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tel (650) 254 0748 310 Easy Street, Mountain View, CA 94043 fax (650) 254 0749 email [email protected], web www.gissv.org N eighborhoods 4 Our Neighborhoods index mountain view | los altos MOUNTAIN VIEW...... 7
Blossom Valley...... 15 Castro City...... 13 The Crossings...... 23 Cuernavaca...... 25 Cuesta Park...... 17 Gemello...... 11 Jackson Park...... 21
Vivian Wong Veronica Weber Vivian Wong Martens Carmelita...... 17 Monta Loma...... 9 sk longtime residents of Mountain up a bottle of milk or loaf of bread on the way View or Los Altos what makes their home from work? How far is the nearest fire North Whisman...... 15 neighborhood special and they’ll A station? And what would it cost to actually Old Mountain View...... 19 easily point to the subtle differences that move in? exist — sometimes block to block. This year, fuller versions of the Rex Manor...... 9 In this, our seventh guide to local neighborhood profiles, along with maps, St. Francis Acres...... 11 neighborhoods in Mountain View and can be found on our website, www. Shoreline West...... 13 Los Altos, you’ll find snippets of history, paloaltoonline.com/neighborhoods/. descriptions of neighborhoods and If your area has been overlooked — or Sylvan Park...... 25 reminiscences from residents who enjoy you’ve found something just plain wrong Waverly Park...... 21 living here. We asked them what they liked, — please call Carol Blitzer, who edited this and what they’d like to see changed, whether publication, at 650-223-6511 (or e-mail her Whisman Station...... 23 it’s traffic or big-box commercial ventures. at [email protected]). We’d love to hear Willowgate...... 19 Included in each neighborhood vignette is from you. a fact box, designed to help people thinking about moving to the area. Where will the kids Tom Gibboney LOS ALTOS...... 27 go to day care or school? Where can you pick Publisher, Mountain View Voice
Central Los Altos...... 33 Publisher: Tom Gibboney ON THE COVER: Christine Richards takes her dogs Country Club...... 33 Editors: Carol Blitzerfor and placement Karla Kane onlyHiggins and Chin Chin for a walk on Loreto Street in Designer: Linda Atilano Old Mountain View. Photo by Vivian Wong. Loyola Corners...... 29 Map designer: Bill Murray Photographs of Woodland Acres and Old Mountain Researcher: Emma Trotter View by Veronica Weber; The Crossings by Shawn North Los Altos...... 31 Fender; Sylvan Park by Victorugo Gonzalez. Vice President Sales and Marketing: Old Los Altos...... 29 Walter Kupiec Sales representatives: Connie Jo Cotton, Neal Fine, Rancho...... 31 Rosemary Lewkowitz, Anna Mirsky, Irene Schwartz Home-sales data: South Los Altos...... 34 staff Courtesy of J. Robert Taylor, Taylor Properties Woodland Acres/ N eighborhoods The Highlands...... 34 Additional copies of Mountain View/Los Altos Neighborhoods, as well as companion publications — Palo Alto Neighborhoods and Almanac Neighborhoods — are available at The Voice for $5 each. All three publications are available online at www.PaloAltoOnline.com. 450 Cambridge Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94306 (650) 964-6300 Copyright @2011 by Embarcadero Media. All rights reserved. www.mv-voice.com Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. 5 R EAL E STATE.
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. FACTS 2010-11 GENERAL OPERATING FUND BUDGET: $87 million POPULATION (2008): 73,847 HOUSEHOLDS (2008): 33,134 OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING (2008): 13,282 rom an early stagecoach stop and multifamily and 4 percent mobile homes. More RENTER-OCCUPIED HOUSING agricultural center, Mountain View than 42 percent are owner-occupied. (2008): 18,239 Fhas grown since its incorporation in Encompassing 12 square miles, Mountain 85 MEDIAN HOME-SELLING PRICE: 1902 to a thriving city of 73,000+ residents View is surrounded by Palo Alto, Los Altos $908,000 (single-family homes, in the heart of Silicon Valley. Internationally and Sunnyvale. Highways 101, 85 and 237, December 2009 through known corporations make Mountain View as well as light rail and Caltrain, offer quick November 2010)
their home, swelling the daytime population 280 access to the rest of the Bay Area. $549,500 (condominiums, December N eighborhoods to more than 100,000. Mountain View’s diversified population 2009 through November 2010) Today, Mountain View neighborhoods are enjoys superb recreation and arts facilities, ESTIMATED MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD as varied as the housing types, with 28 percent including Shoreline Park and the Mountain INCOME (2008): $88,637 single-family, 11 percent townhouses, 57 percent View Center for the Performing Arts.
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N eighborhoods 9LVLW[[[[EPHSVJTIRMRWYPESVK 8 Monta Loma FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Hobbledehoy hen Janice Heiler and her husband down through generations and stayed in Montessori Preschool, 2321 Jane Lane; Monta Loma faced retirement, they considered families since they were built. Suverkropp Babysitting Co-op (part of Monta Loma Neighborhood W leaving their home in the Monta and his family are in that category; his Association); Kids@Home (run by a neighbor) Loma neighborhood of Mountain View. wife’s parents owned their house when FIRE STATION: No. 3, 301 Rengstorff Ave. Then, a new member of the household came she was young, making his son the fourth LOCATION: bounded by San Antonio Road, along, and all those plans changed. generation to live there. West Middlefield Road, Rengstorff Avenue and “Once we started getting out more walking More than 500 people belong to an Central Expressway the dog, we started meeting neighbors and e-mail list started by the association, which NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Monta Loma Neighborhood Association, Wouter Suverkropp, president, didn’t want to move,” Heiler said. They haven’t was founded in 1977 as a beautification [email protected], www.montaloma.org looked back. committee, Suverkropp said. The PARKS: Monta Loma Park, Thompson Avenue and Lots of homeowners in the neighborhood association now organizes several annual Laura Lane; Thaddeus Park, West Middlefield Road and come for the location and stay for the events that attract hundreds of people, and Independence Drive community. Monta Loma is bounded by supports a strong Community Emergency POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. San Antonio Road, West Middlefield Road, Response Team, he said. PRIVATE SCHOOLS: The Girls’ Middle School, Rengstorff Avenue and Central Expressway. More and more families with young children 180 N. Rengstorff Ave. There’s a shopping center in one corner that seem to be moving into the neighborhood, said PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman School provides a coffee shop, dry cleaning, bank, Marilyn Gildea, who has lived in Monta Loma District — Monta Loma Elementary School, Crittenden restaurants with a Fresh ‘n Easy grocery since 2002. She likes the neighborhood for its Middle School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High store coming soon. Just across the freeway is diversity and the fact that generations stay on School District — Los Altos High School Google’s campus, which has brought in some through the years. SHOPPING: Central Expressway and Rengstorff new neighbors in recent years, said Wouter Heiler especially appreciates the safe feeling Avenue; Monta Loma Plaza, West Middlefield Road and Suverkropp, president of the Monta Loma of the neighborhood. She walks her dog Rengstorff Avenue; San Antonio Shopping Center Neighborhood Association. before sunrise and feels completely safe no MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $748,500 ($599,000-$876,000) The homes were built in the post-World matter the time of day. “Anywhere I am in this War II boom, mostly by Joseph Eichler. neighborhood I feel like I’m in my backyard.” HOMES SOLD: 30 A number of the homes have been passed — Kathy Schrenk MEDIAN 2010 CONDO PRICE: $317,450 ($240,000-$510,000) CONDOS SOLD (NEARBY): 4 Rex Manor/Mountain Shadows FACTS CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOLS: YMCA of ocated just off busy Central Swindell added that most residents either the East Bay/Mountain View Child Development Expressway, Rex Manor — a quiet have kids in the house now or did when they Center, 750B San Pierre Way; YMCA — L neighborhood with tree-lined streets were younger. Theuerkauf,1625 San Luis Ave. and numerous parks — is the best of both “There aren’t a lot of young single people FIRE STATION: No. 3, 301 N. Rengstorff Ave. worlds. around,” she said. LOCATION: Rex Manor: between Farley and “You’re close to everything,” said Rex Manor is still fairly social and diverse. Burgoyne streets, Central Expressway and West Frank Gicale, whose family moved to the Neighbors gather for Sunday potlucks and a Middlefield Road; Mountain Shadows: between Burgoyne Street and Shoreline Boulevard, neighborhood in 1959, four years before he yearly block party and ice cream social. San Ramon and Montecito avenues was born. He cited such conveniences as There are a few small drawbacks to living in NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Safeway and the light rail, and being able to Rex Manor, though. Swindell’s commute — to Lawrence Shing, chair, [email protected] bike to almost anything. Foster City, where she works as a program PARKS: Rex Manor Park, Farley Street and Central For all these nearby comforts, Rex Manor manager at a life-sciences company — can take Expressway; Stevenson Park, San Luis Avenue and is still a restful place to start a family. Gicale up to an hour and a half on her way home, and San Pierre Way works for the City of Mountain View and has sometimes residents take advantage of the POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. always lived nearby. Today, he’s raising his neighborhood’s quiet, safe atmosphere. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman own three children in the house where he grew “There’s a lot of speeding through the School District — Theuerkauf Elementary School, up, left to him by his parents when they passed neighborhood,” she said. “I think it’s by Crittenden Middle School; Mtn. View-Los Altos on. residents. They know there’s no cops who go Union High School District — Los Altos High School “A lot of our neighbors are from the old through.” N eighborhoods days,” he said. “They knew my parents. We feel Despite these small annoyances, Gicale feels SHOPPING: Bailey Plaza, Shoreline Boulevard; safe here.” very fortunate to have inherited a house in Rex strip shopping at 112 Rengstorff Ave. and 580 Rengstorff Ave. The neighborhood was built by William Manor. MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $545,000 Blackfield in 1950. Some of the ranch-style “These houses cost a lot,” he said. “I think ($380,000-$932,500) homes have been remodeled, but many there are a lot of people who would enjoy our HOMES SOLD: 17 haven’t, said Amber Swindell, who moved to neighborhood, and I feel for them.” the neighborhood in 2009. — Emma Trotter 9 Where would you like to plant your roots and watch them grow?
