, she said, the primary platform Both Kelly and Gibson take advantage of walking with her dog and 2-year-old daughter. for neighborhood communication is the California Avenue’s Caltrain station, farmers She feels that Ventura has a “really nice sense of community networking site Nextdoor. People market and restaurants’ easy accessibility. place.” Neighbors have been eager to share the will post information from the police or ask “Having (California Avenue) in walking community’s history with her and her family. around for a babysitter. Kelly described her distance, but being out of the bustle of things is Aran Kelly, a retired educator and a Ventura interactions with other Ventura residents as really, really nice,” Gibson said. homeowner, is someone who is deeply familiar “just very serendipitous.” Gibson also uses Kelly noted that one of the things that has not with the history. Kelly lives in a one-story Nextdoor and has attended some of the changed is the feeling of it being a safe and quiet bungalow, with a tan exterior and white community events, like a pizza party, posted neighborhood. detailing, representative of an older Ventura there. “In general, I mean, it’s just a great style. “I wanted to post ... to recruit a little kids- neighborhood, it’s a lovely area,” she said. Kelly, who raised her children there, sees a toddler playgroup. So someday I’m going to do shift in the sense of community. When she first that: have all the toddlers meet up in a park in — Maev Lowe, 2015 Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 35 Midtown Veronica Weber Veronica
hen Cynthia Tham picked up Tham and her family take full advantage of FACTS her daughter from El Carmelo the walkability of Midtown, especially the short W CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Grace Lutheran Elementary School on a recent 10-minute stroll to El Carmelo Elementary Preschool, 3149 Waverley St.; Love’n’Care Christian weekday afternoon, her return home was School, where her youngest daughter attends Preschool, 2490 Middlefield Road; Mini Infant Center anything but quick. Between stopping at the school. El Carmelo is a vital neighborhood link, of Palo Alto, 3149 Waverley St.; Ohlone Kids’ Club school library to chat with a teacher and taking bringing residents together for school functions, (PACCC), 950 Amarillo Ave.; Palo Alto Friends Nursery a detour to a neighbor’s house to coordinate community meetings and play dates between School, 957 Colorado Ave. a play date, her stroll became lengthy as she classmates, Tham noted. FIRE STATION: No. 4, 3600 Middlefield Road caught up with friends and neighbors. “A lot of the kids (in Midtown) grew up LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road But it didn’t bother Tham — instead, that’s together, so us parents all go to the park at LOCATION: part of what makes Midtown such an appealing the same time every day and pick the kids up between Oregon Expressway and Loma Verde Avenue, Alma Street and West Bayshore Road place to live, she said. from school at the same time,” she said. “You NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Resting comfortably between Oregon automatically start building relationships.” Sheri Furman, Expressway, Loma Verde Avenue, U.S. Highway Louise Furutsuki describes Midtown as a 650-856-0869, [email protected], midtownresidents.org 101 and Alma Street, Midtown is Palo Alto’s neighborhood with an ever-evolving mix of PARKS: largest residential neighborhood. With about folks from different backgrounds, occupations Greer Park, 1098 Amarillo Ave.; Hoover Park, 2901 Cowper St.; Seale Park, 3100 Stockton Place 5,000 families living in a mix of Eichler, and cultures. A Midtown resident since POST OFFICE: Craftsman and even English Tudor-style homes, 2003 and the current business liaison for the Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave.; Midtown has the familiarity of a small town with Midtown Residents Association, she said that Main, 2085 E. Bayshore Road the accessibility and amenities of a major city. while the neighborhood has grown more full PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Keys School, 2890 Middlefield Convenience is king for residents of Midtown, and busy over the years, the changes she has Road; HeadsUp! Emerson School, 2800 W. Bayshore which is minutes away from California Avenue’s noticed have been mostly positive. Road; The Girls’ Middle School, 3400 W. Bayshore Road shopping district, a major freeway and a “When we first moved here, there were PUBLIC SCHOOLS: El Carmelo, Fairmeadow, Hoover, Caltrain station, mostly older families and older couples (on our Ohlone and Palo Verde elementary schools; Jane When Tham and her family moved into their street),” Furutsuki said. “About 30 percent of Lathrop Stanford Middle School; Gunn and Palo Alto high schools home on Colorado Avenue 20 years ago for its newcomers (move here) with grade school kids SHOPPING: location. or kindergarteners. At this moment, it’s half- Midtown Shopping Center, Middlefield “I ride my bike to work and so does my half. But more kids are a good thing; it makes Road and Colorado Avenue; also Middlefield Road at Loma Verde Avenue husband. Midtown is the closest thing to the place more vibrant.” convenience without a car,” she said. —Avi Salem, 2016 36 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com Midtown Realty, Inc. Real Results, Real Estate
SOLD “For more than 60 years, Midtown Realty has been assisting its neighbors and friends with one of the most important purchases in their life… their home! At Midtown Realty, we are dedicated to working with people, not clients. We sell homes, not houses and Palo $OWRLVRXUKRPHQRWDEUDQFKRűFH Tim Foy Jane Volpe Joann Weber Chris Taylor Ryan Molly Foy Broker/Owner Realtor/MBA Senior Property Realtor Eltherington Rich Manager & Realtor Realtor Realtor SOLD Robert I. Rosemary SungHee Yamei Lee Lisa Knox Yvonne Steinberg Prince Clemenson Realtor Realtor Boone Realtor Property Manager Realtor 2I¿FH0DQDJHU & Realtor REAL RESULTS, REAL ESTATE 2775 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto • Phone: (650)321-1596 Fax: (650)328-1809 See our local listings online at — www.midtownpaloalto.com BRE# 1900986 Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 37 Palo Verde FACTS CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Palo Verde Kids’ Club, 3450 Louis Road FIRE STATION: No. 4, 3600 Middlefield Road LIBRARY: Mitchell Park Library, 4050 Middlefield Road LOCATION: West Bayshore and Middlefield roads to the east and west, and Loma Verde Avenue and East Meadow Drive to the north and south PARKS (NEARBY): Don Jesus Ramos Park, 800 East Meadow Drive; J. Pearce Mitchell Park, 600 East Meadow Drive; Henry W. Seale Park, 3100 Stockton Place POST OFFICE: Main, 2085 East Bayshore Road; Cambridge, 250 Cambridge Avenue PRIVATE SCHOOLS: The Girls’ Middle School, 3400 West Bayshore Road PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Palo Verde Elementary School, Veronica Weber Veronica J.L. Stanford Middle School, Gunn High School RECREATION: Palo Alto Family YMCA, 3412 Ross Road, Eichler Swim and Tennis Club, 3539 Louis Road SHOPPING: Midtown Shopping Center, Middlefield Road and Colorado Avenue; also Middlefield Road at Loma Verde Avenue hen Palo Verde resident Sheena Chin Chin said, these resources are key. W first attended an open house in the Another big plus is that Palo Verde tends neighborhood, she was startled to to see less cut-through traffic compared to wrote in an email. “There were teachers, principals, come face-to-face with the home’s neighbors. other Palo Alto neighborhoods, said City librarians, stay-at-home mothers, economists and “They were so friendly,” she said. They Council member and Palo Verde resident Cory more. The man who invented the computer mouse introduced themselves to Chin and welcomed her Wolbach. “It is secluded in a way,” he said. lived on our street. ... Everyone had a story, but to the community, offering information about the “We’re lucky in that regard.” they were all most eager to talk about their kids’ area such as locations of grocery stores, pharmacies Wolbach grew up in Palo Verde and moved soccer teams or the Eichler Swim Team.” and kids’ recreation. Their warmth eased Chin’s back to the neighborhood in 2012. As a child, While the Eichlers create a non-intrusive home concerns about potentially moving to a new city he often played touch football in the street environment, residents don’t hesitate to “bring and not knowing where to go for basic necessities. and biked to his friends’ houses. “It’s always people out and talk to everybody,” Reklis said. “At that point we didn’t know whether we were been one of those quiet, family-friendly Neighbors hold a dog play date at Palo Verde going to buy the house,” Chin said. “But they just neighborhoods, and I think that’s still true,” he Elementary School every Sunday morning, and told us these kinds of things that seem small but said. “It’s nice to bump into neighbors walking unofficial get-togethers often take place at Seale mean a lot ... even though they were not sure we down the street with their dogs or their kids.” and Ramos parks. Kenneth Road sponsors a we’re going to be their future neighbors.” Residents have created a culture of looking out Fourth of July parade in the neighborhood, and That kind of everyday kindness, Chin says, for one another, throwing block parties from time this year, Janice Way obtained a grant from the city defines the Palo Verde neighborhood. to time and readily lending a hand to neighbors. to rent a bounce house for its annual block party. Though Palo Verde is famous for its tract of When the Chins are out of town, neighbors Palo Verde parents also volunteer for the Palo Eichler and Eichler-inspired houses — modern look after their house, toss newspapers into Alto Unified School District. Chin is the president homes designed by real estate developer Joseph their yard and take out their trash. One even of the Palo Verde Parent Teacher Association Eichler and known for their open floor plans, offered to drive Chin to the airport, though and has volunteered for Gunn High School’s flat roofs and floor-to-ceiling windows — Palo Chin ultimately drove herself so she wouldn’t International Potluck, Teacher Appreciation Day Verde residents from all backgrounds and inconvenience her neighbor. and Chinese New Year activities. occupations consistently highlight the appeal of Another time, former school board member “This is a wonderful place for our Palo Altans,” the neighborhood as quiet, peaceful and family- and Palo Verde resident Diane Reklis left her Chin said. “And I’d like to contribute my time friendly. house to attend a meeting and accidentally and my efforts as long as there’s a chance.” Palo Verde sits between West Bayshore and left her dog out. Her neighbors “realized she The neighborhood has housed a number Middlefield roads to the east and west, and is was out, realized she wasn’t supposed to be of public servants and local politicians, bordered by Loma Verde Avenue and East Meadow out, figured out who had a key, figured out including Reklis, former Mayor Sandy Drive to the north and south. The neighborhood who had a phone number, dropped the dog in Eakins, Councilmember Cory Wohlbach, and is known for its street plan of narrow roads and and called us,” she said. That level of concern Councilmember and former school board cul-de-sacs, designed to limit traffic and foster a safe for one another is evident throughout the member Greg Schmid. environment for residents and children. neighborhood, Reklis added. According to Reklis, Palo Verde residents It’s within comfortable walking distance Reklis moved to Palo Verde in 1979, and from simply care and make efforts to get involved in from Ramos Park, Seale Park and Mitchell the beginning, she said, it was clear that people whatever way possible. Park Community Center. The Palo Alto Family come from all over the world to live in the “It is a neighborhood of creative, adventurous YMCA and Eichler Swim and Tennis Club are neighborhood. people who are interested in family and frequented places. Midtown Shopping Center “There was the private investigator with an community,” she wrote. is a short drive or bike ride away. For families, Olympic gold medal hanging on her wall,” she Shawna Chen , 2017 38 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com Kathleen is a Palo Alto native and proud to live and work in this local community. She has successfully helped buyers and sellers in this local market for over 15 years. KATHLEEN’S RECENT SALES SOLD SOLD 178 EL DORADO AVENUE, PALO ALTO 1231 MILLS STREET, MENLO PARK 2 bedrooms • 1 bathrooms 2 bedrooms • 1.5 bathrooms SOLD SOLD 2085 SHARON ROAD, MENLO PARK 4 BENNETT ROAD, REDWOOD CITY 5 bedrooms • 5.5 bathrooms 4 bedrooms • 4 bathrooms • represented buyer SOLD SOLD 1720 LARKELLEN LANE, LOS ALTOS 3981 SUTHERLAND DRIVE, PALO ALTO 5 bedrooms • 3 bathrooms • represented buyer 4 bedrooms • 2 bathrooms • represented buyer [email protected] | www.kathleenpasin.com | (650) 450-1912 | CalBRE # 01396779 7KLVLQIRUPDWLRQZDVVXSSOLHGE\WKLUGSDUW\VRXUFHV6DOHV$VVRFLDWHEHOLHYHVWKLVLQIRUPDWLRQLVFRUUHFWEXWKDVQRWYHULÜHGWKLV information and assumes no legal responsibility for its accuracy. Buyer should verify accuracy and investigate to Buyer’s own satisfaction. Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 39 St. Claire Gardens Veronica Weber Veronica t. Claire Gardens, nestled in the heart spectrum, seniors can be seen throughout the FACTS S of Palo Alto, might not be as famous neighborhood walking their dogs. CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): Mini as Old Palo Alto or Midtown, but it’s a “It’s a feeling of a community where people Infant Center of Palo Alto, 3149 Waverley St.; Sibel’s neighborhood that hosts annual Labor Day know each other but they don’t live in each Family Childcare Home, 786 Allen Ct. picnics for its residents, watches out for both other’s houses. There’s a fair amount of privacy, FIRE STATION: No. 4, 3600 Middlefield Road the young and young at heart, and has a tree so but if you need somebody to talk to or need LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road large and full of lights that even Palo Alto city something done, there is always someone LOCATION: staff recognize it. around,” she said. St. Claire Drive, St. Michaels Drive and St. Judy Ocken has lived in the St. Claire Gardens St. Claire Gardens resident Bill Baerge and his Michaels Court neighborhood for 40 years, and to this day, wife, Marti, agree with this observation about PARKS (NEARBY): Hoover Park, 2901 Cowper St.; she still can’t believe it’s true, she said. The the tight-knit nature of the neighborhood. Even Mitchell Park, 600 East Meadow Drive neighborhood has evolved and grown over the though Marti is ill and needs care from her POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave.; Main, years just as the Ocken family has. When the husband, she still makes it a point to attend the 2085 E. Bayshore Road Ockens first moved into the neighborhood, they ladies’ neighborhood lunches. These lunches PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Keys School, 2890 Middlefield Road didn’t ever think that the St. Claire Gardens’ take place once a month and are usually held at PUBLIC SCHOOLS: El Carmelo Elementary School, J.L. streets would be where their future children either one of the women’s homes or at a nearby Stanford Middle School, Gunn High School would ride their bikes. restaurant. SHOPPING: Midtown Shopping Center, Middlefield “We didn’t have children at the time and “We like the people here. We feel like we are Road and Colorado Avenue; also Middlefield Road at we weren’t even sure if we wanted to and yet among friends and people that have somewhat Loma Verde Avenue we moved into a neighborhood that is such a shared values,” Baerge said. family neighborhood. Someone must have been A neighborhood favorite is one of the trees in watching out for us,” Ocken said. “We had no front of the Baerge residence. It is large enough and hotdogs. The neighborhood park is closed idea what we were getting into.” that it hangs out over the street and beautiful off for the event, and only St. Claire Gardens The tree-lined neighborhood is located enough for the city arborist to consider it a residents are able to attend. This is a tradition conveniently close to Midtown and its stores “heritage tree,” Baerge said. that has been taking place for the last 15 years and restaurants. “We put up 1,000 or so LED lights up there that unites and engages the neighborhood As children and families grow, the and I turn them on whenever I think of it, not community. neighborhood experiences changes in just at Christmas,” he said. “The neighbors often St. Claire Gardens is a neighborhood where population as many leave the area, but others tell me how much they like it.” families and individuals at all stages of life can come there to raise their families. Currently, The neighborhood also hosts annual picnics live peacefully all the while feeling respected Ocken has noticed an uptick middle-school- on Labor Day hosted by Alan Davis and his and welcomed. aged kids. On the other end of the age wife. Davis rents tables and cooks hamburgers —Anissa Fritz, 2016 40 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com Welcome to Palo Alto. Now stay connected. Palo Alto Weekly and Palo Alto Online are the most valued and trusted source of local news in the area. Let our award-winning team of journalists keep you connected to life on the Midpeninsula with the breaking news, arts & entertainment, sports and TownSquare PaloAltoOnline.com Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 41 South of Midtown Veronica Weber Veronica hings have changed in the South of turned into graveyards, houses became haunted, FACTS T Midtown neighborhood since the early cobwebs and pumpkins were everywhere.” CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): 1980s when Paul Taylor moved in, but not The street was also closed to traffic for the Besse Bolton Kids’ Club, 500 E. Meadow Drive; what drew him — that it’s quiet, friendly and a trick-or-treaters. South Court, where they Milestones Preschool, 3864 Middlefield Road; good place for families. live, is where she said the celebration was Covenant Children’s Center, 670 E. Meadow Drive; Maria Poloncheck, who moved to the particularly big. El Carmelo Kids’ Club, 3024 Bryant St.; neighborhood with her husband and three kids “We are close to everything we need. Lots of Grace Lutheran Preschool, 3149 Waverley St. in 2013, described it as “busy and friendly.” park space in every direction,” Poloncheck said. FIRE STATION: No. 4, 3600 Middlefield Road “It has an old-fashioned feel to it,” she said. Neighbors look out for each other, something LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road Their family moved from Kansas because of she said is common. LOCATION: bounded by Loma Verde Avenue, her husband’s job, and they moved specifically When they first moved in, she said that one East Meadow Drive, Middlefield Road and Alma Street to the area to be close to Fairmeadow neighbor’s cat, Anakin, roamed the streets and NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: part of Midtown Elementary School. She said it is also easy for was taken care of by many people. The owners Residents Association, Sheri Furman, 650-856-0869 her husband to bike to work. and the cat moved away, and Poloncheck said PARKS: It is a place where people take a stroll or walk her family bought a cat soon after, who became Mitchell Park, 600 E. Meadow Drive; Hoover Park, 2901 Cowper St. their dogs in the morning. People ride their a neighborhood cat that is taken care of when POST OFFICE: bicycles down the roads or rounded sidewalks, they are away. Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. passing by one-story tract houses on Emerson They also learned about the friendliness of PRIVATE SCHOOLS: International School of the or reconstructed two-story modern homes on the people around them when their house was Peninsula, 3233 Cowper St.; Challenger School, 3880 Cowper. Trees line every street, such as the wide burglarized after they moved in, a rarity in the Middlefield Road; Keys School Lower Campus, 2890 Waverley Street or the narrower South Court. area. Middlefield Road The friendliness was apparent as soon as they “The neighbors were really great,” she said. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: El Carmelo and Fairmeadow moved in, she said, when they attended a block “One brought over a cake, others came over to elementary schools, J.L. Stanford Middle School, party. talk and said it was really rare for crime in the Gunn High School “I loved the eclectic group of people. There’s neighborhood. It was really nice to have them SHOPPING: Midtown Shopping Center, the young, the old, families, people in all stop by and talk about it. It’s good knowing the Middlefield Road and Colorado Avenue; life stages. There’s artists, musicians, people neighbors are looking out. We’re one of the only Charleston Center; Alma Plaza in the tech industry.” She enjoys how the houses that happened to in the area.” neighborhood comes together during the The typical things have changed since Taylor neighborhood, now they’ve moved. I’m one of holidays, such as Halloween. Neighbors “had a moved in when he was young. those people, now,” he said with a laugh. good-spirited competition,” and she said “lawns “There were older people in the — Rebecca Duran, 2013 42 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com MEET CHRISTINA HOOD WHAT DO THEY SAY? 0\LQLWLDOFRQWDFWZLWK&KULVWLQDSURYLGHGDPSOHHYLGHQFHWKDWVKHZRXOGEHDQH[FHOOHQW choice for the project. She completely understood the design, construction and integral “complexity of the property and how it developed during the time that I owned the home. — Ronald G., M.D. Christina listened to our needs and wants and in the end, KHOSHGXVEX\RXU¿UVWKRPHXQGHUEXGJHW “ — Casandra & Jesus Five stars is not even close enough to review my experience working with Christina Hood to sell my house. Big decisions like this make me extremely nervous. “Christina was always there for me as a calm, informed, professional, and friendly presence. She worked tirelessly to make sure every detail was taken care of. She promised amazing service and delivered ten fold. — Michael S. $VD¿UVWWLPHKRPHEX\HUZKRZDVWHUUL¿HGRIWKHSURFHVVHVSHFLDOO\JRLQJ through it in the competitive Bay Area market, I can honestly say Christina was a “-2<WRZRUNZLWK6KHPDGHPHFRPIRUWDEOHDQGNQRZOHGJHDEOH — Andrea H. Christina was great at getting everything together for the sale of my house. She was responsive and connected to folks who got things done. The entire process was very “streamlined and painless. She’s very conscientious and attentive to her clients and made VXUH,NQHZ,ZDVKHUSULRULW\,ZRXOGGH¿QLWHO\UHFRPPHQGZRUNLQJZLWKKHUDV\RXUDJHQW — Carmen B. CHRISTINA HOOD www.YourNeighborHOOD.Realtor Boutique Service with a Global Reach 505 Hamilton Ave., Suite 100, Palo Alto, CA 94301 650.382.2880 | CalBRE 01820455 Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 43 Adobe Meadow/Meadow Park Veronica Weber Veronica ull of wide and open streets roofed by tall association has also organized Civil Emergency FACTS Fgreen trees, and glass-walled, wooden Response Teams (CERTs) and emergency CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): Eichler homes, many of which were preparedness coordinators for almost every Covenant Children’s Center, 670 E. Meadow Drive; remodeled into two-story apartments, Adobe block so that everyone is ready to help one Sunshine Preschool Montessori, 3711 Ross Road Meadow and Meadow Park, two adjacent another in the event of an emergency. FIRE STATION: No. 4, 3600 Middlefield Road neighborhoods, embody a quiet and calm According to Elliot, what has mainly changed LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road atmosphere, almost a disguise for the hectic during the past 30 years is how busy residents LOCATION: lives of the people residing within their borders. have become. They used to get together more bounded by East Meadow Drive, Fabian Way, Montrose Avenue and Middlefield Road Traveling all the way from Black Mountain in often, but because of people’s hectic schedules, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Santa Clara to the San Francisco Bay, Adobe they can only do that twice a year now, she said. Adobe Meadow Creek’s babbling stream flows between the two “The neighborhood is still quite wonderful; Neighborhood Association, Ken Allen, president, [email protected]; Meadow Park Residents south Palo Alto neighborhoods. people are friendly (but) they’re busier than they Association, Cathy Swan, president, 650-494-2892, Ken Allen, the president of the Adobe were in the mid-’80s ... way busier than I think is [email protected]; meadowpark.us Meadow Neighborhood Association (AMNA), good for us,” Elliot said. “We’re so used to it. I think PARKS: Don Jesus Ramos Park, 800 E. Meadow Drive; has lived in Adobe Meadow for 40 years. He we might even be addicted to it. But we like the Mitchell Park, 600 E. Meadow Drive and his wife, Sue, moved there in 1975 after adrenaline rush that just keeps us moving along.” POST OFFICE: they “fell in love” with a quarter-acre lot in the Although the longtime residents make the Main, 2085 E. Bayshore Road neighborhood. What primarily attracted the neighborhood pretty stable, a few new families PRIVATE SCHOOL: Challenger School, 3880 couple was its proximity to amenities, or as have joined. Tam Truman’s family moved into a Middlefield Road Allen put it, “location, location, location.” house across from Elliot’s one year ago. