Fairmeadow, Palo Alto

Joseph Eichler probably had no inkling in the early 1950s that the "affordable homes" he envisioned for working families would develop a passionate following. Today Fairmeadow is Palo Alto's largest tract of Eichler homes -- an ideal neighborhood for the true Eichler afficianado.

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The neighborhood, bordered by Mitchell Park, Alma Street, East Meadow Drive and East Charleston Road, was built between 1951 and 1953 from the ground up, replacing ranch land. It currently boasts four schools, public and private, as well as Mitchell Park and a Community Center to serve its 300 homes.

Nearby Charleston Center offers further places to gather, whether it's picking up dinner at the upscale Piazza's market, or indulging in ice cream at Rick's or a quick cup at the recently opened Peet's Coffee & Tea.

Facts: CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): Besse Bolton Kid's Club, 500 E. Meadow Drive; Covenant Children's Center, 670 East Meadow Drive; Ellen Thacher Children's Center, 505 E. Charleston Road; Redwood Enrichment Center, 445 E. Charleston Road FIRE STATION: No. 4, 3600 Middlefield Road LIBRARY: Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road PARK: Mitchell Park, 600 East Meadow Drive POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Faimeadow Elementary School, Hoover Elementary School, J.L. Stanford Middle School, Gunn High School PRIVATE SCHOOL: Challenger School, 3880 Middlefield Road NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Tom Vician, president, 650-565-9014 SHOPPING (NEARBY): Charleston Center MEDIAN 2007 HOME PRICE: $1,200,000 ($935,000-$1,485,000) # HOMES SOLD: 6

Residents are united in the idea that the neighborhood offers many plusses, including Mitchell Park and ready access to the bay lands, as well as proximity to mid-town Palo Alto. While people may come and go, the neighborhood feeling remains friendly and inviting.

Ruth Donnelly, a retired teacher, has lived in Fairmeadow since 1969, when she fell in love with and bought her Eichler. She still loves it and the neighborhood. She's seen many changes over the past 37 years, particularly the neighborhood mix.

"We're having a lot of young couples with little children -- it's wonderful to have those little voices around. We still have a few of the original people on the block, and we have a nice combination of retired people, working people and the very young," she said.

Thomas Vician, president of the Fairmeadow Neighborhood Association and a resident since 1962, notes that there is more ethnic diversity. He adds that according to the city of Palo Alto, rentals now make up approximately 43 percent of the neighborhood.

Jessica and Ken Kopper moved into the neighborhood eight years ago and also enjoy the diversity. "We love it," Jessica Kopper said. "It's very friendly, has a mix of older and younger people, and it's nice being close to the park."

Looking at a map of Palo Alto, it's easy to find the neighborhood -- just look for what appear to be crop circles, and you're in the right vicinity. Eichler's circular street pattern was designed to keep traffic at bay. It hasn't quite worked out that way.

Traffic problems are not new to the neighborhood. As far back as 1978 there were complaints about cars speeding through the neighborhood, despite Eichler's best efforts to prevent such a problem.

Vician said residents become more active when it matters, such as during the Charleston Corridor study from 1998 to 2002, which dealt with traffic.

"The issue now is the attempt to develop Alma Plaza into residential with a strip mall. We're very much opposed to changing it from a neighborhood-serving center and are involved in challenging that," he said

-- Carol Palinkas