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N eighborhoods Mountain View | Los Altos | Sunnyvale | Palo Alto | and the Peninsula 10 St. Francis Acres FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: veryone seems to like everybody children are avid swimmers and spend lots Mountain View KinderCare, 2065 W. El Camino else in St. Francis Acres. At least of time at the nearby Eagle Park swimming Real; St. Paul Lutheran CDC, 1075 El Monte Ave. Eaccording to Tom Pedersen, Kathy pool. FIRE STATION: No. 1, 251 S. Shoreline Blvd. Lee and Virginia Phelps. They all agreed In addition to having plenty of playmates, LOCATION: bordered by El Camino Real, that their small neighborhood, bordered children attended a neighborhood-wide party Permanente Creek and El Monte Avenue by El Camino Real, Permanente Creek at Halloween — a holiday her street likes to PARKS: McKelvey Park, Park Drive and and El Monte Avenue, is a very tightly knit have fun with. There’s a big party every year. Miramonte Ave.; Eagle Park, Shoreline Blvd. and community and a great place to raise kids. Many streets in the neighborhood have had High School Way. “We have McKelvey Park, which is right problems with commuters cutting through to POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. around the corner from us,” said Pedersen, get from El Camino Real to El Monte Avenue. PRIVATE SCHOOLS (NEARBY): Canterbury whose two boys grew up playing baseball “Our street used to be the Indy 500,” Lee Christian School, 101 N. El Monte, St. Joseph Catholic School, 1120 Miramonte Ave., St. Francis there. “Talk about convenience.” Many said, “But we put in speed bumps about five High School, 1885 Miramonte Ave. aspects of St. Francis Acres were and are years ago.” PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District convenient for Pedersen, who has lived on Phelps said Gilmore Street used to have — Almond Elementary School, Egan Junior High Todd Street since 1973. It is a short walk to the same problem until stop signs replaced School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School downtown Mountain View and about five the yield signs about 10 years ago. Phelps said District — Los Altos High School minutes from all major freeways. that Gilmore has seen a high turnover rate SHOPPING: Downtown Mountain View, El Monte “I love my neighborhood and so do my in recent years, which she attributed to the Shopping Center (El Monte Avenue near Marich neighbors,” Lee, who lives on Ernestine Lane, housing bubble. Way), Clarkwood Center (El Camino Real) said. “We watch out for one another.” Overall, Pedersen, Lee and Phelps all love MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $1,086,000 Lee said when her kids were growing up living in St. Francis Acres. “If you live and ($939,000-$2,475,000) they always had plenty of other children work in Silicon Valley you couldn’t do much HOMES SOLD: 21 to play with and would bounce from house better,” Phelps said, noting that especially to house. “They both received outstanding on Gilmore Street, the homes are very educations,” she added, testifying to the reasonably priced for the area. quality of the local public schools. Both her — Nick Veronin
Gemello FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: emello, its residents say again to Gemello in 1978. Evilsizer, a Los Altos Childrens Learning Cottage, 675 Escuela Ave.; and again, is an old-fashioned native, was first attracted by the quality of Mountain View KinderCare, 2065 W. El Camino Real; Gneighborhood. It has old-fashioned Excel workmanship and its proximity to her St. Paul Lutheran CDC, 1075 El Monte Ave.; Wonder architecture, old-fashioned plants and, best hometown. Thirty-two years later, she’s still World, 2015 Latham St. (nearby) of all, an old-fashioned feel with neighbors there, one of a group of close-knit long-time FIRE STATION: No. 3, 301 N. Rengstorff Ave.; that know each other, like each other and residents. No. 1, 251 S. Shoreline Blvd. even remodel with each other. “The neighborhood is very established with LOCATION: bounded by El Monte Avenue, Jardin Drive, Karen Way and El Camino Real Gemello — the Mountain View several of our neighbor’s living in their homes PARK: Gemello Park, Marich Way and Solana Court neighborhood located between the Los Altos for 50-plus years,” she said. “We have excellent border, El Camino Real and El Monte Avenue neighbors who you can always depend on. We POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St., Blossom Valley, 1768 Miramonte Ave. — was once a winery owned by John Gemello. are very happy in the neighborhood.” PRIVATE SCHOOLS (NEARBY): The Girls’ Middle In the 1950s, it was sold to San Francisco- The neighborhood park, Gemello Park on School, 180 N. Rengstorff Ave.; Canterbury Christian based Meadow Development Company, which Solano Drive and Marich Way, is a focal point School, 101 N El Monte Ave. promptly starting building three-bedroom, for families and small children, even if cars PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman School one-bath Blackfield and Excel villages. driving on Marich Way go too fast. District — Bubb Elementary School, Graham Middle Charles Channing is a relative newcomer “People go too quickly on Marich near the School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School to the area, having moved to Gemello from park,” her neighbor and Gemello resident Mark District — Los Altos High School the East Coast in 2001. He and his wife Bubert said. “Everyone flies on that street.” SHOPPING: Downtown Mountain View, Downtown Los
Samantha, a Bay Area native, chose the area Bubert’s home is one of the many residences Altos, Blossom Valley Shopping Center, Gemello Village, N eighborhoods precisely for its old-fashioned charm. “We going through renovation, which he said is Clarkwood Center, San Antonio Shopping Center loved the older area,” he said. “It’s got older another shared neighborhood experience. MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $942,500 trees and plants and smaller, older homes. “A lot of people remodel at the same time, ($720,000-$1,350,000) Plus, it’s got a nice and quiet feel. Everyone so I can go over to my neighbor and look at HOMES SOLD: 10 knows everyone else in the neighborhood. his kitchen and we can compare to what I’m MEDIAN 2010 CONDO PRICE: $719,750 It’s a good place to raise kids.” doing,” he said. ($390,000-$840,000) In contrast, Jeanne Evilsizer moved — Angela Chen CONDOS SOLD: 6 11 I’ve been busy in your neighborhood! If you are
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Oak Ave., Redwood City 11th Ave., Menlo Park N eighborhoods 12 Castro City FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: n a neighborhood synonymous with country suburb for Stanford professors and Oak Tree Nursery School, 2100 University Ave.; Mountain View’s earliest history, San Francisco vacationers, using such street Wonder World, 2015 Latham St. (nearby) Ichange is easy to see. names as University and Fair Oaks avenues. FIRE STATION: No. 3, 301 N. Rengstorff Ave. Once an enclave of cottage houses, today Instead, real estate men moved cannery LOCATION: bounded by South Rengstorff Avenue, Castro City features a growing number shacks from Campbell over to Castro City, University Avenue, College Street and of newly built, narrow, two-story homes and Latino fruit pickers and other laborers Leland Avenue squeezed onto tiny lots in the six-square- settled in the bargain neighborhood, where PARKS: Castro Park, Toft Avenue at Latham Street; block area located across the street from homes sold in 1941 for $150, according to a Rengstorff Park and pool, Rengstorff Avenue at Crisanto Avenue Rengstorff Park. Palo Alto Times article. “It’s been a plus because the houses that Surrounded by farms, the unincorporated POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. were coming down were really old and in nook developed its own civic identity and PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mountain View Whisman School District — Mariano Castro Elementary need of some serious reconditioning,” said eventually was annexed to Mountain View. School, Graham Middle School; Mountain Chris Burley, who moved to the area in 2000. “I enjoy the neighborhood for the View-Los Altos Union High School District — Yet the upgrading of residences carries compactness of it,” Jim Early, a contractor Los Altos High School a price — greater density and a threat to who moved in the late 1980s to College SHOPPING: Mi Pueblo Food Center, premium street-parking outside older houses Avenue, said. “There’s still some form of 40 S. Rengstorff Ave. at Leland Avenue; Walgreens, stuck with one-car garages. community that you don’t find in a lot of 112 N. Rengstorff Ave. at Central Expressway “Depending on what time you walk through neighborhoods these days. We still all know MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $656,500 the neighborhood, before 8 or after 5, our one another. Our houses get watched over.” ($399,000-$805,000) streets are lined with cars,” said Burley, who Early added that access to San Antonio was HOMES SOLD: 4 works from home for a data-processing firm. recently restricted because the neighborhood MEDIAN 2010 CONDO PRICE: $425,000 The area’s namesake is Mariano Castro, behind Castro City put up a one-way gate. ($290,000-$750,000) whose Spanish rancho included most of the “We’re a little disappointed that one CONDOS SOLD (NEARBY): 11 land that Mountain View occupies. Two years neighborhood feels like they can shut another after the 1906 quake, a land speculator divided one out,” Burley said. up the area with the hope of turning it into a — Todd R. Brown
Shoreline West FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: ometimes whimsical and sometimes dog park this year. Castro Preschool, 505 Escuela Ave.; regal, the eclectic houses near Recently residents have grown closer Childrens Learning Cottage, 675 Escuela Ave.; Sdowntown obviously predate cookie- together with a series of monthly potluck Wonder World, 2015 Latham St. (nearby) cutter subdivisions and the subtlety and dinners. FIRE STATION: No. 1, 251 S. Shoreline Blvd. straight lines of the Eichler era. Mike Groethe, the head of the Shoreline LOCATION: bounded by Shoreline Boulevard, People tend to stay put after they move West Neighborhood Association, helped El Camino Real, Escuela Avenue and Villa Street here, residents say. The neighborhood start the potlucks the summer of 2008 with NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: has a wide variety of ages and ethnic Michelle Oppenheimer. “It’s been probably Shoreline West Association of Neighbors (SWAN), Mike Groethe, [email protected] backgrounds, Michelle Decamara said. “It’s one of the best things we’ve ever done,” just a good mix.” he said, adding that it’s a hard-working PARKS: Castro School Park, Toft Avenue and Latham Street; Eagle Park and Pool, S. Shoreline In the 1990s, the neighborhood broke neighborhood and people can use the time Boulevard at Church Street off from the “Old Mountain View” to socialize. POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. neighborhood to the east and formed — Kathy Schrenk PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman its own association. Its School District — Castro Elementary School, goal at first was to make Graham Middle School; Mtn. View-Los Altos sure the historic houses Union High School District — in the neighborhood were Los Altos High School preserved, including one SHOPPING: Downtown Mountain View;
owned by Mountain View’s California Street Market, 1595 California St.; N eighborhoods first mayor. Escuela Avenue at El Camino Real The neighborhood MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $835,000 association was inactive ($545,000-$1,230,000) HOMES SOLD: 14 for years but now has a Veronica Weber website with information for MEDIAN 2010 CONDO PRICE: $380,000 residents. Neighbors have ($200,000-$530,000) been active in establishing a CONDOS SOLD: 7 13
