South Palo Alto

Welcome to South Palo Alto!

Joseph Eichler is a house hold name in the real estate community due to his distinctive mid-century modern architectural style homes.  A 20th-century post-war American real estate developer, Mr. Eichler developed many of the homes in South Palo Alto as well as influenced the look-a-like homes that were constructed afterwards.

SPA 2

There are several features that make Eichlers easily identifiable and desirable to homeowners. They are one-story with glass walls and open floor plans that create an incredibly modern feel. Eichlers are intended to blur the line between outdoor and indoor living, which makes perfect sense in South Palo Alto with the beautiful Californian scenery right on the other side of the window. Interior rooms are flooded with natural light from the skylights and the floor to ceiling windows, in congruence with the exposed beams, add to the modern aesthetic.

SPA 1

South Palo Alto was originally part of the post-World War II residential expansion, broken away from Midtown, it now expanses over a vast geographical area encompassing several smaller neighborhoods including: Palo Verde, Adobe Meadow/Meadow Park, Charleston Gardens, Charleston Meadow, Fairmeadow, The Greenhouse, Greendell, Greenmeadow, Monroe Park, Walnut Grove, as well as the eastern most part of what was previously Midtown.

While the architectural style homes unify South Palo Alto, each sub-area has its own character and qualities that make it unique. Fairmeadow for example is one of the more well-known neighborhoods developed by Joseph Eichler. It’s nestled between East Meadow Drive to the north and East Charleston Road to the south. Mr. Eichler constructed his homes on circular streets with the aim of reducing traffic and providing a safe environment for families. There are around 300 homes in Fairmeadow and residents enjoy easy access to hiking and biking trails in the open space of the Baylands.

Another gem in South Palo Alto is the neighborhood called Greenmeadow. Found between Creekside Drive and Ferne Aveue to the south, it is one of the two Palo Alto neighborhoods belonging to the National Register of Historic Places. As a bit of a monument to architectural history, Palo Alto decided to preserve the Eichler appeal and banned homeowners from adding a second story or radically altering the integrity of the home. This restriction also applies to many of the other neighborhoods in area. As with any situation, there are definite pros and cons to this ban. On the upside, Greenmeadow retains its historic significance and original character. However, homeowners are prevented from maximizing the square footage of their lot.

Most residents don’t mind though as the Eichler’s fashionableness has resurfaced in recent years. Moreover, Greenmeadows has a lot to offer in regards to community environment. There’s the Cubberly Community Center nearby with its pool and private park, or the number of different subcommittees to help you get involved with community life. And of course you don’t want to miss out the many social events like the Easter egg hunt, Labor Day picnic, Halloween festivities, or 4th of July celebrations!

Whether you’re looking to live in Fairmeadows or Greenmeadows, under the ash trees in Palo Verde (where residents swear it’s always 10 degrees cooler because of all the foliage), or itching to be near the Palo Alto Golf Course in Greenhouse, South Palo Alto has a little something for everyone.