Archive for September, 2010

Sep
9

Eichler Homes in Palo Alto: Ideal for Today’s Buyer

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Posted by: Anne Arjani , Eichler Homes, Featured Listings, Info For Buyers, Info For Sellers, Palo Alto Real Estate, Real Estate Insider

REFLECTIONS ON AN EICHLER UPBRINGING: WHAT MAKES EICHLERS IDEAL FOR TODAY”S SMART BUYER

 “I remember waking up in the Eichler after we moved.  I remember waking up in a white bedroom and walking out into light,” says Nick Fodor.  Now 25, Nick grew up in Palo Alto near the border between the Meadow Park and Adobe Meadow neighborhoods.  He was four when his parents moved in.  When asked about his childhood home, it is clear from the way his eyes light up that his family’s Eichler is still a cherished memory.  

Eichler Brochure photo with children

Eichler Brochure showing the Eichler lifestyle for young Palo Alto family

 The home, off of Ross Road, backs up to Adobe Creek and is an earlier model than the E-21 at 728 Gailen Ave.  Fodor’s house did not have an atrium, instead opening into a large room with a fireplace, but much of what he recalls of the home are Eichler characteristics that make the models ideal for young buyers and families.

Perhaps the most memorable feature of the home, Fodor says, were the huge windows in the kitchen and great room.  The east-facing windows filled the kitchen with golden dmorning light and warmth.  “It really woke you up before school,” Fodor laughs.  These large windows, also seen at 728 Gailen Ave., are an Eichler trademark, blending indoor and outdoor living.

 The oldest of three boys, Fodor recalls the Eichler as being a great place to play, a quality undoubtedly bolstered by the home’s multi-functional rooms.  A bedroom became a playroom for Fodor and his brother, and ultimately a nursery when the youngest joined the family.  Similarly, a divided great room became two separate rooms for “quiet time,” and also functioned as large play space, as the boys could chase each other around the division.

 Beyond functional adaptability, Eichlers enjoy physical adaptability as well.  “The owners before us had added a room, we added a deck and a tree house, and the owners after us made further modifications,” Fodor says of his home. “The house has changed significantly to fit the needs of the people who move in.”

 Large lots, such as those in Meadow Park, allow owners to adjust their homes as needed, and make the neighborhood feel spacious and relaxed.  In combination with the attention to layout, Eichler developments strike a unique balance of privacy and community.

 Cul-de-sacs punctuate Meadow Park, creating pockets of homes.  Neighbors in cul-de-sacs feel connected, Fodor says.  Sleek exteriors marked by landscaping with hedges allow the Eichlers near Fodor’s home to preserve privacy as well.  This balance appeals to those who want to know their neighbors and be part of a community, but also feel secure in a private space.  Fodor remembers playing with children in the neighborhood, racing his brother on bikes up and down the street and playing hockey in the cul-de-sac.  “There was absolutely no traffic,” he says.  “We had the street all to ourselves.”

 This “just for us” feel is reinforced by nearby parks and schools.  “My mom didn’t want us crossing busy streets, and there were a few parks in range where we didn’t have to,” Nick says. “We went to Don Ramos Jesus Park and Palo Verde all the time.”

 Still, Fodor thinks about returning to an Eichler in the future.  “Looking back it seems like it would be good for kids, especially if you’re starting a family.”  Nick remembers feeling at home the first morning he woke up in his new bedroom.  Because of their mid-century charm, Eichlers still feel lived in and loved; they are welcoming and effortlessly warm.

 This series of posts is intended to highlight the many characteristics that make Eichlers ideal homes  for today’s buyer. The Meadow Park neighborhood combines the best of Palo Alto, with tranquil streets, proximity to acclaimed Palo Alto schools, and the timeless style of one of the Bay Area’s most influential designers.