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N eighborhoods 14 Blossom Valley FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY) : t still feels the same way as when house area. All the kids grow up together, Children’s House of Los Altos, 770 Berry Ave.; I was a kid,” said Chris DeMassa, even the older ones,” he said. Little Acorn School, 1667 Miramonte Ave.; St. Timothy’s Nursery School, 2094 Grant Road who moved back in 1997 to the Claudia Osterheld moved in with her “I FIRE STATION: No. 2, 160 Cuesta Drive Blossom Valley neighborhood where he family in 1996 to be a part of a family- grew up. oriented neighborhood. “It was a nice LOCATION: between Springer road and Miramonte Avenue, Marilyn and Lincoln drives. “It’s neat to see it the same as it was then, community with nice schools. It was NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Eastern Varsity seeing my kids go to Springer just like I friendly,” she said. Get-togethers such as Park Neighborhood Association, Lilly Yi, coordinator, did,” he said of the “special, magical place.” play dates and block parties are common [email protected] Blossom Valley was built on orchard and Varsity Park and Springer Meadows PARKS: Varsity Park, Duke Way and Jefferson Drive; land in the 1950s. Many houses are from have neighborhood associations. Cuesta Park, Cuesta Drive that era, but properties are kept up and Osterheld loves the conveniences. “I like POST OFFICE: Blossom Valley, 1768 Miramonte Ave. remodeling remains energetic. Four smaller to go to downtown Mountain View and PRIVATE SCHOOLS (NEARBY): neighborhoods make up Blossom Valley — downtown Los Altos. It’s half way between St. Joseph Catholic School, 1120 Miramonte Ave.; Springer Meadows, Varsity Park, Blossom them,” she said. There are also plenty of St. Francis High School, 1855 Miramonte Ave. Valley Estates and Gest Ranch. The places to take the kids. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: (Eligibility for school districts neighborhood is bordered by Springer Road “The hospital is close too, not that you’d depends on resident’s address) Los Altos School and Miramonte Avenue and is effectively want to go there,” she said. District — Springer Elementary School, Blach cut in half by Cuesta Drive. Even with the changes new construction Intermediate School; Mtn. View-Whistman School District — DeMassa says that along with people who brings, the appeal of Blossom Valley hasn’t Bubb Elementary School, Graham Middle School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School have been in the neighborhood for 30 or 40 changed since the time when DeMassa was District — Los Altos or Mountain View high schools years, there are plenty of new families as well. going to Springer Elementary. SHOPPING: Blossom Valley Shopping Center, The large front yards and the broad, “It’s stayed the same. It’s always been a Miramonte Avenue and Cuesta Drive; Rancho clean streets make it easy to run into friendly, safe neighborhood,” he said. Shopping Center, Foothill Expressway and Springer neighbors. “There are 14 kids in a four- —John Squire Road; Grant Road Plaza Shopping Center, Grant Road and Phyllis Avenue MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $1,300,000 ($908,000-$1,950,089) HOMES SOLD: 37 North Whisman FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: German isa Burns knew the first day she “Our biggest concern is the growth International School of Silicon Valley, 310 Easy St.; moved into her house on Walker development,” said Peggy Prendergast, Kiddie Academy, 205 E. Middlefield Road; NASA Ames L Drive that she had found a home in who has lived on Flynn Avenue since 2005. Child Care Center, Mail Stop N-270-1 Moffett Field North Whisman. With boxes packed into She emphasized that while she didn’t FIRE STATION: No. 4, 229 N. Whisman Road her garage, she closed the door and left to want to see large complexes added to the LOCATION: bounded by Walker Drive, Leong Drive, run some errands. neighborhood, she understood the appeal of Evandale Avenue, Easy Street “What I didn’t know is that the door North Whisman’s proximity to so many major NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: North Whisman bounced back up,” Burns said, “leaving all my highways. “I really believe this is an up-and- Neighborhood Association, Jessica Gandhi, 650-969-2429; [email protected] earthly possessions in full view for whoever coming area because of the location.” might want to come take them.” Neighbors agree that another one of the PARKS: Whisman Park, Easy Street and Middlefield Road; Devonshire Park, 62 Devonshire Ave. When she returned, however, she found her main draws to North Whisman is its diversity. POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. neighbor, Frank, waiting to assure her he had “There’s a good mix, a good diversity,” been keeping an eye on her garage. Prendergast said. She pointed to her complex, PRIVATE SCHOOLS: German International School of Silicon Valley, 310 Easy St. “Your garage door is malfunctioning,” he and listed each family and their country of PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman School told her, “but I think we can fix it.” origin: the Philippines, Equador, China, District — Huff, Landels or Monta Loma elementary And he did. Algeria, Japan, India, Bulgaria. schools, Crittenden Middle School; Mtn. View-Los “It’s just been like that the whole time I’ve “I like Mountain View because it seems to be Altos Union High School District — Mountain View been there,” Burns recalled. She speaks from a little bit more diverse,” said Lisa Moore, who High School
experience — since she’s been in the same moved to North Whisman 16 years ago from SHOPPING: Strip mall on Leong Drive; retail N eighborhoods house for nearly 22 years. Palo Alto. centers on Middlefield Road and Whisman Road Bordered by Evandale Avenue, Whisman “It’s been a nice, peaceful neighborhood. MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $688,400 Road, Middlefield Road and Moffett Boulevard I’ve got a good friend across the street, another ($315,000-$854,000) to the north, North Whisman encompasses a around the corner,” she said. “People feed each HOMES SOLD: 10 visible dichotomy of business complexes, and others’ animals. It’s small stuff like that.” MEDIAN 2010 CONDO PRICE: $407,000 an eclectic range of town houses, apartments, — Kelsey Mesher ($178,000-$692,000) single-family homes and condos. CONDOS SOLD: 19 15 SOLD Experience
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Tori Ann Corbett MARY AVE Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Broker Associate Alain Pinel Realtors (650) 996-0123 [email protected] www.ToriSellsRealEstate.com #00927794 N eighborhoods 16 Martens-Carmelita FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: hough it’s just a few blocks off El another constant. As Luna’s kids — at one point Baby World, 1715 Grant Road; Camino Real, Martens-Carmelita there were five in the house — grew up, young Montecito School, 1468 Grant Road; T neighborhood has a rustic, rural couples with new babies moved in. St. Timothy’s Preschool, 2094 Grant Road; feel that sets it apart from other areas “You don’t realize how many kids are in the YMCA — Huff Kids’ Place, 253 Martens Ave. in Mountain View. The atmosphere is neighborhood,” Luna said. “Then all the sudden FIRE STATION: No. 2, 160 Cuesta Drive reminiscent of the 1950s, when many of the they go running for the ice cream truck.” LOCATION: Martens Avenue and Carmelita Drive homes were built. Just down the street, Luna’s neighbor Lisa and nearby streets Countless varieties of trees and Clifford is one of those young moms. She has NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Martens-Carmelita Neighborhood Association, shrubberies line the streets, which don’t three children age 6 and under. Robin Iwai, 650-961-8257, have sidewalks. And every few houses, “We wanted a home in this same place but [email protected] there’s a cluster of brightly painted with a larger back lot,” she said. The family PARKS: Huff Park, Martens Avenue mailboxes. This touch only increases the has renovated most of the house, including POST OFFICE: Blossom Valley, warm neighborly feel, according to Shirley landscaping the backyard so the kids have more 1768 Miramonte Ave. Luna, who lives on Carmelita Drive with her room to play. PRIVATE SCHOOLS (NEARBY): St. Simon husband. Clifford is originally from Ireland, and Catholic School, 1840 Grant Road, Los Altos “You really know your neighbors who are in many of her neighbors also represent diverse PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman School that little group,” she said. countries and cultures, including Vietnamese, District — Huff Elementary School, Graham Middle That’s not to say nothing’s changed in 60 Filipino and Indian families. School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School years. Since Luna moved to the neighborhood “It’s very Californian,” Clifford said, “with the District — Mountain View High School in 1989, there’s always been one rebuilding melting pot.” SHOPPING: Grant Park Plaza, Grant Road at El project or another. Families today tend to add Luna likes the neighborhood because it’s Camino Real; Mountain View Center, El Camino at on behind their houses, cutting into the long within walking distance of her church, the Grant Road backyard areas. But the country feel remains, in library, shopping and the school her kids MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $1,370,000 ($1,148,000-$1,720,000) Luna’s opinion. attended. “It hasn’t changed a lot,” she said. “It’s still a “If I don’t want to use my car, I don’t have to HOMES SOLD: 5 very nice neighborhood.” for those errands,” she said. Couples with young children have been — Emma Trotter
Cuesta Park FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Little Acorn ith its eclectic mix of old-style Neighborhood gatherings abound in this Preschool, 1667 Miramonte Ave.; St. Timothy’s cottages, apartment complexes Mountain View locality, and many of them Preschool, 2094 Grant Road; YMCA Kids Place, Wand new single-family homes, take place in the sprawling 25-acre park 525 Hans Ave. the Cuesta Park neighborhood feels like a bearing the neighborhood’s name, Cuesta FIRE STATION: No. 2, 160 Cuesta Drive 1950s-era suburb. Park. LOCATION: bounded by El Camino Real, Grant Road, And, the people of Cuesta Park exemplify The park plays host to summer concerts, Cuesta Drive, Miramonte Avenue, Castro Street the traditions of the era it resembles. Genuine fall picnics, wildflower planting, and every NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Cuesta Park kindness and respect for each other and their May it’s the location of the Mountain View Neighborhood Association (CPNA), vice president and acting President, Russ Jones, 650-961-9682 neighbors is an everyday occurrence. chapter of the American Cancer Society’s In 2001 Sarah Donahue discovered Cuesta Relay for Life. PARKS: Bubb Park, Barbara Avenue and Montalto Drive; Cuesta Park, 615 Cuesta Drive Park in her search to find a neighborhood that Pam Lehner, Cuesta Park resident POST OFFICE: Blossom Valley, 1768 Miramonte Ave. provided good schools and pleasant people. since 1972, plays a crucial part in this “I’ve found that in spades,” Donahue said. event as the Cancer Center Concierge at PRIVATE SCHOOLS: St. Joseph, 1120 Miramonte Ave.; St. Francis High School, 1885 Miramonte Ave. “I was thrilled to rediscover that there were El Camino Hospital. “I love that it’s in our PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman School people who know their neighbors, and they neighborhood,” she said. District — Bubb Elementary School, Graham Middle talk to each other.” The neighbors of Cuesta Park help her School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School A key component to the sense of throughout the year by dropping off donations District — Mountain View High School community that resounds in the Cuesta of items that she can take to the Cancer Center SHOPPING: Grant Park Plaza, Grant Road at El Camino
Park neighborhood is the Cuesta Park patients including hand-knitted hats. Real; Blossom Valley Shopping Center, Miramonte N eighborhoods Neighborhood Association or CPNA. “We really watch out for one another,” Avenue at Cuesta Drive; Downtown Mountain View Kim Merry, a resident since 1964 Lehner said of her Cuesta Park neighbors. MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $940,000 and previous neighborhood association The same can be said for the entire ($655,000-$1,325,000) president, credits the creation of the CPNA community of Cuesta Park, as Kim Merry puts HOMES SOLD: 33 to the neighborhood’s struggle to keep the it, “it’s like Mayberry RFD.” MEDIAN 2010 CONDO PRICE: $758,000 Cuesta Park Annex, an additional 12 acres of — Kimberly Ewertz ($440,000-$908,000) underdeveloped land, in its natural state. CONDOS SOLD: 7 17 I can see your house from here!