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Fairmeadow Elementary School, “It’s easy access to the freeway and to school and Previously living in her hometown, Jane Lanthrop Stanford Middle School, Gunn High School to the community center and to parks,” he said. The Melbourne, Australia, Truman said she has had SHOPPING: Charleston Center, neighborhood’s Don Jesus Ramos Park and the a fantastic experience in her first year in Adobe Midtown Shopping Center larger Mitchell Park have been used many times for Meadow. neighborhood gatherings organized by the AMNA “This is a very friendly and welcoming and the Meadow Park Residents’ Association. neighborhood,” Truman said. “My direct participate in the Silicon Valley boom.” The quietness of the streets as well as the neighbors have been very warm and welcoming, Truman and her family appreciate living in abundance of schools nearby added to Adobe (organizing) barbecue parties in the park.” this diverse melting pot. Meadow’s appeal, so Allen and his wife bought According to her, neighborhood highlights “It is really nice ... (There are) people from the house. However, not long after the move, a include a short commute to her work, “great all over the world, speaking many languages,” few nearby schools, including Ortega and Ross schools with ethnic diversity” for her four Truman said. Road schools, were closed because of a housing children, an abundance of green spaces and As much as she enjoys living in Adobe development. parks, and nearby public libraries. Meadow, Truman would like to see public One of the houses built on the Ortega School However, Truman raised some concerns. transportation improvements, more corner site belongs to Sharon Elliot and her husband, “It’s very expensive to live here,” she said. stores within walking distance and a stronger who were one of the first residents to move “Rent prices ... increased by 25 percent since we bicycle culture in the area. into Ortega Court in Adobe Meadow in 1985. moved here.” Elliot agreed that the number of bikers has This year, Elliot will be celebrating her 30th Allen concurred, adding that with the declined during the past few decades, and noted anniversary with her neighbors. remodeling of Eichler houses, the value of real that the car traffic, though better than other “We certainly help each other ... and it’s easy estate “has gone up by 50 times” since the ‘80s. places in Palo Alto, is now “horrific.” to talk to people,” she said. “Most people have “As the value of real estate increased, the “(The neighborhood) is a little different been here for 30 years. I was looking back; we’ve sort of people who could afford it are generally (from my first years), but it’s also pretty similar had so many parties, and so many get-togethers. well-to-do people from overseas,” he said. “We in some ways ...” Elliot added. “It’s always felt (I remember) how much fun we’ve had.” have quite a diversity in our neighborhood — comfortable. And it still does.” In addition to social events, the neighborhood natives of Japan, China, India, France come to — Sevde Kaldiroglu, 2015 44 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com Charleston Gardens FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): Children’s Pre-School Center, 4000 Middlefield Road, T-1; Good Neighbor Montessori, 4000 Middlefield Road, K4; Young Fives and Preschool Family, 4120 Middlefield Road; T’enna Preschool (OFJCC), 3921 Fabian Way FIRE STATION: No. 4, 3600 Middlefield Road LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road LOCATION: bounded by Middlefield Road, East Charleston Road, Montrose Avenue, Sutherland Drive PARK: Mitchell Park, 600 East Meadow Drive POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave.; Main, 2085 E. Bayshore Road PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Challenger School, 3880 Middlefield Road; Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, 450 San Antonio Road; Kehillah Jewish High School, 3900 Fabian Way; Palo Alto Prep School, 4000 Middlefield Road, H-2 PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Fairmeadow or Hoover elementary schools, Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School, Gunn Veronica Weber Veronica High School SHOPPING: Charleston Center, San Antonio Shopping Center ith the fast-paced, instantaneous around the block when they were learning to W lifestyle people have come to ride bikes on our tree-lined streets and later associate with Silicon Valley, it's gained enough practice to venture to the local rare to find a place where people take the park or library by themselves. Neighbors buy time to get to know their neighbors. Having Girl Scout cookies from my daughter every a sense of community has become a lost art. February and freshly squeezed lemonade is That is, unless you live in the Charleston quickly sold out during the long summer Gardens area of Palo Alto. days. Last October, we had over 100 kids Bound by main thoroughfares Charleston, coming by to trick-or-treat. Of course, there Weber Veronica Middlefield and San Antonio roads, was one particularly adorable child who Charleston Gardens is located just off apparently enjoyed our Halloween treats so the Bayshore Freeway, near Cubberley much that he became a loyal and frequent Community Center, Charleston Shopping customer every 10 minutes. It was hilariously Center and the Oshman Family JCC. Yet adorable.” in spite of those busy boundaries, the Yet the neighborhood is quiet and verdant Gardens is one of its most appealing neighborhood feels isolated from the traffic. enough for frequent visits by hummingbirds, characteristics with its “high quality” local Residents love their neighborhood’s rich Adding to the sense of community is the market, proximity to the library, walkability sense of history. generosity of Charleston Gardens residents. to Herbert Hoover and Fairmeadow “It wasn’t until we moved into our house Wang says one of her neighbors shares elementary school and Jane Lathrop Stanford and started exploring our Charleston homegrown vegetables and another brings Middle School and direct route to Gunn Gardens neighborhood that we discovered ìdelightful treatsî to neighborhood events. High School. Palo Alto and Mountain Viewís the endearing characteristics that have made Residents flock together for outdoor movie downtown are also just a 10-minute drive this place our home and our community,” nights, potlucks and an annual block party from the neighborhood, the San Antonio said resident Naomi Wang. “My family held every year in late September. Now in Caltrain station is a 20-minute walk and the and I learned about Charleston Gardens’ its 20th year, the block party is not only Palo Alto shuttle stops at the intersection of fascinating history from neighbors who have an event welcoming new residents to the Charleston and Middlefield. lived here for a long time. Some of them were neighborhood, but it gives residents a Both residents rave about the close-knit the original homeowners. It was from them chance to reconnect with friends and build community and say the neighborhood is a that I learned about the amazing people who camaraderie. good mix of retired original residents, baby lived in the neighborhood before us and Neighborhood Preparedness Coordinator boomers and families living in ranch-style, helped shape it into what it is today.” Scott Fullam moved to Charleston Gardens in Eichler and newer construction homes. Wang says neighbors genuinely care about 2004, and echoes Wang’s sentiments. “Despite its convenience to everything, our each other, waving to each other during “The neighbors are great,” he said. “On Charleston Gardens neighborhood maintains evening strolls. Her kids, she says, “love the any particular evening while walking around a decidedly tranquil and peaceful quality of vibe.” the neighborhood, I bump into at least one life,” Wang said. “So, would I recommend “They started playing with neighborhood neighbor and spend time catching up. Most moving to this prime real estate location? You kids when everyone was just wee tall,” she everyone is familiar and friendly.” betcha.” said. “They spent idyllic summers circling Fullam says the location of Charleston — Melissa McKenzie, 2017 Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 45 The Greenhouse where she had been the youngest on her floor. “It’s a very diverse complex,” she said, pointing to the Russian family living next door, the Chinese residents on the floor below and the retired Stanford librarian who is from Bulgaria. Named for the original purpose of the land, which was part of Bell’s Nurseries, Greenhouse I and II were developed by the Alpha Land Company in 1975 and 1978. The 15-acre property is dotted with trees, walking paths, lawns and even a par course. The homeowners’ association dues cover upkeep on the extensive grounds, including cleaning the gutters and checking smoke- detector batteries once a year. To Markee’s delight, the area’s tree population has increased significantly over time, as has the number of residents interested in outdoor activities. Other residents agree that the generous land is an attraction of The Greenhouse. “It’s one of the few condo complexes with grounds, where you can look out your window and see trees,” noted Lee Thé, who has lived there with his wife Phyllis since 1986. The couple has one of the 40 larger three-bedroom, two-bath units, among the 140 condos in Greenhouse I. Most are two-bedrooms with either one or two baths. The 79-unit Greenhouse II is similarly configured, Thé said. Each condo complex has its own clubhouse and swimming pool. While the pool is heated during the summer and provides a real draw for families, it’s pretty quiet as the weather cools off. The clubhouse, on the other hand, is an active center, with a large “living room” with a fireplace, central heating, bathrooms and a full kitchen, Thé said. It can be rented for a nominal fee for anything from a family party to an evening of bridge. One downside to the location is the traffic along San Antonio Road, what Thé called the Veronica Weber Veronica “concrete canyon.” In June, residents raised concerns over a plan to allow two five-story Marriott Hotels to be built across the street from The Greenhouse on San Antonio Road. Heightened traffic was the chief issue at hand. Markee was one of many residents who came FACTS atricia Markee says that residents at to the City Council to oppose the plan, which The Greenhouse, a set of two adjoining CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Children’s Pre- P was ultimately approved. School Center, Building T-1, 4000 Middlefield Road condominium complexes at the "It started to build more community when FIRE STATION: southernmost end of Palo Alto, are much we went to talk to the City Council, but I think No. 4, 3600 Middlefield Road wealthier now than when she bought her three- LIBRARY: we were all a bit discouraged by the reaction," Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road bedroom condo for $49,000 in 1974. Markee said. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Palo Alto Then a software engineer, she could afford a Overall, residents are pleased with the Greenhouse Homeowners Association, Ralph Cahn, “bigger place,” but her neighbors now are in a complexís location. An avid bicyclist and treasurer, 650-858-1012; The Compass Management different socioeconomic bucket than she was birdwatcher, she loves that The Greenhouse is so Group Inc., 650-563-9900 — and the racial demographics of the complex PARK (NEARBY): close to Shoreline Park in next-door Mountain Mitchell Park, 600 E. Meadow Drive have also changed. View. And the complex is about equidistant from POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. “In my half of the building, it used to be that Castro Street in Mountain View and University PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Fairmeadow Elementary, J.L. everyone was white,” Markee said. “And now … Avenue in Palo Alto for restaurant access. Stanford Middle School, Gunn High School I’m the only white person.” The Oshman Family Jewish Community SHOPPING: The Village at San Antonio, San Antonio Susie Mitchell, a resident who moved to The Center’s gym is just a short walk away, and Shopping Center, Charleston Plaza Greenhouse in 2005, said the complexís diversity there’s a pedestrian shortcut behind the complex of ages and nationalities is a strength. She found to Piazza’s grocery store at Charleston Plaza. it a far cry from the Sharon Heights complex — Fiona Kelliher, 2017 46 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com Greendell Veronica Weber Veronica efore Srini Sankaran even moved to the Sankaran does note that the neighborhood FACTS BGreendell neighborhood in the southern could use more volunteers for its CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Crescent Park part of Palo Alto, he was struck by the neighborhood preparedness program that’s Child Development Center (Peekaboo), 4161 Alma St.; hospitality of residents of the 70-80 homes — part of the larger city of Palo Alto’s Block Discovery Children’s House - Montessori, 303 Parkside mostly Eichlers and some ranch-style — in Preparedness Coordinator (BPC) Program. Drive; Palo Alto Infant Toddler Center, 4111 Alma St. the quiet community. BPC aims to prepare the community before FIRE STATION: No. 4, 3600 Middlefield Road “After we picked the house, we wanted to see a disaster strikes, establish emergency radio LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 4050 Middlefield Road how the neighborhood was and so we talked communications links and empower residents LOCATION: to the next-door neighbor,” said Sankaran, to assist emergency response by serving as between Ferne Avenue, San Antonio Avenue and Mackay Drive who has been a resident of Ferne Avenue for ‘eyes and ears. 15 years and is president of the neighborhood A happy Greendell newcomer is Ken Greendell Neighborhood Association, association. “I couldn’t have found a better Dupree, who moved to Ferne Avenue with his [email protected]; 650-485-1335 person to talk to. He took half an hour to family several months ago from Kansas City, PARKS: Greenmeadow Park (private), explain and welcome me to neighborhood, Missouri. Dupree is thrilled about the quality 303 Parkside Drive; Mitchell Park, 600 E. Meadow Drive even though I was just considering buying; of the schools, easy access to the beach and POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. people are very warm.” proximity to activities like soccer and tennis at PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Palo Alto Prep School, 4000 Nadia Keshavjee moved to Ferne Avenue the Cubberley Community Center. Middlefield Road; Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, in 2014 from San Jose, where her family had “You can swing a dead cat, and you’ve hit 450 and 470 San Antonio Road lived for 2 years, and she agrees with Sankaran nine good schools,” he said. “I like the diversity PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Fairmeadow Elementary School, that the neighborhood is filled with warm of the Peninsula, and being in Silicon Valley is J.L. Stanford Middle School, Gunn High School neighbors. perfect because my wife is a techie.” SHOPPING: Charleston Shopping Center, “We didn’t get to know our neighbors too He said that it’s nice to have all the perks of The Village at San Antonio well (in San Jose),” she said. “Greendell is well Palo Alto without as much of the congestion that connected and neighbors look out for each comes with living closer to Stanford University. other. People were really supportive and made He enjoys a 10-minute commute to work. “The lady that organized the block party sure we were settling in OK.” The neighborhood hosts an annual block invited us to the block party before we were Keshavjee said that once when she was out party on Labor Day weekend that usually even residents,” he said. “That tells you how the of town, Sankaran’s son helped clear out leaves brings together about 130-150 people with neighborhood works ... There’s just really nice from in front of her house when there was things like bounce houses, dunk tanks and people.” some flooding. cotton candy, Sankaran said. Angela Swartz, 2017 Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 47 San Alma File photo t the southern end of Palo Alto lies times of grief. “We also held a memorial service FACTS A a townhome complex with all the at the pool area for our Palo Alto firefighter who CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): Crescent ingredients for an active neighborhood: passed away several months ago and it was well- Park Child Development Center (Peekaboo), 4161 Alma history, friendship and a strong sense of attended by neighbors, friends, and family alike.” St.; Montessori School of Los Altos, 303 Parkside Drive; community. Some of the original homeowners from 1975 Infant Toddler Center, 4111 Alma St. San Alma (named for the intersection of San still reside in the complex, while newer families FIRE STATION: No. 4, 3600 Middlefield Road Antonio Avenue and Alma Street) consists of have cycled in over time. LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road 26 townhomes and eight below-market-rate “There are many families who have been there LOCATION: condominiums, built around a 40-foot-tall for over 20 years and more who’ve been here east of Alma Street, off San Antonio Avenue (including Ponce Drive and Hemlock Court) American elm in 1974. In 2000, the by-then 60- over 10 years,” Best said. She also noted that the NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: foot tree was named Heritage Tree No. 6, noted for community boasts many younger families now, Barbara Best, its historical significance as being on the site of the and at least 20 children under 18. president, San Alma Association, 650-704-2160, [email protected] Don Secundo Robles adobe, dating back to 1840. San Alma was designed by architect John PARKS: But it isn’t the stately elm that pulls this Brooks Boyd, who also designed homes for Greenmeadow Park (private); Mitchell Park community together. Joseph Eichler. The complex consists of a narrow (nearby), 600 East Meadow Drive “Ethnically, we’re sort of a microcosm of Palo semi-circular street, Ponce Drive, and a cul- POST OFFICE: El Camino, 3876 El Camino Real Alto,” said resident Barbara Best. de-sac, Hemlock Court. There’s parking for 12 PRIVATE SCHOOLS (NEARBY): Palo Alto Prep School, They come from multiple countries — Russia, visitors, but most are encouraged to park along 2462 Wyandotte St, Mountain View; Gideon Hausner Korea, China, Chile, India, Sweden, France, San Antonio Avenue or nearby Briarwood Way. Jewish Day School, 450 San Antonio Road Mexico, U.K. and the United States, said Best, The one- and two-story townhomes range from PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Herbert Hoover Elementary School, president of the San Alma Association. about 1,500 to 1,777 square feet, with small Fairmeadow Elementary School, J.L. Stanford Middle Calling San Alma home are school district private backyards. The front yards — planted School, Gunn High School, Greendell Elementary School employees, high-tech engineers and researchers, with liquidambar, crepe myrtle and olive trees — SHOPPING: San Antonio Shopping Center, The Village a small medical-services business owner, a are considered part of the common area, along at San Antonio Center professional dog trainer, a Stanford doctor, a with the swimming pool, that is maintained by professional volunteer who won the Lifetime of the homeowners’ association. such as sustainability practices, emergency Achievements Award from Avenida, and a court The association board meets monthly, and preparedness, and ways to increase community translator. all residents come to one annual meeting. But involvement. It was a great way to bring the Despite their varied backgrounds, the San any resident may bring an issue to the monthly neighborhood together,” Best said. Alma community often joins together in board meeting. It is not uncommon to see children from the celebrations and activities. The neighborhood In the past, residents have come together to neighborhood playing together in the cul-de- regularly holds community picnics and vote on paint colors and make other community- sac or in the community pool area. gatherings where, according to Best ìneighbors wide decisions, and recently, the community “We have a small neighborhood,” Best said, so young and oldî enjoy each othersí company. came together for the betterment of itself. it is easy for us to all know one another." In addition to coming together for joyous “One of our residents organized nine occasions, the community also binds together in meetings of neighbors to discuss topics — Alexandria Cavallaro, 2017 48 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com Walnut Grove Veronica Weber Veronica uring festive times of the year, such The gatherings include a mix of ages, from FACTS D as Halloween, the Walnut Grove retired homeowners and empty nesters to CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): neighborhood comes alive the with renters and families with kids. Vipul estimates Crescent Park Child Development Center (Peekaboo), family fun. that about 30 to 40 percent of the families have 4161 Alma St.; Montessori School of Los Altos, 303 The quiet, winding streets fill with young children, including his own. Parkside Drive; Palo Alto Infant Toddler Center, 4111 trick-or-treaters and their parents, such as Tom Crystal, who moved to Palo Alto in Alma St. Vipul and Kristan Vyas and their son, Arjun. 1965 for school, is now one of the retired FIRE STATION: No. 4, 3600 Middlefield Road The Halloween decorating includes the members of the neighborhood and has been LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road Vyases, though Vipul admitted that his wife living in Walnut Grove for more than 30 years. LOCATION: between East Charleston Road, Alma really does most of that work. Their home of During this time, he has watched the trees get Street and Adobe Creek seven years, a 1953 Burke and Wyatt/Eichler, bigger but the development stay small. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: features a ghostly welcome and a scattering of “The neighborhood has not changed an Walnut Grove Homeowners Association, Vipul Vyas, vipul.vyas@gmail. tombstones behind a little graveyard fence. awful lot in 50 years,” he said. “You won’t com Down the road, and even across the street, see any monster homes happening in our PARKS: the houses look different. The neighborhood, neighborhood. There is not a lot of pressure to Greenmeadow Park (private); Mitchell Park, 600 E. Meadow Drive which was once a real walnut grove, started in develop. The only way to go is up, and we have POST OFFICE: the 1950s and today is about half midcentury already said no to that.” Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. modern homes (Eichler or Burke and Wyatt) The absence of development has kept the PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Palo Alto Prep School, 2462 and half ranch style. Another architectural area calm, making it good for retirees, like Wyandotte St.; Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, 450 piece to note is the number of one-story homes, himself, and children. Other nearby benefits San Antonio Road stemming from the single-story overlay that used by all include the libraries, schools and PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Fairmeadow Elementary School, was put in place more than 25 years ago. community center. Even though the area J.L. Stanford Middle School, Gunn High School “The push for the overlay is actually why the lacks development, the association members SHOPPING: San Antonio Shopping Center, The Village neighborhood association got started,” Vipul like to track projects happening nearby, such at San Antonio said. as the traffic calming along the Charleston- The Walnut Grove Homeowners Association Arastradero corridor. continues to unite residents to discuss “People have been calling for the calming of city happenings, such as the Charleston- the school corridor,” Crystal said. “There are so Arastradero corridor traffic and changes, and many students running up the corridor that safety to socialize at their block parties. Vipul said the comes as a high priority for people who live here.” potlucks that bring out 50 to 75 people are a Crystal said people who move here for the great chance to meet one another. In addition, schools will also find that it has easy access to Veronica Weber Veronica as head of the association, Vipul likes to bring just about everything they need at a price that is in city experts to encourage people to come out “as close as you can get to affordable housing.” and learn more about the community. — Brenna Malmberg, 2015 Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 49 Greenmeadow Veronica Weber Veronica hile many neighborhoods look organizes Friday Night Dinner fundraisers FACTS W eclectic with a variety of styles and throughout the summer. CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS NEARBY: PACCC’s heights of homes, Greenmeadow’s The neighborhood’s annual Fourth of July Children’s Preschool Center, Cubberley Community modern uniformity and clean lines resonate Parade and foot race is an all-day celebration. Center, 4000 Middlefield Road; Challenger School pre-k with older residents as well as many newer Children build floats and dress up their pets, program, 3880 Middlefield Road; Milestones Preschool, home buyers. neighbors play in marching bands and at the 3864 Middlefield Road; Besse Bolton Kids’ Club, Many of the 300 homes, built by Joseph end, everyone sings “America the Beautiful.” 500 E Meadow Drive; Montessori School of Los Altos, Eichler in the 1950s, look as they used to, with “It’s hard to describe how moving that 303 Parkside Drive; Palo Alto Infant Toddler Center, original two-inch wood siding and low-pitched moment is,” Ellson said. “You have to 4111 Alma St.; PAUSD co-op program, Greendell School, tongue-and-groove roofs. Others have been experience it. Then we spend the rest of the 4120 Middlefield Road. given new stone, wood or concrete textures day picnicking, and playing pool and field FIRE STATION: No. 4, 3600 Middlefield Road or paint colors. But whether updated or left games.” LIBRARY: Mitchell Park Branch, 3700 Middlefield Road original, these residences exude warmth and The neighborhood association is busy LOCATION: between Alma Street and Nelson Drive, friendliness. with plans to renovate the aging pool and Ferne Avenue, Ferne Court and Ben Lomond Drive, and Penny Ellson and her husband, Rich, build a new community clubhouse. Ground Parkside and Creekside drives. moved to Greenmeadow in 1995, accidentally is expected to be broken in fall 2017. This NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Greenmeadow discovering the neighborhood. Ellson recalled year, the city’s planned bike boulevard Community Association, greenmeadow.org; Josh Feira, feeling welcomed almost immediately by a improvements will include Greenmeadow with president, [email protected] neighbor who came over with a basket of enhancements that “will give our community PARKS: Greenmeadow Park (private), Mitchell Park goodies, including a neighborhood directory. an even safer, more accessible biking path POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. He invited them to join the neighborhood to connect with the nearby library, schools PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Challenger School, 3880 association, an integral part of Greenmeadow, and the Bryant Street bike boulevard,” said Middlefield Road; Keys School, 2890 Middlefield Road; and featured the family in the next newsletter. Josh Feira, president of the Greenmeadow Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, 450 San Antonio More recently, Ellson said she had another Neighborhood Association. Road; Kehillah High School, 3900 Fabian Way; Girls reason to be grateful for her neighborhood. Between 1950 and 1974, Joseph Eichler built Middle School, 3400 W. Bayshore Road; and Bowman Her dog became ill with a back problem and over 11,000 homes in Northern California and International School, 4000 Terman Drive. when she reached out to neighbors for an three communities in Southern California. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Fairmeadow Elementary, extra large dog crate, seven people responded Greenmeadow’s nearly 300 homes are in a historic 500 E. Meadow Drive; JLS Middle School, in less than a day, with encouragement as well district, where all the homes must stay only one- 480 E Meadow Drive; Gunn High School, as “the perfect crate right to my doorstep. The story high, a rarity for most cities in 2017. 780 Arastradero Road outreach has been so kind and generous.” Not only does the City of Palo Alto oversee SHOPPING: Charleston Center, Midtown, The neighborhood, which abuts the back of and approve development in the neighborhood, The Village at San Antonio Charleston Center and Cubberley Community but the Greenmeadow association has an Center, is located off Alma Street in south Palo architectural review committee, which Alto. Its northern border is Adobe Creek, and approves things like facade improvements and potlucks are among the social events held by its southern border is Ferne Avenue and Ferne major changes to a home’s appearance so that the neighborhood. Court. The neighborhood extends west to the neighborhood remains unified. The very “It was immediately clear to us that Ferne, Ben Lomond, Parkside and Creekside active all-volunteer association has nine other Greenmeadow is a place where you don’t just drives. Its eastern edge is Nelson Drive. committees from swim team to emergency have a house. You have a home, complete with “For children and parents, many friendships preparedness and civic affairs. neighbors that you really get to know at our start at the neighborhood pool,” Ellson said. A home and garden tour, an Easter egg many community traditions,” Feira said. The swim team has many traditions, and it hunt, sporadic food-truck parties, movies and —Elizabeth Lorenz, 2017 50 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com OUR CLIENTS ARE THE HEART OF OUR BUSINESS SOLD SOLD “We’ve worked with Michael as an agent for almost a decade now - two home sales and one home purchase in Palo Alto, in up markets and in down. 552 Tennyson Ave, Palo Alto Represented Buyer 141 Stonegate Rd, Portola Valley $5,998,000 $4,500,000 Most recently he and Tricia sold our home in downtown Palo Alto. Not only SOLD SOLD are they delightful as people, but they also have a great team of resources that can do WHAT needs to be done, fast, and well. I trust and recommend them absolutely.” - Gary Herman, Palo Alto 714 Arroyo Rd, Los Altos 1507 Arbor Rd, Los Altos $3.788.000 $2.995.000 SOLD SOLD “Michael and Tricia were accessible, diligent and had the patience to listen. Not only are they great people who were a pleasure to work with, they 1252 Bellair Way, Menlo Park Represented Buyer 975 Parma Way, Los Altos Represented Buyer were very knowledgeable about the $2,975,000 $2,898,000 market and had the ability to identify SOLD SOLD properties consistent with our ideas. ” $'%&#-.(,%: !1$)$+3: !/!%$: !1$)$+3: - Shimada and Siegelman,Palo Alto "4'-: .(5$6!8: : :0: : :0: : : :7: ::9 "2$*$,4: 69 Yale Dr, Menlo Park Represented Buyer 1376 University Ave, Palo Alto $2,795,000 $1.750.000 Because we work almost exclusively by referral, our clients, not the price range or the area, are the primary focus of our business. This is, after all, a business built on relationships. 650.465.1651 650.833.9442 [email protected] [email protected] License #01133676 License #01836700 Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 51 Fairmeadow Veronica Weber Veronica ith its Eichlers and meandering said Len Filppu, a 20-year resident of the FACTS Wcircular cul-de-sacs, Fairmeadow is neighborhood and lead organizer of the CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Besse Bolton Kids’ an easy neighborhood to get lost in, Fairmeadow Neighborhood Association. Club, 500 E. Meadow Drive; Covenant Children’s Center, in a good way. The association recently worked with the 670 E. Meadow Drive; Ellen Thacher Children’s Center, The circles, originally designed to slow city on street striping and signs to calm traffic 505 E. Charleston Road; Hoover Kids’ Club, 445 E. traffic, ended up giving Fairmeadow its and make it safer for children, bicyclists and Charleston Road; Palo Alto Community Child Care’s nickname: “The Circles.” A photo of the pedestrians. Infant Toddler Center, 4111 Alma St. neighborhood’s circles were even showcased Neighbors describe Fairmeadow as almost FIRE STATION: No. 4, 3600 Middlefield Road on the cover of Fortune Magazine in 1955. having an idyllic ‘70’s feel, with kids playing in LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 4050 Middlefield Road “There’s something iconographic about being streets and not feeling any inhibitions about LOCATION: bordered by East Charleston Road, East on the Fortune cover,” said Tim Perkins, a ringing their friends’ doorbells to say “hi” or Meadow Drive, Alma Street and J.L. Stanford Middle resident of Carlson Circle since 2007. Perkins come hang out. School and Herbert Hoover Elementary School said the neighborhood was particularly Maintaining the Eichler style of homes NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Fairmeadow appealing since, at the time, it was affordable is important to many residents. As a result, Neighborhood Association, lead organizer, Len Filppu, for Palo Alto standards and came with a long- many residents invested time in giving input 650-857-1031 term upside given its high-quality schools, to the city of Palo Alto’s Eichler Design PARKMitchell Park, 600 E. Meadow Drive technology jobs and other benefits. Guidelines. The guidelines will include POST OFFICE: Ulfar Erlingsson, a resident of Ramona “compatibility criteria for remodels, additions Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. PRIVATE SCHOOL: Circle, had lived elsewhere in Palo Alto and new construction within the city’s Eichler Challenger School, 3880 for a long time, but bought a house in the neighborhoods,” according to the city’s Middlefield Road neighborhood in 2012. Fairmeadow first came website. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Fairmeadow and Hoover to his attention about 20 years ago when he Charlotta Hauksdottir said a lot of homes elementary schools, Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle got lost biking through the neighborhood’s that are redone are done so in the low-rise School, Gunn High School cul-de-sacs. modernist Eichler style. SHOPPING: Charleston Center “(The layout) tempts you not to take a “We’ve been concerned about the look of shortcut,” Erlingsson said. “You’re never the neighborhood changing. When you get a gonna be (taking) a shortcut through here. two-story house, it changes the quality of life,” and have compatibility issues. I remember ... so vividly, totally getting lost she said. There’s even more that brings the bicycling and thinking ‘What is this?’ ‘Who She did note that none of the remodels on neighborhood together. Every August, lives here?’ It always stuck with me.” her circle, Ramona Circle, have been torn Fairmeadow hosts a “Circle Party” that can “It seems everyone in Palo Alto has at one down to build two-story homes. This has been attract hundreds of people. The event has time or another found themselves lost within a concern for Perkins as well, who believes included games, treats like snow cones, bouncy the maze of Fairmeadow circles, but we’re a two-story homes in the predominately one- houses and even featured a roller rink one year. friendly bunch, so just ask us for directions,” story neighborhood can lead to loss of privacy —Angela Swartz, 2017 52 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com Charleston Meadows Veronica Weber Veronica uiet,” “friendly” and “walkable” are Its Eichler-style homes integrate the indoor FACTS ‘Qjust a few words used to describe and outdoor with large glass windows. The CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Ventura Community Palo Alto’s Charleston Meadows. streets are wide and there is lots of greenery. Center, 3990 Ventura Court; Mi Casita de EspaÒol It’s a place where neighbors present you These elements epitomize the neighborhood’s Preschool, 4133 Wilkie Way; Edgewood House with produce from their gardens when you outdoorsy feel. Preschool, 493 West Charleston Road move into town. Residents of the south Palo Architectural guidelines prevent straying from FIRE STATION: No. 4, 3600 Middlefield Road; No. 5, Alto neighborhood will also check in on you some of the homes’ original wood-framed style. 600 Arastradero Road when you get home from a hospital stay or The area was formerly farmland, but lots of LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road loan their recycling bins to you if yours if full, homes were built in the early 1950s. LOCATION: bounded by West Meadow Drive, Alma said resident Carlin Otto. She knows all of her There aren’t quite as many people with Street, Adobe Creek and El Camino Real neighbors within 10 houses and says they’re younger children in the neighborhood now, PARKS: friendly and outgoing. as his generation’s kids have all grown up and Don Secundino Robles Park, 4116 Park Blvd.; Monroe Mini Park (nearby), Monroe Drive and Otto first moved into her Whitclem Drive out of Charleston Meadows, leaving an older Miller Avenue; Ventura Community Center Park and home in 1983 when she was a lecturer in population, said longtime Palo Alto resident Playground, 3990 Ventura Court Stanford University’s Spanish department. Roger Kohler said. POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. “It (Charleston Meadows) had a reputation Kohler, an architect, first moved to Palo Alto PUBLIC SCHOOLS: of being avant garde,” she said. “It was a forward in the 1950s as an elementary school student, Juana Briones Elementary School, looking, future-oriented place.” but landed on Wilkie Way in 1975. Terman Middle School, Gunn High School SHOPPING: It’s also known for being an “extremely quiet” He enjoys the neighborhood’s parks. A The Village at San Antonio, Piazza’s neighborhood, said Bo Crane, a lifelong Palo highlight? Walking his golden retriever and Shopping Center, Alma Village Alto resident and Stanford University graduate. German shepherd dogs on Wilkie Way Bike It’s made up of made up of cul-de-sacs that Bridge over Adobe Creek to Robles Park, he said. Palo Alto isn’t. It’s not only high tech.” isolate it from traffic. Kohler’s neighbor, Carlin Otto, said she enjoys The neighborhood finds other ways to Crane enjoys the neighborhood’s three the neighborhood’s diversity, with more a mix get together. It hosts a social every fall at parks and walkability. The Wilkie Way Bridge of blue- and white-collar workers. Robles Park. It’s a time for neighbors and the connects to Mountain View’s San Antonio “It’s just has a wonderful microcosm of community’s newest board members to meet Shopping Center, making it easy to access the world to be exposed to,” she said. “This and eat ice cream or another dessert, said Otto. shopping, said Crane. neighborhood is many of the things that North — Angela Swartz, 2017 Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 53 Monroe Park FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): Children’s Corner, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos; Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, 450 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto; Preschool Family, 4120 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto; Tiny Tots Preschool, 647 N. San Antonio Road, Los Altos FIRE STATION: No. 5, 600 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto LOCATION: bounded by Adobe Creek, El Camino Real and Mountain View borders (near Silva Avenue) NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Monroe Park Neighborhood Association, Linnea Wickstrom, president, [email protected] PARKS: Monroe Park, Monroe Drive and Miller Avenue; Robles Park, on Park Blvd. between Meadow Drive and Tennessee Lane POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District — Santa Rita Elementary School, Egan Junior High School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High School District -- Los Altos High School; Santa Clara County Office Veronica Weber Veronica of Education -- Bullis Charter School (K-8) SHOPPING: San Antonio Shopping Center, Mountain View; California Avenue, Palo Alto s a tight-knit community along the “This neighborhood is quiet and very A border of Los Altos, the Monroe Park relaxed,” she says. “It has a more rural feeling. neighborhood, located on the edge Residents are engaged in local politics and of South Palo Alto between Adobe Creek, El advocate for this neighborhood. (There is also) Camino Real and Del Medio and Silva avenues, easy biking and walking access to shopping and keeps close despite the city’s ever-changing restaurants.” urban landscape. The recent renovations to its neighborhood The small neighborhood tucked behind the park and namesake, Monroe Park, and the landmark Dinah’s often spends time protecting neighborhood’s access to transportation, itself from cut-through traffic caused by new recreation venues like the Elks Club and the office and housing developments along El JCC are also a draw, says Crommie, as is the Camino Real and San Antonio Road. neighborhood’s walkability (with a score in The neighborhood has had to learn to be the 60s) and easy access to three downtown vocal, according to 40-year resident Linnea areas -- California Avenue in Palo Alto, Castro Wickstrom, Street in Mountain View and Main Street in Los because the neighborhood often feels like it’s Altos. She points out, however, that school-aged Weber Veronica last on the list for community upgrades because children are often at a disadvantage and the of its crossroads location. Right now, residents community occasionally gets overlooked by are lobbying for bike-path improvements. local government when decisions are made. “(This) neighborhood is a key bike connector “Although our kids are in the Los Altos to/from Palo Alto, Mountain View and School District,” she says, “they do not get Los Altos,” she says. “(We) need additional priority access to summer camps in Los well as the political savviness of its residents improvements in bikeways within the Altos. We are a tiny segment of the Los Altos make the small enclave special. neighborhood and in connection to Mountain School District, so we have to fight extra “We are an interesting neighborhood,” View.” hard for our interests, especially when to Crommie said, “as we vote for the Palo Alto City Although nearby construction is causing a comes to safe routes to school and drawing Council and the Los Altos School Board. That temporary annoyance for residents, there are boundaries for school attendance. We have a keeps us well-informed on many issues and in plenty of reasons other than its proximity to lot of new development surrounding this small a unique perspective to understand how two Mountain View and Los Altos that home buyers neighborhood with the redevelopment of the cities work. Yet, living on the border of each choose Monroe Park over other Palo Alto Palo Alto bowling alley into dense housing, a city, we can, at times, be marginalized. Thus, we neighborhoods. larger hotel and the new development along San need to work hard as a community to advocate Fifteen-year resident Deirdre Crommie says Antonio and El Camino Real. Also, we straddle for our park, streets and neighborhood’s the mix of young families and retirees living two communities, Palo Alto and Los Altos, with walkability to schools, and protection from in homes on large lots on the neighborhood’s our interests sometimes ignored by both.” development. We do not take things for granted tree-lined streets is what initially drew her to Still the traditional neighborhood block party in this neighborhood.” the community. each summer, and holidays like Halloween, as —Melissa McKenzie, 2016 54 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com Palo Alto Orchards Veronica Weber Veronica he neighborhood name, Palo Alto since they were built in 1950. Our neighbors FACTS T Orchards, conjures up pastoral images of have been, without exception, absolutely lovely CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Palo Alto when Santa Clara County was the Valley people. My children always have friends to play Montessori School, 575 Arastradero Road; Palo Alto of Heart’s Delight and there was nothing but and walk to school with,” she said. Preschool, 4232 El Camino Real; Young Life Christian fruitful farmland as far as the eye could see. Current neighborhood association president Pre-School, 687 Arastradero Road On the other hand, the neighborhood’s John Spiller and his family first moved to the FIRE STATION: No. 5, 600 Arastradero Road location — next to perpetually busy Arastradero neighborhood in 1997, also drawn to the proximity LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road Road and El Camino Real, bustling with Silicon to high-quality local schools within walking LOCATION: Valley commuters and businesses — is far distance. They soon discovered that the enclave’s includes McKellar Lane, Suzanne Court, Suzanne Drive, Kelly Way, Lorabelle Court and removed from the bucolic days of yore. location close to several nearby towns gave them a Arastradero Road Somehow, the small Palo Alto Orchards wealth of eating and shopping options, in addition NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: still manages to boast quiet cul-de-sacs lined to the shops and eateries along El Camino. John Spiller, [email protected], 650-483-8815 with redwood trees and relatively modest “Being in the southern part of Palo Alto allows PARKS: single-family homes (plus an apartment us to easily explore the restaurants on California Juana Briones Park, 609 Maybell Ave.; building). The neighborhood is no longer full Avenue, the new San Antonio Village and the Terman Park, 655 Arastradero Road of apricot orchards the way it was when it was downtowns of Los Altos and Mountain View. It POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. first developed in the mid-20th century, but is just so convenient to everything,” he said. PRIVATE SCHOOL: Bowman International School, residents still consider it something of an oasis. One ongoing issue for residents has been 4000 Terman Road “I love that we are walking distance from traffic on