Photos

Stretching from Grant Road north to El Monte Avenue and from east of Foothill Expressway to the Mountain View zig-zag border, Central Los Altos is a charming, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood that's smack in the middle of everything.

That central location means people like Carol and David Casas and their two children can walk downtown to run errands, and the kids can easily reach their nearby schools.

While most of the homes were built during the 1950s — or earlier as summer getaways from San Francisco — "people continue to remodel, expand and build completely new homes. The constant reinvestment into our housing stock is a great indicator of the desirability of our community," said David, who's served on the Los Altos City Council since 2003.

The Casas family moved in 1997 — from just 14 blocks away — drawn by the schools and nearby friends. "It's very eclectic, very cottage-y; it has a warm neighborhood feel, and there are lots of kids," Carol said.

Disappointed at first by the quality of the parks, David joined the Parks, Arts & Recreation Commission, then volunteered at the schools and was later elected to the school board and council.

"We have very active parents," Carol said of her community. "People jump on board pretty quickly."

Relative newcomers are Scott Chan and Vicki Moore Chan, who moved with their family in 2002, after living in Mountain View for 20 years. An avid bicyclist, Scott Chan quickly got involved on both the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Traffic Commission. One of his first projects was starting a program to encourage kids at Oak Elementary School to walk and ride regularly.

The Chans left a 1950s tract development for an older, more piecemeal neighborhood where he built a new house on a larger lot.

Neighbors in Central Los Altos get together on a regular basis; Chan mentioned an annual party at Heritage Oaks Park, as well as summer block parties at several cul de sacs.

"It's a very walkable neighborhood. You see a lot of kids on bikes, grandmas out walking their grandkids in strollers. We love it. We do get to know our neighbors; we're good friends with a lot of them," he said.

In addition to the block parties near the Casas family — some with dancing 'til 10 p.m. with a D.J. and kids' games — Carol said the neighbors do a potluck before the annual Festival of Lights Parade, meeting at the Clock Tower on the Sunday after Thanksgiving — "rain, shine or cold."

Whether it's the schools, the larger lots or civic participation, David Casas said, "What draws people is a sense of community; what keeps them are the lasting relationships they form."


FACTS


CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: CCLC School Age at Covington Elementary, 201 Covington Road; Children's House of Los Altos, 770 Berry Ave.; St. Simon's Catholic Church Extended Day Care Center, 1840 Grant Road; St. Timothy's Nursery School, 2094 Grant Road

FIRE STATION: No. 15, 10 Almond Ave.; Loyola station, No. 16, 765 Fremont Ave.

LIBRARY: Los Altos, 13 S. San Antonio Road; Woodland, 1975 Grant Road

PARKS: Heritage Oaks Park, Portland at Miramonte Avenue; Marymeade Park, Fremont Avenue at Grant Road; McKenzie Park, 707 Fremont Ave.; Rosita Park, 401 Rosita Ave.

POST OFFICE: Blossom Valley, 1768 Miramonte Ave.; Rancho, 1150 Riverside Drive; Main, 100 First St.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Canterbury Christian School, 101 N. El Monte Ave.; Pinewood School, 327 and 477 Fremont Ave.; St. Francis High School, 1885 Miramonte Ave.; St. Simon Catholic School, 1840 Grant Road

PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Los Altos School District — Covington, Loyola, Oak or Springer elementary schools, Blach or Egan intermediate schools

Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School District — Los Altos or Mountain View high schools

SHOPPING: Blossom Valley Shopping Center, Miramonte Avenue at Cuesta Drive; Downtown Los Altos; Rancho Shopping Center

MEDIAN 2008 HOME PRICE: $1,800,000 ($965,000-$3,900,000)

HOMES SOLD: 65

— Carol Blitzer