No one knows your neighborhood like your neighbor Just call Kim for… • Local housing market and new development updates • In-depth neighborhood knowledge • A stress-free home buying/selling experience • Integrity, honesty and unparalleled customer service Kim Copher Living and working in downtown Mountain View Coldwell Banker Los Altos - San Antonio Direct: 650-917-7995 Office: 650-917-7040 www.JustCallKim.com DRE License Number: 01423875 N eighborhoods 18 Willowgate FACTS COMMUNITY GARDEN: $39 for plot permit, ewlyweds John and Annie Mena “It’s representative of Mountain View,” she 650-903-6331, or moved to a home they built adds, “because there are houses, townhomes, e-mail [email protected] Nthemselves at 155 Santa Clara Ave. condominiums, apartments...We’d like to stay to join the wait list for a plot to start a family and life together. More here forever, we really like it.” FIRE STATION: No. 1, 251 S. Shoreline Blvd. than 60 years later, Annie, who is 86, still Another draw to the area is the popular LOCATION: bordered by Central Expressway, resides in the same charming house, though Willowgate Community Garden, which West Moffett, Moffett and Highway 85 her husband has passed away and she has has been around longer than the city keeps PARK: Jackson Park, Jackson Street and seen many a neighbor come and go. track of and has a waitlist of more than 100 Stierlin Road “I’m the first one that built here and I’m people. Prospective gardeners must wait POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. the last one here,” she says of her tiny street three to four years to gain access to one of PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman School off Willowgate. the 84 plots in the garden, which flourishes District — Landels or Monta Loma elementary schools, Crittenden Middle School; Mtn. View-Los “It’s a little secret area,” says Margaret with everything from flowers and tomatoes Altos Union High School District — Mountain Poor, who lives with her husband Graham to kiwi plants. View High School and two children one house over from Fritz Bernhard has lived in a townhouse SHOPPING: Moffett Boulevard, Downtown Mena. The family moved next door six complex only a block away on Horizon Mountain View, Sunday farmers market at Caltrain years ago, and occupies another house Avenue with his wife, Nancy, since 1981. parking lot (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. year round) the Menas built — the same house where Bernhard’s 52-unit complex was built in MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $865,000 Mena’s mother lived for a number of years. the 1970s. Tucked behind the homes is a ($844,000-$875,000) Poor says the best thing about the spacious garden-like common area with a HOMES SOLD: 3 neighborhood is its location. She walks to pool. The upkeep is done by the residents, MEDIAN 2010 CONDO PRICE: $625,000 the Caltrain station for Sunday’s farmers which also fosters a sense of community. ($567,000-$678,000) market, and takes her kids on the train to “You have more contact with the people,” CONDOS SOLD: 6 Menlo Park, Burlingame or San Francisco. Bernhard says, “and you have control over She often bikes with her son to Landels what you want to do and when you want to Elementary, and can even tote her daughter do it.” to preschool on Steven’s Creek Trail. — Kelsey Mesher
Old Mountain View FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: YMCA Kids’ tephen Lacy likes his Old Mountain sure that businesses do not push into the Place at Landels School, 115 W. Dana St. View home for many reasons. For surrounding residential areas, even as it FIRE STATION: No. 1, 251 S. Shoreline Blvd. Sone, he is able to bike to work along encourages growth of retail that serves the LOCATION: bounded by El Camino Real, Shoreline the Stevens Creek Trail. Lacy also enjoys community. Walking down Castro from Boulevard, Evelyn Avenue and Highways 87/237 taking his son to nearby Mercy-Bush one end of the neighborhood to the other, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Old Mountain Park, one of six parks located within the one will find City Hall, a multitude of View Neighborhood Association, Laura Lewis, neighborhood, which is bounded by El restaurants and coffee shops, as well as the [email protected]; omvna.org Camino Real, Shoreline Boulevard, Evelyn Mountain View Center for the Performing PARKS: Dana Park, West Dana Street at Oak Street; Avenue and Highways 87/237. Arts. Eagle Park & Pool, S. Shoreline Boulevard at Church Lacy, who has lived in Old Mountain Bruce Karney, former chair of OMVNA, Street; Pioneer Park, Church and Castro streets; Mercy-Bush Park, Mercy and Bush streets; Fairmont View since 1999, likes the aesthetic of the has lived in Old Mountain View since 1987. Park, Fairmont Avenue and Bush Street; Landels Park, neighborhood. “Every house is different,” The association works with the city council West Dana Street near Calderon Avenue he explained. He did note that traffic to ensure that the neighborhood maintains POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. can be a concern on Dana Street, where a balanced diversity. Karney said the PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman School commuters are heading to and from the association also holds community events District — Landels Elementary School, Graham freeway. such as ice cream socials, which are highly Middle School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High Many choose the neighborhood for its attended — the past two bringing in about School District — Mountain View High School proximity to downtown Mountain View. 400 residents. SHOPPING: Downtown Mountain View,
“It’s the perfect distance from downtown,” And, while the community takes pride Grant Park Plaza N eighborhoods said Aaron Grossman, former treasurer in the aesthetic of its classic architecture, MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $885,000 of the Old Mountain View Neighborhood the highly modern is not discouraged. In ($699,000-$1,500,000) Association (OMVNA), who moved into the September 2008 Shannon Madison’s home HOMES SOLD: 27 neighborhood in 1995. on Eldora Drive earned the second highest MEDIAN 2010 CONDO PRICE: $714,500 Although the bustling Castro Street green rating for a home in the Bay Area ($517,000-$975,000) bisects the neighborhood, the highly active from Berkeley-based Build It Green. CONDOS SOLD: 16 neighborhood association works to make — Nick Veronin 19 COLDWELL BANKER SERVING MOUNTAIN VIEW, LOS ALTOS AND LOS GATOS AREA BUYERS AND SELLERS
JO BUCHANAN & STUART BOWEN ELLENELLEN BARTON BARTON DAVEDAVE BLOCKHUS BLOCKHUS ROBERTROBERT BRANDEN BRANDEN JO BUCHANAN & JAIMEJAIME & & PHYLLIS PHYLLIS CARMICHAEL CARMICHAEL BARBARABARBARA CHANG CHANG 650.947.2219 650.917.7992 650.917.7989650.917.7989 650.917.4250650.917.4250 650.917.4210650.917.4210 STUART BOWEN 650.917.7992 650.947.2286650.947.2286 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 650.947.2219 [email protected] [email protected] 650.949.8506 [email protected]@cbnorcal.com [email protected]@cbnorcal.com [email protected]
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©2010 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Office Is Owned And Operated by NRT LLC. DRE License # 00313415 N eighborhoods 20 Jackson Park FACTS FIRE STATION: No. 1, 251 S. Shoreline Blvd. hen Marion Proscia moved parents come together and have so much LOCATION: bounded by Shoreline Boulevard, to California from rural fun,” she added, speaking of the area’s Stierlin Road, Windmill Park Lane, Central Avenue, W Massachusetts in 1972 she was highly diverse population. Moffett Boulevard and Central Expressway expecting much of what she had been used to. Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and PARK: Jackson Park, Jackson Street and “I thought I was coming out to the wide Mexican immigrants have all brought Stierlin Road open West,” she chuckled. Proscia and her colorful flourishes of their respective POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. husband managed to avoid the hustle and cultures to the neighborhood. Japanese- PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman School bustle of the emerging Silicon Valley by Americans hold the annual Obon festival District — Monta Loma or Theuerkauf elementary taking to the hills for a time. to honor the memory of their ancestors at schools, Crittenden Middle School; Mtn. View-Los But now that their children have flown the nearby Buddhist Temple on Stierlin Altos Union High School District — Mountain View High School the coop and have kids of their own, the Road. Across the street from the temple is SHOPPING: Moffett Boulevard, Downtown couple has moved to the more populated the Portuguese Hall, and six weeks after Mountain View, Bailey Plaza Jackson Park neighborhood in Mountain Easter the Portuguese Holy Ghost Parade MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $850,000 View, which they chose for its general celebrates spring with the ringing of HOMES SOLD: 1 centrality and the nearby park, from which marching-band brass. the area derives its name. “The good thing, as far as having kids “We chose the house very specifically here, is that they meet people from all because we anticipated our children and different backgrounds and all different our 10 grandchildren would enjoy the park income levels,” Linda Klippel said, on their visits,” Proscia said of Jackson seconding Proscia’s comment. Park — an easy walk from anywhere in the “Best of all,” she said, “we’re pretty small neighborhood, which is bounded much all walking distance to Safeway, and by Shoreline Boulevard, Stierlin Road, walking or bicycling distance to Castro Windmill Park Lane, Central Avenue, Street.” Moffett Boulevard and Central Expressway. — Nick Veronin “It’s nice to see the children of all races and Hardy Wilson
