| West Atherton,
When Faxon Dean Atherton, a wealthy businessman from Massachusetts first rode his horse through pre-Civil War West Atherton, he was attracted to the same natural landscape that current residents enjoy. Native live oaks, white oaks, bays, redwoods, cedars and pines still hold sway thanks to the town ordinance that protects heritage trees.
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In 1860, Atherton purchased over 600 acres -- essentially what is now West Atherton -- and became one of the first residents of the area. He built what is described as a relatively modest home in the center of his plot. The home was approximately where the Circus Club, a private country club, site of polo games and charity events, is now located. He raised his seven children there, and today, their names appear on West Atherton street signs: Isabella, Alejandro and Elena.
Over the years, the city government has sought to preserve Atherton's rural atmosphere. Nearly the entire town is zoned for one-acre lots, creating dramatic settings for the impressive estates. It is only in recent years that street signs have replaced stone markers.
West Atherton facts:
CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOLS: St. Joseph's Montessori Preschool and Kindergarten, 150 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton FIRE STATION: 32 Almendral Ave., Atherton
PRIVATE SCHOOLS: St. Joseph's School, 150 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton; Menlo School, 50 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton; Sacred Heart Prep,150 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton; Menlo College, 1000 El Camino Real, Atherton
PUBLIC SCHOOLS: (Eligibility for school districts depends on resident's address) Menlo Park City Elementary School District -- Oak Knoll School, 1895 Oak Knoll Lane, Menlo Park; Hillview Middle School, 1100 Elder Ave., Menlo Park Redwood City School District -- Selby Lane School, 170 Selby Lane, Atherton; Kennedy Middle School, 2521 Goodwin Ave., Redwood City; plus magnet schools Sequoia Union High School District -- Menlo Atherton High School, 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton
SHOPPING: Downtown Menlo Park; Stanford Shopping Center; El Camino Real shopping strip
MEDIAN HOME PRICE: $2,950,000 ($1,135,000-$19,700,000)
NO. OF HOMES SOLD: 19 |
Technically, there are no streets in Atherton -- only lanes, roads, courts and avenues. And those "non-streets" are made to feel more like country lanes because there are no sidewalks.
Earl "Duke" Douglass and his wife Barbara moved to West Atherton in 1952. Mr. Douglass' family has a long history in Atherton, his grandmother and grandfather having moved to Atherton in 1921. He and his wife chose living in West Atherton because of its relative privacy, he says. "We live on one acre, on which we were able to raise five children here," he adds.
The neighborhood demographic has changed over the years. "At first, there were a lot more young children. At Halloween, I remember taking the children out, and many would come to our door. In the last few years, literally no one comes. It's an aging population," he says.
Mr. Douglass attributes the lack of young families to the high price of homes in the area. "We had the good fortune of moving in when it was affordable. If we were to move in today, we couldn't afford the garage here," he says.
Mr. Douglass has fairly good feelings about Atherton, he says. "But I have less enthusiastic feelings about what I see happening in Atherton. The old homes are being torn down and replaced by sometimes oppressively large homes -- what you would call McMansions," he adds.
The multi-story buildings allow his neighbors to look into his yard and home -- a lessening of privacy he had not previously experienced.
From time to time, residents have parties and invite their neighbors, but for the most part, people prefer their privacy and keep to themselves, he says.
Pamela Nietert has lived in her home since 1990. She finds her quiet neighborhood "a wonderful place for taking walks." On her walks she often stops and chats with the "extremely friendly" people she meets on the way. And service is excellent, she adds.
-- Susan Golovin and Sue Dremann |