the Charleston-Arastradero corridor PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Juana Briones Elementary School, Juana Briones Park, which is one of Palo Alto’s and the resulting controversial traffic-calming Terman Middle School, Gunn High School best, in addition to being within walking measures. Some feel the changes have caused SHOPPING: El Camino Real, San Antonio Village distance of all of the schools,” said 13-year greater congestion in residential areas but resident and mother of three Casie Walker. others feel the improved safety, especially for Juana Briones Park, in fact, contains some heritage cyclists, pedestrians, and students on their way “Neighbors enjoy our yearly block parties apricot trees planted to honor the area’s past life. to and from school, is a big success. and are vigorously exchanging views on our Walker and her husband have sent her two “Ingress and egress from Arastradero can be a Nextdoor website,” Spiller said. oldest children through nearby Juana Briones challenge, although the Arastradero/Charleston “We meet around the block as we walk our Elementary School and onto Terman Middle new-road alignment is a big improvement,” dogs and ride bikes with our kids,” Walker said. School. It’s a kid-friendly place, she said. Since Spiller said. “I have heard some of the original owners say there isn’t much in the way of through traffic, Palo Alto Orchards’ small size — around 100 how different it is from when they were raising kids can feel comfortable playing outside just as homes — means many folks know and actively their kids here, and that is undoubtedly true. residents did back in the good old days. engage with one another. They have adapted to high- But one thing hasn’t changed, and that is that “Our neighborhood is full of single-family tech ways of doing so, turning to online message our neighborhood is full of wonderful, diverse homes, with a mix of young families and some groups to discuss local issues. But old-fashioned people who care for one another,” she said. original owners who have owned the homes neighborhood socials are still popular, too. —Karla Kane, 2016 Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 55 Barron Park Veronica Weber Veronica arron Park, a relatively quiet and semi- building houses to people like my neighbors FACTS B rural neighborhood tucked behind on either side who have lived here for over 40 CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): Barron El Camino Real in south Palo Alto, is years,” said neighborhood association president Park Children’s Center, 800 Barron Ave.; Barron Park home to a diverse community. Ranging from Richard Elder, adding that there is a strong Preschool, 3650 La Donna Ave.; Barron Park Kids’ club, large two-story homes and small cottages to feeling in support of preserving the diversity 800 Barron Ave.; Juana Briones Kids’ club, 4100 Orme St. the Buena Vista Mobile Home Park, Barron within the community. FIRE STATION: No. 5, 600 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto Besides hosting cultural events, the association Park’s eclectic variety of architecture gives the LIBRARIES: College Terrace branch, 2300 Wellesley St.; neighborhood its charm and tight-knit feel. also acts as a liaison between the neighborhood Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto The bike path through Cornelis Bol Park and the city. When the city was reviewing LOCATION: roughly between Chimalus Drive and connects the pastoral enclave to the rest of the development plans for the neighborhood’s Maybell Avenue, El Camino Real and Gunn High School community. Students use the path to get to Buena Vista Mobile Home Park, for example, the fields Gunn High School, commuters use it to get to association made certain neighborhood voices NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Barron Park Stanford Research Park and others simply use it were heard. The most controversial issues are Association, Richard Elder, president, as a place to stroll with their dogs or children. rooted in traffic, Elder said. [email protected], bpapaloalto.org With two creeks, Barron and Matadero, and two Even when confronted with divisive issues, PARKS: Cornelis Bol Park, Laguna Avenue between parks, Bol and Juana Briones, residents say they Dellenbach said the neighborhood remains Barron and Matadero avenues; Juana Briones Park, feel compelled to spend their time outside and tight knit. “People who were in strong 609 Maybell Ave. with neighbors. Residents attribute the rural feel opposition on one issue came together on POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave., Palo Alto to the sidewalk-less streets, native plants and the next issue,” he said. “I am proud to be a PUBLIC SCHOOLS: somewhat secluded community. neighbor of theirs in Barron Park.” Barron Park and Juana Briones “The geography of the neighborhood is what Perhaps two of the best-known residents who elementary schools, Terman Middle School, Gunn High School sets it apart and gives it its personality and have contributed much to the “uniqueness” and SHOPPING: uniqueness,” said Winter Dellenbach, adding charm of the neighborhood are Perry and Jenny, Alma Plaza, San Antonio Shopping Center, that many residents have lived there since the city’s “mascot” donkeys. Generations of donkeys Mountain View; California Avenue, Palo Alto before it joined the City of Palo Alto in 1975 have lived in the neighborhood since the 1930s when it was officially annexed. when Josina and Cornelis Bol cared for a small herd Despite the neighborhood’s somewhat on their property. In later years, neighbors helped year resident and former association president. isolated location, the Barron Park Association, fund the creation of Bol Park at the site where The neighborhood is home to four public now in its 60th year, is considered among the today’s beloved Barron Park donkeys live. schools, Barron Park Elementary, Juana Briones most active neighborhood associations in the “The donkeys are a focal point of our Elementary, Terman Middle School and Gunn city, said Dellenbach, who has lived in Barron community as well as (a focal point of) much High School. Park since 1993. The association has a tradition of Palo Alto,” said Jenny Kiratli, a volunteer Even with large homes being built as new of hosting a variety of culturally diverse events, donkey handler. families move in, the neighborhood’s friendliness including the annual May Fete (which it kicked Barron Park’s easy access to award-winning and small-town nature remains preserved. off in 1978), Holi and the Lunar New Year. schools also are a focal point that attract young “There are a lot of deep reasons to know your “Over the last five years, we have developed families to the area. neighbors, and we try to maintain that,” Elder this incredible spectrum (of residents) from the “Schools play a big role in why people move said. recent people who are buying, tearing down and to Barron Park,” said Markus Fromherz, a 12- Sophie Pollock, 2017 56 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A REALTOR Local Experience Quality References Professional Integrity Market Knowledge Great Hair For buying or selling a home in the Palo Alto area, John King has everything you want...almost. John W. King FP (Barron Park) A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE 650.483.2710 www.JOHNWKING.COM %URNHU,'(DFK.HOOHU:LOOLDPV5HDOW\2ĴFHLV,QGHSHQBroker ID #00868208 Each Keller Williams Realty Office is IndependentlyGHQWO\2ZQHGDQG2SHUDWHG Owned and Operated Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 57 Green Acres Veronica Weber Veronica he name may be reminiscent of the neighborhood,” Colton said. FACTS T pastoral 1960s TV show, but Green Acres The biggest complaint residents said they have CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Palo Alto in Palo Alto is better known for its close about the neighborhood is the lack of retail Montessori School, 575 Arastradero Road; Whistlestop proximity to three top-ranking public schools: stores. Child Development Center, 3801 Miranda Ave. No. T6B; Juana Briones Elementary School, Terman “When we moved here, there was the All Young Life Christian Pre-School, 687 Arastradero Road Middle School and Gunn High School. American Market on El Camino at Los Robles. FIRE STATION: No. 5, 600 Arastradero Road “The schools are excellent, and the Now the small Barron Park Market is the LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road bonus of having kids able to walk to school closest option when you run out of essentials. LOCATION: independently from grades K-12 is priceless,” Walgreens just has snack food. We are used to Green Acres I: Arastradero Road to Glenbrook Drive, Los Palos to Pomona avenues; said resident Susan Pines, who has three planning our grocery trips with the car,” Pines Green Acres II: Maybell Avenue to Arastradero Road, school-aged children. “The location of the said. Coulombe Drive to Georgia Avenue neighborhood is great, for schools, for walking Satterthwaite and Colton also pointed out that NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: (Green Acres I) on the bike path to Bol Park and biking to Green Acres II has no stores in it. Alice Sklar, [email protected]; (Green Acres II); Stanford. Another bonus is the underground “The closest store is Walgreens on El Camino, Jim Colton, 650-464-1775. utilities, both functional, with very few power about a mile away, with a few more small stores PARKS: Juana Briones Park, 609 Maybell Ave.; outages, and aesthetic.” a bit further north on El Camino. But for major Terman Park, 655 Arastradero Road Green Acres consists of two sections: Green grocery shopping, either Los Altos or Piazza’s POST OFFICE: Acres I, which covers the small area from on Charleston and Middlefield are much more Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. PRIVATE SCHOOL: Arastradero Road to Glenbrook Drive and practical; likewise, most other shopping needs Bowman International School, from Los Palos to Pomona avenues; and Green or errands unfortunately generally require 4000 Terman Drive Acres II, which is larger, and stretches from driving to another area,” Satterthwaite said. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Juana Briones Elementary School, Maybell Avenue to Arastradero Road and from Residents Lorie and Eric Englhardt buy milk Terman Middle School, Gunn High School Coulombe Drive to Georgia Avenue. at Walgreens, deli sandwiches at Driftwood SHOPPING: El Camino Real, San Antonio Shopping Ruth Satterthwaite, one of the leaders of the Market and tea drinks at Teaspoon in Los Altos, Center, Downtown Los Altos Green Acres II Neighborhood Association, said Lorie said. The couple and their four children she has seen many changes in the area since have lived in Green Acres II for 16 years. moving there with her husband in 1985. “Our four kids have gone through Juana schools. “There has been a fair amount of turnover, Briones,” she said. “We still have one at Terman Vidya Maharajah, a Green Acres I resident for especially recently, as some of the original and one at Gunn. We love having the schools 10 years, said she can walk or take a quick drive owners have moved away ... new families so close. We have enjoyed getting to know to stores she needs. with younger children are moving into the our neighbors and have liked the annual “I have no complaints about the neighborhood,” Satterthwaite said. summer block party. Our two daughters neighborhood,” said Maharajah. “It’s a fantastic Jim Colton, who has lived in the Green Acres babysit and enjoy working for families in the place, with lots of greenery, schools nearby, and neighborhood for more than four decades, said neighborhood.” a trail behind. The walkability score is high. You he also has seen the demographic changes. Just like Green Acres II, Green Acres I is a see kids playing around. Neighbors are close to “What hasn’t changed though is three schools purely residential neighborhood dominated by each other and help each other out.” within walking distance and the quiet of the single-family homes and in walking distance to Crystal Tai, 2017 58 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com Greater Miranda Veronica Weber Veronica ocal connections led Brian Steen to his have never had any issues with the creek FACTS Greater Miranda home in 2003, and overflowing, he said. Above the river, Steen said L CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Whistle Stop Child he and his wife have enjoyed the quiet lots of birds fly around, including a resident Development Center, 3801 Miranda Ave., No. T6B neighborhood ever since. The previous hawk who has lived in the area for many years. FIRE STATION: owner attended their church in Palo Alto, Down a few blocks, the bicentennial oak No. 5, 600 Arastradero Road and the couple had seen the home many tree stands tall in a neighbor’s yard, and other LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road times when they drove her home from tree varieties also grow in the neighborhood, LOCATION: Miranda Avenue, Arroyo Court, church. The woman mentioned she was such as eucalyptus. Miranda Green and Moana Court selling her home, and they inquired further Steen also pulls out a map from the NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Don Nielson, with great interest and eventually purchased 1880s that shows what the area looked like 650-941-2429 the home. back when Juana Briones, a pioneering PARKS: Terman Park, 655 Arastradero Road; “She was thrilled to know who would go businesswoman and property owner, had her Juana Briones Park, 609 Maybell Ave. into her house,” Steen said. name and family members’ names on the POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave.; Now having lived in the neighborhood for land, which included a number of orchards. 