Waverly Park FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: El Camino rian Toby has lived in Waverly Park when I was growing up,” Diamond said. “A YMCA, 2400 Grant Road; Mountain View Parent since 1988 and likes the community back-to-basics, fundamentals-of-raising-a- Nursery School, 1299 Bryant Ave.; Primary Plus, Bfor its stability and because, as he family kind of neighborhood.” 333 Eunice Ave.; St. Timothy’s Nursery School, puts it, “everybody knows everybody.” The Practicality is another reason Diamond 2094 Grant Road; YMCA Way to Grow Full-Day Preschool, 1501 Oak Ave., Los Altos (nearby) neighborhood celebrates the Fourth of July enjoys Waverly Park. Easy freeway access each year with a big party, which he said is means that her reverse commute to South FIRE STATION: No. 2, 160 Cuesta Drive always well-attended and fun for the whole San Jose only takes 25 minutes. There is also LOCATION: bounded by Grant Road, Highway 85 and Sleeper and Bryant avenues family. plenty of shopping close by, including a Nob PARKS: Cooper Park, Chesley Avenue at Yorkton Drive At the heart of the neighborhood — which Hill and Safeway just minutes away. The is bounded by Grant Road, Highway 85 and lively Castro Street is also a relatively short POST OFFICE: Blossom Valley, 1768 Miramonte Ave. Sleeper and Bryant avenues — lies Cooper drive from her cul-de-sac. PRIVATE SCHOOLS: St. Joseph, 1120 Miramonte Ave.; St. Francis High School, 1885 Miramonte Ave. Park, where Toby remembers enjoying many “It’s just a great neighborhood for kids afternoons with his children before they flew and families,” Ann Martin said of Waverly PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman School District — Huff Elementary School, Graham Middle the coop. Park, where she has lived since 1994. School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School Though Toby may be an empty nester, he “There’s a bunch of neighbors that hang out District — Mountain View High School says that there’s been a “real turn around together, and they’re always watching out for SHOPPING: Blossom Valley Shopping Center, recently, and we’ve got a whole new group of each other’s kids.” Miramonte Avenue at Cuesta Drive; Grant Park people with young kids” moving in. Her daughter’s school is about a mile Plaza; Nob Hill Shopping Center, Grant Road;
Camille Diamond, who moved to Waverly away, and like Diamond’s route to Cooper Downtown Mountain View N eighborhoods Park from Los Altos in 2006, loves the fact Park, Martin doesn’t have to take any main MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $1,275,000 that there is a park within walking distance streets, except Grant Road, to drop her ($970,000-$1,800,000) of her home. An added bonus for her, is that daughter off. HOMES SOLD: 30 she feels comfortable letting her seventh- “The kids can’t get away with anything, grader walk there on his own, since there are because the neighbors are always watching, no major streets he would have to cross. family-friendly,” Martin said. “It’s just the kind of neighborhood we had — Nick Veronin 21 WE MEASURE QUALITY BY RESULTS Is Quality Important to You?
Two! Power of The
s9VONNE (EYLs s*EFF 'ONZALEZs Direct (650) 947-4694 Direct (650) 947-4698 Cell (650) 302-4055 Cell (408) 888-7748 DRE# 01255661 DRE# 00978793 EMAIL TOYVONNEANDJEFF AOLCOM s WWWYVONNEANDJEFFCOM INTERO REAL ESTATE SERVICES® &IRST 3T 3UITE s ,OS !LTOS N eighborhoods 22 Whisman Station FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): t is difficult not to know when you only slightly offset by a few concerns about Kiddie Academy, 205 E. Middlefield Road; Kids Korner are entering the Whisman Station noise and safety. Christian Child Care Center, 250 E. Dana St.; German Ineighborhood. After all, at just Lundblad, who has three kids, originally International School of Silicon Valley, 310 Easy St.; about every entrance, a large stucco and moved into a townhome in Whisman Yew Chung International School, 310 Easy St. metal relief announces the name of this Station in 1999 and relocated to a single- FIRE STATION: No. 4, 229 N. Whisman Road community of 700 prim habitations. family home in 2006. He said that LOCATION: Central Expressway, Ferguson Drive, Yet, despite its clean streets, well- highways 85 and 237 do produce some low- streets off Kent Drive, Snyder Lane, N. Whisman Road manicured parks and convenient access level background noise, but not much. More NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Michael Jones, manager, Community Management Services, to public transportation, this alcove of noticeable is the sound produced by some 650-961-2630, ext. 120 Mountain View is scarcely known by those of the military aircraft that land at nearby PARKS: Magnolia Park, Magnolia Lane and Whisman not living within its boundaries. Moffett Field, a sound he finds “interesting Park Drive; Chetwood Park, Chetwood Drive and But Whisman Station residents wouldn’t more than annoying” and “pretty rare.” Whisman Station Drive have it any other way. They seldom worry Elizabeth Gogolewski moved to Whisman POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. about dubious characters wandering Station in 2001. She said that she has been PRIVATE SCHOOLS (NEARBY): German through the secluded neighborhood, concerned about the safety of the Light Rail International School of Silicon Valley, 310 Easy St. which is bounded by Highway 237, Central from time to time, but adds that she once PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman School Expressway and Whisman Road. saw the train come to a complete stop in District — Landels Elementary School, Crittenden That makes it a great place for kids, order to let a dog get off the tracks. Middle School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High according to James Lundblad. There are tradeoffs that come with School District — Mountain View High School “My main impression of this Whisman Station’s distance from SHOPPING: El Camino Real, neighborhood is that it generates children,” convenient shopping — mainly easy access Downtown Mountain View he said. “Anytime I go to the park, there are to major freeways or the Light Rail. MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $820,000 just so many kids.” Plus, there are also several parks located ($755,000-$940,000) The area takes its name from the Valley within the neighborhood, some equipped HOMES SOLD: 7 Transit Authority Light Rail station within with jungle gyms. MEDIAN 2010 CONDO PRICE: $632,500 its borders — a huge convenience, which is — Nick Veronin ($530,000-$723,000) CONDOS SOLD: 2
The Crossings FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): ne familiar with the Talking Heads carefully considered architecture. He gets Hobbledehoy Montessori Preschool, 2321 Jane Lane might be given pause and reason plenty of natural light and feels that a lot has FIRE STATION: No. 3, 301 N. Rengstorff Ave. Oto recall the lyrics of “Don’t Worry been done with a limited space. LOCATION: between San Antonio Road, Showers About the Government,” while walking from “A plus is the train and a minus is the Drive and California Street the San Antonio Caltrain station through the train,” Edwards said of the nearby station, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Separate adjacent Mountain View community known adding that it can be noisy at times, but that it associations for condominiums, townhouses, row as The Crossings. is easy to tune out after a while. houses and single-family homes; all run by Nagi “My building has every convenience,” the Another drawback for older residents Chami, CEO of Tri-State Enterprises; 650-210-0085 bright pastel yellows of the uniform homes thinking of moving into The Crossings is PARKS: Concord Circle and Sondgroth Way, seem to sing out. “It’s gonna make life easy the floor plan, he said. “All of the buildings Beacon Street and Laurel Way; nearby: Klein Park, Monta Loma Park for me.” are three stories, so they have built in POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. The neighborhood is nestled between San ThighMasters,” which could be a challenge Antonio Road, Showers Drive and California for less mobile residents. PRIVATE SCHOOLS (NEARBY): Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, 450 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto Street, and its proximity to Safeway, Trader While the nearest freeway is about 10 PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District — Joe’s, Walmart, Target and even See’s Candy minutes away, Edwards said that in many Covington Elementary School, Egan Junior High lend credence to the song. cases Central Expressway is just as viable an School; Mountain View-Los Altos Union High “I think that probably does sum it up,” option for commuters. School District — Los Altos High School Karen Cullen chuckles when asked about her Another bonus for residents with a passion SHOPPING: San Antonio Shopping Center, neighborhood’s connection with the Talking for performance is the Community School of strip shopping on California Street N eighborhoods Heads. She said that her house seems a bit Music and Arts located just down the street. MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $840,000 small at times — especially with a 10-year-old “I think it has quite a bit to offer,” Edwards ($800,000-$950,000) and his friends running around. “But we like said, in summation of the neighborhood. “But HOMES SOLD: 6 living here because of all those conveniences.” I think it especially has something to offer to MEDIAN 2010 CONDO PRICE: $610,000 Paul Edwards moved to The Crossings young professionals” with families. ($550,000-$813,000) from Cupertino in 2005. He said one of the — Nick Veronin CONDOS SOLD: 7 things he likes most about his home is its 23 Trust a life long resident with years of experience to help you sell or buy your next home. Here are a few of my recent sales...