Sep
9

The Eichler Subdivision: Designed for Neighborhood Connection, Recreation and Community Enjoyment

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Posted by: Anne Arjani , Eichler Homes, Palo Alto Real Estate

THE EICHLER SUBDIVISION: DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIONS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY ENJOYMENT

It is easy to lose yourself in Meadow Park.  It is easy to be absorbed by its tranquility and atmosphere of absolute safety and walk the neighborhood streets with the sense that this place could be home.

Neighborhoods like Meadow Park are Palo Alto gems because they preserve the connectedness of a visually unified neighborhood, a feature of tract housing, but also have a personality and spirit that comes only from families growing and shaping the community over time.

Although the streets are often quiet, Meadow Park is a close-knit community.  “We found everybody very friendly from the beginning,” says one Grove Ave. resident.  “It felt warm, welcoming.”  She moved from Cupertino six years ago with her husband and three kids, aged 5, 7 and ten.

Young families view Meadow Park favorably in part because of its proximity to Palo Alto schools (see previous post).  Indeed, the schools have always been an attraction, according to Eichler Homes’ original brochure.

Many residents are original owners of their homes, having settled in the development in the late 1950s and 1960s.  “The neighborhood is more diverse now than it used to be,” says Faith Hastings, secretary of the Meadow Park Neighborhood Association, of the influx of younger residents.  “We’re getting a better mix of people now.”  As a resident of 45 years, Hastings has certainly seen the neighborhood change.

The Meadow Park Neighborhood Association organically unites the community, tackling issues that affect all residents, such as the impact of nearby developments.  Meadow Park residents look out for each other and are invested in keeping the community safe; the Neighborhood Association is currently recruiting residents to participate in City-sponsored preparedness trainings.

Meadow Park’s small size allows the Neighborhood Association to organize inclusive events.  The annual 4th of July barbeque is perhaps the most notable effort.  “We got about 50 people to come last time,” Hastings says.  The Neighborhood Association is naturally resident-driven, and its successes bring to light another feature of Eichler developments: the importance of community.

Developer Joe Eichler wanted his developments to feel cohesive; something he achieved in part through the unifying design elements of his homes.  The idea of community was important, and the designer made efforts to encourage connections among residents.

One method through which Eichler achieved community interaction was incorporating parks and green spaces into his developments.  Although neighborhood lines have changed over time, Meadow Park continues to enjoy easy access to a number of recreation areas (see previous post).

A short distance across the creek and down Adobe Meadow’s winding streets is Don Jesus Ramos Park, a 4.4-acre area with basketball hoops, picnic tables and playgrounds, encircled by a paved path.  The park was originally the playground for Ortega school, now Ortega Court, and first known as Meadow Park when converted to reflect its position on the housing tract.  Ramos, as residents affectionately call it, was built in 1958, the same year as the Meadow Park subdivision.

Eichler Swim and Tennis Club on Louis Road is also nearby.  The club, also built in 1958, was designed by Eichler and specifically intended for use by residents of the surrounding area.  Today the club continues to fulfill its original designation, drawing adults for afternoon tennis matches and children for competitive swim teams.

Beyond recreational areas, Eichler development layouts are another means of encouraging community interaction.  728 Gailen Ave., an excellent example of a preserved and tastefully updated home, sits on one of four cul-de-sacs clustered in Meadow Park.  The significance of this layout will be addressed in the next and final post,; one Palo Alto resident’s reflections on growing up in an Eichler.

Sep
9

Palo Alto Meadow Park Neighborhood: Secluded Eichler homes with great Walkability

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Posted by: Anne Arjani , Eichler Homes, Featured Listings, Info For Buyers, Info For Sellers, Palo Alto Real Estate

INTRODUCTION TO MEADOW PARK, WHERE SECLUSION MEETS CONVENIENCE IN PALO ALTO

A small neighborhood in south Palo Alto, which features large lot sizes, Meadow Park is remarkable for its balance of tranquility and accessibility to shopping, recreation, and transportation.  Bordered by Adobe Creek, Bibbits Drive, Charleston Road and Grove Avenue, Meadow Park enjoys Palo Alto’s myriad of amenities and yet embodies the feel of a peaceful, intimate community.