3801 Miranda Ave. (inside VA hospital) more than 10 years, Steen said they have been Today the neighborhood doesn’t have any PRIVATE SCHOOL: Bowman International School, pleasantly surprised with its international orchards, but a nearby park carries the name 4000 Terman Drive community, natural wildlife and connections of Juana Briones. That park is also near Juana PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Juana Briones Elementary School, to activities. Briones Elementary School, Terman Middle Terman Middle School, Gunn High School On their block, Steen listed off a cultural School and Gunn High School, making it SHOPPING: El Camino Real, San Antonio Shopping mix that includes Pakistani, British, Russian convenient for families with kids. Center and Indian residents. Steen said it makes for “High school kids can dash off to school in interesting conversation and people have offered no time,” Steen said. travel tips for different parts of the world. For those not in school, the neighborhood activities throughout the year, such as the Steen, who previously worked as a forestry is also close to shopping and Foothill Fourth of July. On this holiday, Steen said one officer in locations such as Big Sur, also Expressway, which is great for walkers and of the blocks closes down and is filled with notices the nature in his backyard. The largest bikers. Steen, who used to live further north food stands and games. piece being Adobe Creek that runs along his in Palo Alto, appreciates how he can quickly “It’s a great time for everyone to get backyard, dividing Greater Miranda from connect with a number of bike trails. together,” Steen said. Los Altos. In their time in the home, they The neighborhood also offers its own —Brenna Malmberg, 2016 Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 59 Esther Clark Park Veronica Weber Veronica n many ways, the character of Palo Alto’s “The neighborhood is nicely isolated, but also FACTS IEsther Clark neighborhood is exemplified acts like a classic American neighborhood with FIRE STATION: No. 5, 600 Arastradero Road by Esther Clark Park, located directly off of lots of space.” LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road Arastradero Road. A 21-acre nature preserve, it Joining Mr. Horn as a longtime resident of the LOCATION: remains a highlight for those who enjoy a place Esther Clark neighborhood, Katy Clancey and from Old Adobe Road to Manuela Avenue, of tranquility and natural beauty. her daughter Jeannie talked about their love for off Arastradero Road, including Old Trace Road The best way for a visitor to enter the park their neighborhood. PARK: Esther Clark Park, Old Trace Road is from Old Adobe Road where drivers are “You’re living in a rural setting, but you’re five POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. enveloped with a tunnel of trees arching over minutes away from towns like Los Altos,” Katy PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Nixon Elementary School, Terman the inclined road. Driving further on, the road Clancey said. Middle School, Gunn High School meanders up and down, and up again even Her daughter Jeannie chimed in as well: “It SHOPPING: El Camino Real, Downtown Los Altos more steeply. Esther Clark Park neighborhood is absolutely the perfect place to live because feels like a secret, hidden behind winding hills of its calmness ... the park is a treasure to this and impressive Spanish-style villas. After a short neighborhood.” the street in which all of the residents, both drive to the end of the road is the park, settled Interestingly, both Clancey and Horn longtime and new, came together and enjoyed against the last few houses in the neighborhood. mentioned the development that has taken their little paradise. A sign greets the visitor: “Palo Alto Open place and is still ongoing on Old Adobe Road The park itself still looks exactly as Esther Space.” and Old Trace Lane. The original homes were Clark had intended: open space reaches into Dr. Esther Clark was one of the key founders more rustic and spaced out from one another. the horizon, providing plenty of opportunity of the Palo Alto Medical Clinic, and she also “There used to be a lot of smaller houses, but for people to enjoy nature as well as partake in established her own nonprofit with the goal now there is more development of bigger ones,” activities. of helping children with disabilities. Richard Horn said. “People do a lot of walking, riding horses and Horn, one of the many veteran residents of Old One resident said that he considered the jogging,” Mr. Horn said. Adobe Road and a retired pediatrician himself, new homes popping up as “monstrosities.” It’s understandable that these residents are so remembers the highly respected Palo Alto figure Katy Clancey half-heartedly agreed with these fond of their neighborhood, as it feels tucked fondly for what she brought to his beloved criticisms as well, but is still optimistic and very away into a part of Palo Alto that feels rural, neighborhood. content with her surroundings. even though, just down the hill, there are large “Esther Clark owned all of this property, and “It’s hard for those of us who love this old corporate office buildings — an immediate she developed Old Adobe Road ... (the land) rural setting ... but it is exciting to see new reminder of how special the neighborhood’s was donated with the understanding that it energy in the neighborhood,” she said, adding peaceful atmosphere is. would be open space ... “ he said, adding that, that there had been barbecues at the end of —Patrick Condon, 2016 60 | Palo Alto Weekly | PaloAltoOnline.com Palo Alto Hills Veronica Weber Veronica he drive to Palo Alto Hills is unlike the In order to have larger lot sizes, residents FACTS T drive home most Palo Alto residents must live further apart and do not see each FIRE STATION: No. 8 Foothills Park, experience. Winding rural roads with other as frequently as they might if they lived 3000 Page Mill Road (during summer); glimpses of rolling golden hills through in another Palo Alto neighborhood. For Weber No.5 600 Arastradero Road the foliage and very few cars make for an this was a big adjustment for him and his wife LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road enjoyable commute for residents of this when they moved from Menlo Park. While LOCATION: Off Page Mill Road: Alexis Drive, Country neighborhood. and it’s easy to forget it’s only a they do not see people as often as they did in Club Court, Bandera Drive and Laurel Glen Drive stone’s throw from Silicon Valley. their previous neighborhood, Weber says they NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: The Palo Alto Hills neighborhood is an oasis do see a few neighbors when they go on walks Mark Nadim, president, 650-949-5672, [email protected] for those looking for a serene setting to live in. or runs. PARK: With large lots featuring sizable homes with There is still a strong sense of community in Foothills Park, 3300 Page Mill Road breathtaking views of the Bay Area, it is an the neighborhood. POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. ideal place to get away. “We do not always see our next-door PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Nixon Elementary School, Palo Alto Hills residents moved to the neighbors,” Nadim said. “We may not be close Terman Middle School, Gunn High School neighborhood for many of the same reasons, to by but I know that if I need help, it is only a SHOPPING: El Camino Real, Downtown Los Altos, get away from the busy Silicon Valley life and phone call or an email away.” California Avenue relax in a place with friendly neighbors and Within Palo Alto Hills, residents have easy spectacular views. access to a few activities including the Palo Palo Alto Hills resident Mark Nadim has Alto Hills Golf Course and Country Club within Palo Alto and surrounding cities are at lived in the neighborhood for 30 years and still and Foothills Park. Access to Foothills Park least a 20-minute drive away. Nadim says this says his favorite thing about his home is its is particularly exciting for Weber and his wife can make it more difficult to stay connected to natural, relaxing qualities. since they lived in Menlo Park prior to moving the Palo Alto community. “It’s nice to have the fresh air and wildlife,” to Palo Alto Hills and the park only allows To maintain connections within the Nadim said. “It really makes it a serene place Palo Alto residents to visit. neighborhood, Nadim, who also happens to live.” “Foothills Park is a real gem and a real plus to be the president of the neighborhood Other Palo Alto Hills residents like to the neighborhood,” Weber said. “When we association, organizes an annual holiday Jay Weber are very appreciative of the were looking at this house, we were Menlo party at the country club. The event brings neighborhood’s tranquility. Weber was Park residents so they wouldn’t let us into the neighbors together to celebrate the holidays particularly taken by the laid-back, private park and we wanted to see it. We saw it on the as well as address neighborhood business. It is atmosphere when he moved in seven years ago. map but we didn’t know what a gem it really very popular among residents and is a favorite “The partly rural feel of the neighborhood was until we actually moved here.” neighborhood event of Weber’s. is nice. It is quiet, but not deathly quiet. It is While residents do have easy access to a Although it is more remote than any other quiet enough that you can take a deep breath variety of outdoor activities and live in a very neighborhood in Palo Alto, residents still find and take it all in,” Weber said. “It is also a nice peaceful, secluded place, simple things like their location ideal because they are close to drive when you are coming back from work going downtown or doing grocery shopping outdoor areas that most locals do not get to and driving through the trees. You feel like are more time-consuming than they are for visit on a daily basis. you’re going to a different space.” most Palo Alto residents. Most attractions —Rachel van Gelder, 2017 Neighborhoods | Palo Alto Weekly | 61 LOVELESS TEAM For 47 years our principles have remained the same. Caring, compassion and understanding our clients’ needs is the #1 priority. 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