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N eighborhoods apr.com | LOS ALTOS 167 S. San Antonio Road | 650.941.1111 24 Sylvan Park FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Kids Korner n outsider wouldn’t know the tradition five years ago with her husband. Christian Child Care Center, 250 E. Dana St.; neighborhood was so conveniently In December, there is a Christmas Western Montessori Day School, 323 Moorpark A located and social from wandering caroling event in which the neighbors meet Way; YMCA — Slater, 325 Gladys Ave. down the peaceful streets of Sylvan Park.† at one house and serenade each other with FIRE STATION: No. 4, 229 N. Whisman Road Located nearby 280, 101 and 85 carols at a Christmas-caroling event every LOCATION: bounded by West El Camino Real, freeways, as well as shopping centers, the December. Highway 85, Highway 237 and the Sunnyvale winding side streets off of Sylvan Avenue The neighborhood uses both traditional border boast one- and two two-story homes, two ways of bonding and technology to get PARKS: Sylvan Park, Sylvan Avenue and DeVoto Street well-kept senior mobile mobile-home together. They use Yahoo! groups to parks, and a few apartment complexes, all exchange events and security information. POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St. centered on a spacious park. “[“(Our involvement] ) improves the PRIVATE SCHOOLS: St. Stephen Lutheran School, 320 Moorpark Way “There is an outback feel, but a quality of life and also boosts the value of connection to where you need to go our houses,” she said. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman School District — Landels Elementary School, Graham quickly,” said Linda Holroyd, who moved to “I wanted to be in a neighborhood that Middle School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High the neighborhood in 1999. wasn’t commercial,” said Marty Brewer, School District — Mountain View High School “[(The neighborhood has] ) unique who has lived in Sunset Estates senior SHOPPING: Americana Shopping Center — homes with high ceilings, a rustic, homey mobile mobile-home park for almost 15 Lucky Stores feel and also an Eichler feel” with big years. “Driving down Sylvan Avenue, I MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $960,000 windows and lighting,” she said. would not have known there was even a ($838,000-$1,340,000) Neighborhood traditions include an mobile mobile-home park there.” HOMES SOLD: 11 annual Fourth of July parade in the park Brewer said Sunset Estates is very and a potluck every six weeks, which a convenient, with freeways and shopping different neighbor hosts each time. close by. “Every Thanksgiving I send e-mail saying “It’s a small park with only 144 spaces how grateful I am to have everyone as my and people are really friendly,” she said. neighbors and give the potluck schedule,” — Sally Schilling said Holroyd, who launched the potluck
Cuernavaca FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): tep inside Cuernavaca’s main gate and “I loved everything about Cuernavaca,” Western Montessori Day School, 323 Moorpark the first thing you’ll see is the planned she said. “I feel like it’s a private area for us Way; St. Timothy’s Nursery School, 2094 Grant Scommunity’s clubhouse, which includes to live, yet I’m still close to the community.” Road; YMCA — Huff Kids’ Place, 253 Martens Ave. tennis courts, a pool, a workout room and a There is no typical resident of Cuernavaca, FIRE STATION: No. 2, 160 Cuesta Drive “tot lot” for the neighborhood’s children. For both neighbors said. Cowan estimated LOCATION: off Crestview Drive, near El Camino many residents, this is paradise. that more than 20 languages are spoken at Real and the Sunnyvale border “It’s like a resort,” said Steve Cowan, who home in the 170-unit neighborhood. Over NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Matthew lives on Elena Privada with his wife Suzanne. the years, he said, the neighborhood has Duncan, president, Cuernavaca Homeowners Association; CMS property management, 510-791- The clubhouse, a social hub for the attracted more and more younger residents. 2630 and 408-559-1977; www.cuernavacahoa.com neighborhood, is the site of about three or Finucane agreed. PARKS: Green belt on the property four all-neighborhood parties a year. The Cuernavaca Homeowners Association POST OFFICE: Blossom Valley, 1768 Miramonte Ave. A recent party, in September, was a — Cowan’s served on the board of directors PRIVATE SCHOOLS (NEARBY): St. Stephen Mexican Fiesta, catered by a resident who is twice — recently switched property Lutheran School, 320 Moorpark Way the head chef at a nearby restaurant. About management companies. The caretaker, PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman School 85 neighbors enjoyed music, “Cuernavaca though, has been with the community since District — Huff Elementary School, Graham Middle punch” and a short walk home. before Cowan moved there, and is well-loved School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School That party was planned by Julie Finucane, by residents. District — Mountain View High School who lives on Cuernavaca Circulo with her “He really keeps this place going,” Cowan SHOPPING: Americana Shopping Center — two kids. said. Lucky Stores N eighborhoods “I am the activities committee,” she Property management expenses come out MEDIAN 2010 CONDO PRICE: $932,000 laughed. of neighborhood dues, which are currently ($875,000-$980,000) Finucane, who moved to the set at $205 a month. They’ve gone up just CONDOS SOLD: 9 neighborhood in 2006 from Los Altos, $25 since Cowan arrived, he said, calling the knew she wanted to live in a townhouse for board “responsible.” closeness to neighbors in case of emergency. — Emma Trotter 25 Proud to Serve & Support Los Altos & the Surrounding Communities
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WOODLAND 280 ACRES/ THE HIGHLANDS FACTS 2010-11 CITY OPERATING BUDGET: $27.7 million revenues; $27.4 million expenditures POPULATION (2008): 29,596 hat once was a brief stop on the between Mountain View and Los Altos HOUSEHOLDS (2008): 11,278 Southern Pacific Railroad evolved Hills. Highways have replaced local railroad OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING W after World War II to a tree-lined service, with easy access via Highway 85 and (2008): 9,267 city providing a quiet housing enclave for Interstate 280 to nearby metro centers. RENTER-OCCUPIED HOUSING (2008): 1,646 Silicon Valley. Since incorporation in 1952, Known for its excellent schools and Los Altos has grown to a community of neighborhoods replete with mature trees, MEDIAN HOME-SELLING PRICE: $1,475,000 (single-family homes, mostly single-family homes, rather than Los Altos supports seven commercial areas December 2009 through
apricot and plum orchards, a winery and serving its close to 30,000 residents. And November 2010) N eighborhoods ranch land. for those still yearning for apricot orchards, $765,000 (condominiums, December Today, Los Altos encompasses seven a weekly farmers’ market offers a chance for 2009 through November 2010) square miles, stretching from Palo Alto neighbors to interact while shopping for local ESTIMATED MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD to Sunnyvale and Cupertino, sandwiched produce and flowers. INCOME (2008): $161,970
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• Top 1% Nationwide Let Buchanan & Bowen help... We’ll Exceed Your Expectations www.BuchananAndBowen.com Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate 161 South San Antonio Rd. N eighborhoods Los Altos, Ca 94022 28 Old Los Altos FACTS FIRE STATION: No. 15, 10 Almond Ave. arlene Beumer calls her home of empty lots around, and now there are nil,” LIBRARY: Los Altos, 13 S. San Antonio Road 44 years in Old Los Altos, “this Beumer said. LOCATION: between El Monte and Edith avenues, Mblessed land.” She recalls back in She admits Main Street is “all changed, Foothill Expressway and Los Altos Hills border the days when she and her husband, Delbert, but still pretty low key. It’s kind of like good PARKS: Village Park, Edith Avenue at San Antonio were looking for a larger space to raise their ol’ Main Street USA.” Road; Shoup Park, 400 University Ave.; Lincoln four young children and two dogs. The Beumers recently sold a portion of Park, University at Lincoln Avenue; Redwood Grove “San Antonio Road was only two lanes” their land to the city so two parks, Shoup Nature Preserve, 482 University Ave. then, and apricot orchards and wild and Redwood Grove, could be connected. POST OFFICE: Main, 100 First St. mustard covered acres and acres. Even “It’s new,” she said. “Parents can park in PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District — today, some streets don’t have sidewalks the back and let their kids walk along the Covington Elementary School, Egan Intermediate and there aren’t many streetlights. creekside.” School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School District — Los Altos High School; Beumer says their house was once owned Mark Duller and his wife Linda live just Bullis Charter School by one of the founding fathers, Guy Shoup, down the street in a two-story ranch-style SHOPPING: The Village (the triangle bordered by whose father, Paul, lived a couple of doors home on a half-acre. He grew up in Los Edith, San Antonio and Foothill) down. Paul Shoup is credited with helping Altos, and moved back to the area 15 years MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $1,695,000 create the village back in 1906 when he was ago so his school-aged children could ($1,180,000-$2,575,000) an executive of Southern Pacific Railroad attend the same schools he did, and enjoy HOMES SOLD: 9 with an eye towards expansion. the small-town activities that Los Altos is More than a century later, both the known for, such as outdoor Friday night homes and trees look mature in the movies, free Shakespeare plays in Shoup neighborhood. Most of the lots are one- Park and the Festival of Lights parade. quarter acre, dotted with one-story houses “It’s such a family neighborhood, it’s safe built in diverse architectural styles. to send the kids downtown,” he said. “The neighborhood used to have a lot of — Kate Daly Colleen Cummins
Loyola Corners FACTS FIRE STATION: No. 16, 765 Fremont Ave. ark brown wooden signs posted She likes the old standbys such as Tom’s LIBRARY: Los Altos, 13 S. San Antonio Road; along Foothill Expressway point to Depot, a restaurant that serves breakfast and Woodland, 1975 Grant Road DHistoric Loyola Corners. The area lunch that is decorated with photos of the way LOCATION: a triangle roughly bounded by may feel old and established, but the corners things used to be back in the ‘50s. Fremont Avenue, Miramonte Avenue and are not particularly well defined, because the Businesses may have changed over the Clinton Road local shops and businesses spread out over years, but there is still a healthy range of PARKS: McKenzie Park, 707 Fremont Ave.; several streets that then spill into residential services including a gas station, liquor store, Heritage Oaks Park, Portland and pockets sandwiched between parks and kids’ art classes and photo developing. Miramonte avenues offices, or lined by busy roads such as Ron Labetich and his wife have lived on POST OFFICE: Loyola Corners, Fremont and Miramonte avenues. Manor Way for 39 years. He reminisces 1525 Miramonte Ave. Before Foothill Expressway was built in about the old Safeway at Loyola Corners, and PRIVATE SCHOOLS (NEARBY): Canterbury Christian School, 101 N. El Monte Ave.; Los Altos 1964, the railroad tracks ran there, and the he liked having a small hardware store on Christian School, 625 Magdalena Ave.; Pinewood train stopped in Loyola Corners, serving what Fremont. But now that he’s in his mid-60s, he School, 327 & 477 Fremont Ave.; Saint Francis High local resident Kristin Shadduck said were once appreciates the pluses of being able to walk School, 1885 Miramonte Ave., Mtn. View “the summer homes for people who lived in to Rancho Shopping Center, using the parks, PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District San Francisco.” and says he feels good knowing that El Camino — Loyola Elementary School, Blach Intermediate She should know. She spent her first six Hospital is just five minutes away. School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School years on Clinton Road living in an original “We’ve had a fair amount of turnover,” he District — Mountain View High School
1,000-square-foot, ranch-style house. A few said, but adds that many of the homes have SHOPPING: Loyola Corners, N eighborhoods years ago, her family of four decided it was remained the same, still spanning one story, Rancho Shopping Center time to start over, and built a new two-story, with maybe the addition of a basement. MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $1,850,000; New England traditional home on less than a He notes at the end of his street four “spec” nearby: $1,391,500 ($1,270,000-$2,340,000) quarter of an acre. houses were recently sold, but in general he HOMES SOLD: 1; nearby: 4 “I grew up back East, and it feels like my said, “everybody knows each other well, and hometown where kids can run down the street, you still have your privacy.” (safely),” she said. — Kate Daly 29 Ready for a Change of Place?
