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"Living in Triple El is like living in a small village. Everyone is looking out for everyone else," said Susan Usman, who moved to the Eichler-dominated neighborhood with her family in 2006.

"It just feels good to live here," she said.

Residents are known to look after each other, to bring meals when they are sick, pick up their neighbor's newspaper when they are gone and babysit their neighbor's children.

Surrounded by North California Avenue and Oregon Expressway and by Louis and Greer roads, the three neighborhood streets -- Elsinore Drive, Elsinore Court and El Cajon -- appeal to newcomers with their Eichler design, contemporary architecture, "California Modern" home style and Elsinore Drive's beautiful row of 44 Chinese elm trees.

"The Chinese elm trees were planted when the houses were built in 1955. They are the heart of this neighborhood. They are now so elegant and beautiful that they are forming a welcoming tunnel above the street," Heather Galanis, a resident since 1965, said.

Triple El is also filled with social life, including a fall ice cream social and block parties to welcome new residents.

The small-village atmosphere is bolstered by the residents' willingness to celebrate events during the year. Most neighbors show up at the New Year's Day Mummers Parade, a Memorial Day's barbecue and a fall ice cream social.

"There are games for children, music and for the Mummers Parade we wear costumes and we walk around the neighborhood," Galanis said.

"All the parties are a good way to introduce new people to the group," longtime resident Chuck Sieloff said.

He and his wife, Sally Dudley, have lived in Triple El since 1972. The neighborhood has evolved significantly over the years with new families moving in from China, Japan, Korea, India, France and Switzerland. Residents include physicians, engineers, doctors, lawyers and others.

Triple El also has a wide range of ages.

"There are two groups of people living here," Sieloff said. "There are retired people who have been living here for many years and there is a whole bunch of families with babies and elementary school-aged children that started to move in six years ago."

Today, it is common to see Elsinore Drive filled with groups of children walking, biking or skateboarding to their school.

In addition to its architecture and friendly atmosphere, Triple El is what the residents called "going green." Some people have been worried about the lack of water in the area.

"Several families have done a kind of ecological garden," Galanis said. "They choose very dry-resistant plants that do not need water." The idea of saving water is spreading all over the neighborhood with more and more "green" gardens.

Triple El is for the residents a peaceful and pleasant place to live. Most of them really do not want to leave this neighborhood because they just feel good here.

"If my family has to move again, I will be really sad to leave my neighbors and Triple El," Usman said.

-- Maud Lepine

FACTS
CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): First Congregational Church Nursery School, 1985 Louis Road; Parents Nursery School, 2328 Louis Road; Duveneck Kids' Club, 705 Alester Ave.
FIRE STATION: No. 3, 799 Embarcadero Road
LIBRARY: Main Library, 1213 Newell Road
LOCATION: Elsinore Drive, Elsinore Court and El Cajon
PARKS (NEARBY): Rinconada Park, 777 Embarcadero Road; Greer Park, 1098 Amarillo Ave.
POST OFFICE: Main, 2085 E. Bayshore Road
PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Duveneck Elementary School, Jordan Middle School, Palo Alto High School
SHOPPING: Midtown
MEDIAN 2011 HOME PRICE: $1,611,000
HOMES SOLD: 1

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