Meadow Park is visually distinct from other Palo Alto neighborhoods because of its history as an Eichler development.  In 1958 Meadow Park was advertised by Eichler Homes as the newest prestige development featuring 34 homes, each a minimum 7,800-square feet.  “They are specially designed for the family that appreciates the finest in California Living,” reads the brochure.  Many of the original features touted by Eichler abound in Meadow Park.  728 Gailen Ave. contains some of the best examples.

Original Brochure for Eichler Meadow Park Subdivision

Original Brochure for the Eichler Homes Meadow Park Subdivision: The full expression of Eichler Home Design

A recent ordinance limiting homes to a ‘single-story overlay’ preserves the unique visual cohesion of this neighborhood’s quiet streets and cul-de-sacs.  Meadow Park is a perfect illustration of customizable Eichlers; the houses are similar in structure, yet each made distinct through adjustments to landscaping and the home’s exterior.

Walking through Meadow Park, its mid-century homes appear in subdued shades of tan and sage, as well as in dusty blue and bold apple green.  Spacious front yards range from manicured lawns to wildflower beds, occasionally punctuated by children’s toys.  City trees are planted in front yards along the sidewalks, creating a canopy over wide streets such as Louis Road.  There is very little traffic through Meadow Park; one is more likely to encounter dog walkers or children biking than have the neighborhood’s serenity interrupted by a vehicle.

Although secluded, Meadow Park is only a few blocks away from endless Palo Alto resources.  Its location is enhanced by proximity to Middlefield Road, a major artery running through residential Palo Alto.  Two minutes away, at the intersection of Middlefield Rd. and Charleston Rd, the Charleston Shopping Center houses Peet’s Coffee and Piazza’s Fine Foods, and is a convenient stop for residents on the way to or from work.  Rick’s Ice Cream, frequented by locals from all corners of Palo Alto, is also located within the Center.

Mitchell Park and Library, just north of Charleston on Middlefield Rd., is easily accessible from Meadow Park and includes a recreation center, lighted tennis courts, baseball field, playgrounds and fenced dog run for use by Palo Alto residents.  The 21.4-acre site hosts Palo Alto events such as the annual summer chili cook-off and music in the park evenings.

Beyond the park are Fairmeadow Elementary School and J.L. Stanford Middle School.  “The schools were a big factor in our move,” says one Grove Ave. resident.  Many families with young children are attracted to Meadow Park because of easy access to quality Palo Alto public schools.

A few minutes south of Meadow Park is San Antonio Shopping Center and 5 minutes east are major shopping outlets such as Costco, Office Depot, REI and Best Buy.  There is immediate access to Highway 101 with efficient routes to Silicon Valley, San Francisco and the East Bay.

Hot spots such as Phil’z Coffee and Midtown shopping center are a short distance north on Middlefield Rd.  Midtown mixes larger staples such as Safeway and CVS pharmacy with smaller favorites such as Palo Alto Café.  Downtown Palo Alto and Stanford University lie a few minutes beyond on University Ave.

“I love the convenience to [Charleston Shopping Center] and to Mitchell Park,” says Faith Hastings, secretary of the Meadow Park Neighborhood Association.  “Now we have a lot of shopping across San Antonio Ave., so it’s a very convenient location.”  Hastings moved to Meadow Park with her husband, Al, in 1965, and raised a family in the neighborhood.

In addition to its convenient location, the warm atmosphere of the neighborhood attracts residents.  “You see people out walking, walking their dogs, talking, and that makes it feel more like a neighborhood,” Hastings says.

The next post in this series explores the community of Meadow Park in more detail.

Sep
4

The Eichler Atrium Home: A Mid-Century Classic

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Posted by: Anne Arjani , Palo Alto Real Estate

 THE CLASSIC EICHLER ATRIUM COURTYARD MODELS

 Joe Eichler’s career as a builder took off after the family rented a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.  As Ned describes it, Joe was never the same after the experience.  Touched by Wright’s designs, Eichler sought to bring a similar simplicity and modernity to suburban American homes.  In doing so, he began a long professional relationship with architect Bob Anshen of Anshen & Allen, a follower of Wright. Anshen was one of a new breed of designer who was bringing modern architecture to middleclass, postwar developments. The classic Eichler home at 728 Gailen Ave. in Palo Alto was designed by Anshen and Allen.