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www.denise-welsh.com Denise Welsh Senior Real Estate Specialist Broker Associate License #00939903 415-999-0727 496 1st Street, Suite 200, Los Altos N eighborhoods 30 North Los Altos FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Children’s or prospective homebuyers and other shopping, from downtown Los Corner, 97 Hillview Ave.; Children’s Creative considering the North Los Altos Altos to the San Antonio Shopping Center. Learning Center, 700 Los Altos Ave.; Los Altos F neighborhood — loosely bounded “Within a mile or two I can find things I Parents Preschool, 199 Almond Ave.; Tiny Tots by Foothill Expressway, El Monte Road, El need.” Preschool, 647 S. San Antonio Road Camino Real and Adobe Creek — perhaps Chu said that all of her neighbors made FIRE STATION: No. 15, 10 Almond Ave. the best place to start is the Los Altos an effort to get to know her family and LIBRARY: 13 S. San Antonio Road History Museum. that her children enjoyed playing at the LOCATION: bounded by Foothill Expressway, El As early as 1880, ranch settlements local elementary-school playground as Monte Road, El Camino Real and Adobe Creek began to give shape to what would one day youngsters. North Los Altos also offers her PARKS: Village Park, Edith Avenue at San Antonio become North Los Altos. Some homes in a lovely backdrop to get her exercise. “I take Road; Shoup Park, 400 University Ave.; Lincoln Park, University at Lincoln Avenue the neighborhood still reflect this ranch walks every single morning,” she said. “It’s POST OFFICE: 100 First St. style, partially sparked by development of very nice ‘hood to walk around.” the railroad in the area. Mardell Blaufarb has lived on Yerba PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Los Altos Christian School, 625 Magdalena Ave.; Canterbury Christian School, Ellen Chu moved into her home on Buena Avenue for 45 years now and doesn’t 101 N. El Monte Ave. Casita Way in 1989. She and her husband plan on going anywhere soon. “It’s a very PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District — chose the area because of its proximity to cohesive, friendly area to live in,” she Santa Rita or Almond elementary schools, Egan good schools. Her two children went to said. Lots of the blocks have annual block Intermediate School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union Almond Elementary, Egan Jr. High and Los parties. “It’s a place where people want to High School District — Los Altos High School Altos High schools. Chu said she was very live out their lives.” SHOPPING: Downtown Los Altos, Los Altos Village happy with Almond and Egan but felt that A recent remodeling near her home Court and San Antonio Center Los Altos High could improve some of its caused some of the older residents to MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $1,625,000 programs. raise their eyebrows, but no one has ($992,000-$3,600,000) Of all the benefits of living in North Los made any significant protest. “It is a very HOMES SOLD: 107 Altos, Chu said she liked the convenient contemporary home. It doesn’t quite fit in, MEDIAN 2010 CONDO PRICE: $680,000 location most. “Everything is very but change is good for all of us.” ($399,880-$1,175,000) accessible,” she said, including groceries — Nick Veronin CONDOS SOLD: 3
Rancho FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Children’s mall enough to know you, large to 280, close to the market, and close to Center of Los Altos, 770 Berry Ave. enough to serve you” is the slogan town,” she said. FIRE STATION: No. 16, 765 Fremont Ave. “Sproudly displayed under the DeVaughn works on Main Street at a LIBRARY: Los Altos, 13 S. San Antonio Road heavy timber eaves at Rancho Shopping local travel agency, which is somewhat LOCATION: bordered by Foothill Expressway, Center in Los Altos. ironic, because wanderlust may be part Parma Way, Riverside Drive and Springer Road Given its age, the shopping center looks of her job, but she has always worked in PARKS: Rosita Park, 401 Rosita Ave.; McKenzie pretty fresh, upgraded over the years, with Los Altos, and spent most of her life in her Park, 707 Fremont Ave. tenants changing over time. The same thing hometown. POST OFFICE: Loyola Corners, could be said for the Rancho neighborhood, Lara O’Brien also grew up in Los Altos, 1525 Miramonte Ave. bordered by Foothill Expressway, Parma in nearby Loyola Corners, and knew when PRIVATE SCHOOLS (NEARBY): Way, Riverside Drive and Springer Road. she started her own family that she wanted Pinewood School, 327 & 477 Fremont Ave.; Today the bulk of the homes are one- to return home, too. For five years the Los Altos Christian School, 625 Magdalena Ave.; story, a mixture of wood, brick and stucco, O’Briens lived on the “busy corner” of Berry Canterbury Christian School, 101 N. El Monte Ave.; Saint Francis Catholic High School, with mature landscaping and trees. With and Springer, right across the street from 1885 Miramonte Ave., Mtn. View no sidewalks or street lamps, and many the Rancho Shopping Center. With more PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District low-lying fences defining yards, Rancho still children on the way, the family in 2008 — Loyola or Springer elementary schools, Blach retains a small-town character. made the move to a larger house on a quiet Intermediate School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union Robin DeVaughn has lived on Riverside cul-de-sac, Arrowood Court. High School District — Los Altos or Mountain
since 1980, and feels “the neighborhood has O’Brien loves her new location because View High School N eighborhoods really improved.” of the “convenience to the stores, and the SHOPPING: Rancho Shopping Center, “A lot of people have moved in and schools are good.” Loyola Corners, Downtown Los Altos remodeled,” she said, “but the homes aren’t She can walk her kids to preschool, and MEDIAN 2009 HOME PRICE: $1,900,000 that much bigger. They’ve been remodeled admits one of the best features is, “There ($1,350,000-$2,900,000) in a very tasteful way that fits in with the are days I don’t even get into my car.” HOMES SOLD: 3 atmosphere of the neighborhood,” she said. — Kate Daly “It’s a really nice place to live, we’re close 31 DETAILS Keen negotiating skills Broad network of As a long time resident professional associates of Los Altos Hills with and contacts 16 years of Peninsula real estate experience, I Strong understanding of bring a wide variety of the local market and the people who call the skills and expertise to Peninsula home help make YOUR home buying or selling process Solid background feel effortless handling a wide range of real estate transactions, including extensive properties and estates
VICKI GEERS 5 161S. SAN ANTONIO ROAD, LOS ALTOS DIRECT: 650.917.7983 EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: WWW.VICKIGEERS.COM N eighborhoods NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 32 Central Los Altos FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): he Heritage Oaks neighborhood a really vibrant atmosphere. It’s nice to see CCLC School Age at Covington Elementary, 201 picnic is a tradition that is passed kids playing,” Ibaraki said. Covington Road; Children’s House of Los Altos, 770 T from generation to generation. The high-scoring Los Altos School District Berry Ave.; St. Simon’s Catholic Church Extended Day Martha McClatchie, who moved to is what drew both families to Central Los Care Center, 1840 Grant, Road Central Los Altos in 2007, met many of her Altos and is what keeps the neighborhood FIRE STATION: No. 15, 10 Almond Ave.; Loyola neighbors while jogging on the street. She young. “There were 20 to 30 younger kids at station, No. 16, 765 Fremont Ave. got to know people so well she was asked to this year’s picnic,” McClatchie said. LOCATION: between Foothill Expressway, El Monte and Springer, ansd Covington and Grant and help organize the event by a neighbor who Older tract homes sit next to two-story PARKS: Heritage Oaks Park, Portland at Miramonte had been running it for years. behemoths on the green curbless streets Avenue; Marymeade Park, Freemont Avenue at Grant That neighbor was asked by a former in Central Los Altos. The neighborhood is Road; McKenzie Park, 707 Freemont Ave.; Rosita Park, organizer a generation before, continuing a made up of two connecting triangles. Besides 401 Rosita Ave. tradition that dates back to 1958. a few zigs and zags, the boundaries of the POST OFFICE: Blossom Valley, 1768 Miramonte Ave. Ann Ibaraki, who moved her family from northern triangle are El Monte Avenue, Mountain View; Rancho, 1150 Riverside Drive; Main, Mountain View in 1984, can remember Springer Road and Foothill Expressway 100 First St. when the picnic was held in backyards and and the southern triangle is bordered by LIBRARY: Los Altos, 13 S. San Antonio Road; she brought over steaks for the big barbecue. Covington Road, Grant Road and Foothill Woodland, 1975 Grant Road “There weren’t that many kids in the Expressway. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District beginning. The neighborhood aged. Some For years the area has been active with — Covington, Loyola, Oak or Springer elementary neighbors moved, some passed away,” she remodel after remodel. “Everyone takes schools; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School District — Los Altos or Mountain View high schools said. pride in how their house looks. There’s lots New families moved in and Central Los of renovation. People are interested in their SHOPPING: Blossom Valley Shopping Center, Miramonte Avenue and Cuesta Drive; Downtown Los Altos grew. Eventually, more streets were property,” McClatchie said. Altos; Rancho Shopping Center, Foothill Expressway included in the annual event. Now the picnic Ibaraki values how neighbors look and Springer Road is held every September at Heritage Oaks out for each other. “It’s like an informal MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $1,500,000 Park. Neighborhood Watch,” she said. ($921,000-$5,995,000) “A lot of families are moving in now. It’s — John Squire HOMES SOLD: 78
