Photos

In a place filled with ancient oaks, golden hills and native wildlife, such as Portola Valley's Westridge neighborhood, it's easy to forget how close one is to the heart of busy Silicon Valley. Though it's just a few minutes west of Highway 280, residents say Westridge sometimes feels like a world away.

Developed by the Westridge Company as a residential neighborhood in the 1920s after serving as a ranch for many years, Westridge is a retreat from cramped suburban and urban life, with a border touching Stanford's Jasper Ridge Preserve and strict building restrictions conserving its old-fashioned, nature-connected identity.

Fourteen-year resident Judith Mendelsohn said she was attracted to the neighborhood by its "quiet, rural beauty" combined with its proximity to a major shopping center for convenience.

"There really is a very rural feeling. The views are incredible and there are trails everywhere," she says.

In addition to residents' horses (each homeowner is allowed to keep up to five), many wild animals make their presence known. "We see deer everyday, hawks all the time and quail and rabbits on a regular basis," Ms. Mendelsohn says.

John Morgridge, a Westridge homeowner since 1992, says of the area's natural bounty, "We have all the animals: bobcats, coyotes, foxes, even mountain lions."

The beauty of Westridge is in its bucolic roots, yet it's close to amenities to both the north and south, along with access to "great schools" in the Portola Valley district, Mr. Morgridge says.

Mr. Morgridge was drawn to the area because he knew some residents who recommended the neighborhood highly. And it may seem like a sleepy enclave but residents are in touch with the community, Mr. Morgridge says. "The people here are energized and involved with the world. It's very stimulating."

Though people are friendly, the space between homes means the area can feel isolated at time, Ms. Mendelsohn says.

"People meet each other while they're out walking their dogs, but because there is a greater distance between homes compared to most neighborhoods, people probably don't know their neighbors as well. The houses are just not very close," she says, adding that each property has a 2.5-acre minimum.

The Westridge Architectural Supervising Committee maintains the neighborhood's regulations on construction and renovations, ensuring that the area's tranquility and natural charms are not spoiled by overzealous builders. Ike Van Cruyningen, who moved to the neighborhood and built a new home there three years ago, says the neighborhood discourages "extravagant, fancy, show-off-y houses" and that there is sometimes tension involved with the building process. The area's strict design guidelines are what keep the pastoral environment intact, he says.

Hiring a local architect who knew the neighborhood well, along with the support of his neighbors, helped Mr. Van Cruyningen ensure his project went smoothly, he added.

"The rural character and small-town feeling is the reason people like the neighborhood. The architectural rules make sure it stays that way. I am very happy with my choice," he says.


FACTS


CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOLS: Windmill Preschool, 4141 Alpine Road, Portola Valley; Ladera Community Church Preschool, 3300 Alpine Road, Portola Valley; Carillon Preschool at Christ Church, 815 Portola Road, Portola Valley; New Horizons (after school care), 200 Shawnee Pass, Portola Valley

FIRE STATION: Woodside Fire Protection District, Portola Valley Station, 135 Portola Road, Portola Valley

NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Westridge Architecture Supervising Committee

PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Portola Valley School District — Ormondale School (K-3), 200 Shawnee Pass, Portola Valley; Corte Madera School (4-8), 4575 Alpine Road, Portola Valley

Sequoia Union High School District — Woodside High School, 199 Churchill Ave., Woodside

SHOPPING: Nathhorst Triangle, Portola Road at Alpine Road; Village Square, 884 Portola Road; Ladera Shopping Center, 3130 Alpine Road, Portola Valley

MEDIAN 2008 HOME PRICE: $3,250,000 ($1,770,000-$3,600,000)

HOMES SOLD: 4

View the neighborhood map (PDF)

— Karla Kane