Eichler Atrium Entry: As Joseph Eichler envisioned it in his sales brochures

The Eichler Atrium as Joseph Eichler envisioned the space: an outdoor room suitable for entertaining

 Given the control Eichler held over his models, it is interesting that one of the most recognizable features of his homes, the atrium, was adopted almost by accident.  After a young Japanese-American designer in the firm first sketched up an atrium design,  architect Anshen refined this ancient Roman and Japanese architectural feature until it became the culmination and greatest flowering of Eichler home design.  Eichler’s E-11 & E-21 models, such as 728 Gailen Ave., were the first to incorporate the atrium as it is now recognized.  Although fewer than 10% of Eichler homes feature atriums, this element aided in making these houses incredibly popular and made Eichler a household name.

 The Adobe Park & Adobe Meadow subdivisions were among the most luxurious Eichler homes built.  They incorporate the very best ideas of the Eichler design/building organization.  These two subdivisions had larger lots than before, with a minimum lot size of a 9,000sq ft, each laid out with the utmost privacy in mind.  Adjacent cul-de-sacs create an even more private feel to each home’s backyard, especially at 728 Gailen Avenue.  The lot sizes are irregular, providing more space between the home’s side yards, allowing potential room for expansion of the master bedroom and bath.  The master bedroom has a very private view of the yard and potentially its own separate garden area with the very large side yard.

 The E-11 and E21 atrium designs contained 4 bedrooms and a second bathroom, features considered a luxury for developments of the time.  Another forward-thinking design element was the integrated kitchen, family room and bonus room.  What is striking about these designs is how prescient the architects were in providing  spaces that homeowners could use for a variety of purposes.  For example, the one bedroom that shares a sliding glass door with the atrium can also be used as an office.  Visitors to the office can enter through the courtyard and hence avoid disturbing the family.  Another user -defined space is the bonus room which accommodates an indoor laundry.  When the laundry closet doors are closed, this space can function as a guest room, office, exercise room or hobby room.  

 In this model design, the family room is larger than the living room, and the kitchen is completely integrated into the family room.  Eichler architects offered something that is very popular in today’s new homes and remodels: a combination kitchen/family room or “great room” in which families and guests can gather without traditional boundaries.

Eichler E-21 floorplan Meadow Park Neighborhood Palo Alto CA

Excellent Atrium Entry Floorplan: Pinnacle of Eichler design

 The genius of the atrium is the light that it brings into the central ”heart” of the home.  Most homes built in this era had windowless hallways with natural light only coming in through the back or front yard.  Most tract homes in Palo Alto and on the San Francisco Peninsula have bedrooms situated along the side lot lines with a view of a 6’ tall fence separated by  a five-foot setback.  Very little light that comes into these bedrooms, and hallways are like dark tunnels.  By contrast, imagine walking into an Eichler atrium style home where all hallways have floor to ceiling glass walls along the atrium, and the kitchen and family room have light streaming in not only through the glass walls facing the yard, but on the atrium glass walls as well.  The result is a natural light-filled home like no other available.

 The atrium design creates a transitional space of calm, quiet serenity in contrast to the sleek, but architecturally austere exterior of an Eichler home.  The visitor has a beautifully landscaped, transitional space to walk through so the home itself does not need to devote interior square footage to an impressive entry space.  For many, the atrium provides a further layer of security, as visitors can be screened through an intercom, videocam or simply their voice, before they are admitted inside the home perimeter.

 The atrium “heart” of the home also provides the family with strong visual connection.  Wherever you are in an Atrium home, you can look out and see any family in public spaces such as the kitchen or great room.  On the other hand, just closing a bedroom door ensures privacy.  In an Atrium style home you have connectedness and solitude as you need them.