Country Club FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): estled against the rolling hills of Rancho unique qualities of the area. Los Altos Christian Preschool, 625 Magdalena Ave.; San Antonio Open Space Preserve, “Our CC&Rs (covenants, conditions and Los Altos United Methodist Children’s Center, Nthe neighborhood known as Country restrictions — bylaws set by the homeowner’s 655 Magdalena Ave. Club (part of the larger San Antonio Hills association) were set up 60 years ago and FIRE STATION: No. 16, 765 Fremont Ave. community) stands apart from, and between, they help the neighborhood stay the way it LIBRARY: Woodland, 1975 Grant Road the towns of Los Altos and Los Altos Hills. was and limit subdivisions,” he said. LOCATION: bounded by Magdalena Avenue, It’s built on unincorporated Santa Clara For Balzer, the access to the great outdoors Foothill Expressway, Permanente Creek and County land and has not been annexed, is one of the most special attractions of his Interstate 280 meaning residents “have no hometown,” 23- neighborhood. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Richard year resident Ida Crawley said. “I hike in the preserve all the time — once a Blanchard, president, San Antonio Hills Inc. Homeowners Association, 650-948-3073, “But Los Altos is close — walking distance week at least. I can do a 12-mile hike in three www.sanantoniohills.com for most,” she said, adding that Mountain hours and be back home in time to have a PARK (NEARBY): Rancho San Antonio Open View, too, is a short drive away from the beer or take a shower or both,” he said. Space Preserve, Cristo Rey Drive neighborhood, which is bordered by Foothill Despite the pastoral setting, Country Club’s POST OFFICE: Loyola Corners, Expressway, Interstate 280, Permanente proximity to Interstate 280 and Foothill 1525 Miramonte Ave. Creek and Magdalena Avenue. Expressway is not without drawbacks, said PRIVATE SCHOOL: Los Altos Christian School, Glen Balzer, who’s called Magdalena Avenue Crawley, who lives on Frontero Avenue. 625 Magdalena Ave. home since 1993, said the majority of the home “Since I’ve lived here, Foothill’s gotten very PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District sites are on 1-acre parcels and maintain a rural, noisy, with worse traffic,” she said. — Loyola Elementary School, Blach Intermediate N eighborhoods “woodsy” feel, with horse trails running nearby Crawley, 87, described the neighborhood School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School and not much change since the construction of population as a blend of newer and long- District — Mountain View High School the first pre-war cottages and 1940s homes that time residents. SHOPPING: Loyola Corners, Miramonte Avenue make up Country Club. “It’s a nice place to raise kids — good local and Rancho Shopping Center Balzer said the San Antonio Hills schools, the preserve for biking and walking. MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $1,790,000 Homeowners Association, of which he is It’s definitely a plus,” she said. ($1,211,000-$4,750,000) a board member, strives to preserve the — Karla Kane HOMES SOLD: 34 33 South Los Altos FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: CCLC fter living in South Los Altos for an excellent school system. The neighborhoods Preschool, 2310 Homestead Road; Mountain View 35 years, Steve Anderson says his maintain a rural feeling compared to North Los Parents Nursery School, 1299 Bryant Ave., Mtn. A favorite aspect is the friendly, quiet Altos and the downtown area. View; St. Simon’s Catholic Church Extended Day neighborhood. Children in South Los Altos attend either Care Center, 1840 Grant Road; YMCA — Way to Grow Full-Day Preschool, 1501 Oak Ave. “Around 1989 my wife and I thought of Mountain View-Los Altos Union School moving,” Anderson said, “but after looking District or the Cupertino Union School District, FIRE STATION: No. 16, 765 Fremont Ave. around we realized we wouldn’t find a better depending on their address. Both district’s LIBRARY: Woodland, 1975 Grant Road neighborhood than the one we live in.” public schools are highly rated, but the dual LOCATION: between Grant Road, Homestead Road Stevens Creek, Joel Way, Harwalt Drive, Oak, Snuggled into the borders of Mountain View, district attendance doesn’t lend itself to Truman, Miravalle avenues Sunnyvale and Cupertino, the South Los Altos neighborhood cohesiveness. PARKS: Grant Park, 1575 Holt Ave.; (nearby) community stretches between Grant Road and Paul and Karen Van Buren have lived in Marymeade Park, Fremont Avenue at Grant Road Stevens Creek. Some of the homes are built in South Los Altos for more than 35 years, and POST OFFICE: Loyola Corners, 1525 Miramonte Ave. the modern, two-story, Mediterranean look, raised their family there. PRIVATE SCHOOL: St. Simon Catholic School, while many are modeled after the classic ranch- Although she appreciates the quiet 1840 Grant Road style home, according to Laura Bajuk, executive neighborhood, she “felt separated” when it PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District — director of the Los Altos History Museum. came to her kids attending local schools. Due Oak Elementary School, Blach Intermediate School; Working at the Los Altos History Museum, to school zoning their own children attended Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School District Anderson educates visitors on the town’s school in the Cupertino school district, which — Mountain View High School; or Cupertino history, and its beginnings from a ranch they felt distanced them from being more Union School District — Montclaire Elementary community into a piece of the Southern Pacific involved. Although they felt Homestead High School, Cupertino Middle School; Fremont Union High School District — Railroad. Since the rail company purchased the School was a good school, they did not feel close Homestead High School land in 1907, the town of Los Altos expanded enough to it. SHOPPING: Foothill Crossing, Homestead Road; Greenhaven Plaza, Grant Road further out, stretching towards South Los Altos. Although South Los Altos is not often MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $1,396,500 Anderson describes South Los Altos as the center of community events, it is a ($1,160,000-$2,687,000) more affordable than the northern part of the central location with access to many larger HOMES SOLD: 50 town. He says parts of the neighborhood lack communities and activities. sidewalks, but the district has nice parks and — Kelly Jones
Woodland Acres / The Highlands FACTS CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): efore moving to The Highlands encompass the flat and hilly parts around Children’s Creative Learning Center, 2310 in Los Altos in 2004, Brett and Montclaire Park. Homestead Road, Suite E, Los Altos BKristin Baker lived on a busy street Theyappreciate their easy access around FIRE STATION: No. 16, 765 Fremont Ave. and knew none of their neighbors. They 280 via a pedestrian underpass to go hiking LIBRARY: Woodland, 1975 Grant Road hadn’t even moved in to their two-story in Rancho San Antonio Open Space and LOCATION: between Foothill Expressway and rancher on Montclaire Court when “We had visit the farm animals at Hidden Villa. Interstate 280, Beechwood Lane and people bringing by gifts, ... we immediately They also like their easy commute, Permanente Creek fell in love with all the people and the whether they’re taking their young children NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Kay Mazzola, community,” Brett Baker said. to the Mandarin-immersion school in the president, Woodland Acres Association And they get together all the time. On Cupertino Union School District, or driving PARKS: Montclaire Park, St. Joseph Ave.; (nearby) their cul-de-sac they set up tables several to work in San Jose. Grant Park, 1575 Holt Ave.; Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve, Cristo Rey Drive times a year to gather over brunch, put on Woodland Acres, the community an annual barbecue and hand out treats to bordered by Beechwood Lane and POST OFFICE: Loyola Corners, 1525 Miramonte Ave. adults and kids on Halloween. Neighbors Permanente Creek, spills into the PRIVATE SCHOOL: St. Simon Catholic School, 1840 Grant Road also connect through a Yahoo! group. Highlands yet feels separate. Original Cupertino Union School “We’ve got a good age mix, from 80 to a owner Edward Hohfeld planted hundreds PUBLIC SCHOOLS: District — Montclaire Elementary School, Cupertino toddler less than 2 years old,” he said, plus of trees back when the area was called Middle School; Fremont Union High School lots of dogs and even chickens living on Toyon Farms. In the ‘50s the land was District — Homestead High School their street. developed into 120 half-acre-plus lots, SHOPPING: Foothill Crossing, Homestead Road; The Bakers especially like the fact that which now feature many new two-story Loyola Corners; Rancho Shopping Center there’s no through-traffic in their part of homes that are high enough to peek MEDIAN 2010 HOME PRICE: $1,540,000 the neighborhood, because the only way in through the branches and take advantage ($1,100,000-$2,535,000) and out of the area is Foothill Expressway. of the sweeping views of the Western Hills HOMES SOLD: 28 The Highlands are wedged between and Bay. MEDIAN 2010 CONDO PRICE: $800,000 the expressway and Highway 280, and — Kate Daly ($680,000-$849,500) N eighborhoods 34 CONDOS SOLD: 3 CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE Stanford Cancer Center Heart Center Neurosciences Orthopaedics Surgical Services Transplantation THE RIGHT CARE
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