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Tucked between Encinal Avenue, Holbrook Palmer Park and the railroad tracks, and buffered from El Camino by a commercial development is a neighborhood that retains the name of one of its first residents: Charles Norton Felton.

Senator Felton made his fortune in the Comstock Lode and settled in Menlo Park in the 1870's. He built "Felton Gables" a pink, two story mansion on 3.5 acres on the north side of Encinal and there he entertained presidents and royalty. President Harrison made a quick visit in l891 — when the population of Menlo Park was 400.

By the time Harvey and Barbara Slate moved into their circa 1934 English Tudor home in 1967, most of the neighborhood's 115 homes had been built. The major development took place in the 1930s and 40s — which accounts for the mature foliage.

"The neighborhood has a lot of architectural diversity: Craftsman and New England styles, ranches and cottages. Now there are more two-story homes," Harvey Slate says, noting that their area has had its share of tear-downs and renovations. Felton Gables has its own zoning restrictions, which limit the footprint and height of homes.

Brian and Katy Keating have lived in Felton Gables for nine years. They took their home down to the studs and rebuilt a "country French" home with a brick front that retains the flavor of the area. At 7,900 square feet, their lot is one of the smaller ones — more typical is 1/4 to 1/3 of an acre, with a few double lots.

Both the Slates and the Keatings attest to the cohesiveness of the area. Neighborhood get-togethers are frequent and people are invested in one another. "It's basically one giant cul-de-sac with no through streets," Mr.Slate says.

"I like to walk outside and know who my neighbors are," says Mr. Keating. "I also like that it's close to downtown and schools," he adds, pleased that his daughters were able to walk places as they grew to be more independent.

Laurie Thomas, treasurer of the neighborhood association, and resident of the oldest home in the neighborhood (1922), says that one of the major concerns is, in fact, for the safety of children walking to and from school. Ways to enforce the speed limit are being considered. The neighborhood association is keeping informed of the changes at Encinal School and traffic issues are to be addressed by the school district.

The association is also making sure that people are both informed of and represented on the issue of high speed and/or elevated rail and its impact. Some of the Felton Gables homes border the train tracks. With the passage of Prop 1A in 2008, some residents could lose property to eminent domain.

"It's really too bad. Keating says, adding he is not happy the proposition passed.

But the neighborhood remains a stable one.

And there is a strong community feeling. The Fourth of July block party is a major event.

"There's not a lot of turnover in this neighborhood," says Ms. Thomas.

Mr. Keating echoes his neighbors' sentiment: It's "charming and delightful."


FACTS


CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOLS: The Playschool, Holbrook Palmer Park, 150 Watkins Ave., Atherton; Trinity Early Childhood Program, 330 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park

FIRE STATION: 32 Almendral Ave., Atherton

PARK: Holbrook-Palmer Park, 150 Watkins Ave., Atherton

NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Felton Gables Homeowners' Association, Laurie Thomas, Lauriethomas6@comcast.net

PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Menlo Park City Elementary School District — Laurel School, 95 Edge Road, Atherton; Encinal School, 195 Encinal Ave., Menlo Park; Hillview Middle School, 1100 Elder Ave., Menlo Park

Sequoia Union High School District — Menlo-Atherton High School, 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton

SHOPPING: Downtown Menlo Park

MEDIAN 2008 HOME PRICE: $2,200,000 ($1,875,000-$2,865,000)

HOMES SOLD: 3

View the neighborhood map (PDF)

— Susan Golovin