What is a neighborhood? Is it a tract of homes built after World War II with same-sized lots and similarly sloped roofs? Or a cluster of houses arranged around an elementary school? Or, perhaps a group of people who decided it was easier to fight City Hall as an organized mass than as disparate individuals?
Since 2001, Embarcadero Publishing has been offering profiles of neighborhoods in Palo Alto, Atherton, Menlo Park, Portola Valley and Woodside, as well as Mountain View and Los Altos.
Every neighborhood has a distinct character, driven by its location, home styles and sizes, proximity to schools and shopping or its history -- and of course, the people who live there. Each year we update the information, especially the median home prices and number of home sales.
Neighborhoods are not static; they evolve over time. Some even merge, when common issues, such as response to the 1998 flooding in Palo Alto, give them common goals. Once merged, neighbors may find more to keep them together, whether it's an annual street closure with a barbecue or a parade that includes local fire trucks or donkeys.
Meeting neighbors -- by working together on emergency preparedness or e-newsletters --helps shape community, making people feel more deeply connected to their hometowns. Sometimes it even creates a new "neighborhood."
If you live in an "emerging" neighborhood -- or don't know quite where your house fits -- contact editor@paweekly.com.
Comments
Community Center
on Mar 2, 2009 at 1:57 pm
on Mar 2, 2009 at 1:57 pm
I knew Arden Anderson when we were teenagers. He was a sensitive young man then, and now that I read his story, and so impressed and glad to call him friend.
Fairmeadow
on Jun 25, 2009 at 1:18 pm
on Jun 25, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Do any of the people who have supported the changes to Arastradero/Charleston actually drive it every day? I do. And I do not understand their support of it. I agree that far too many people speed here (and in many other places around the city), but this road is essential for many, many people to get through this area of town, and all the change has done has made the commute even harder. However, that does not eliminate the need for people to drive it (not everyone is capable of riding a bike or walking every day; and for many this segment of the commute is only a small part of a total that is way to far to bike or walk). Now, it can take half an hour to get from ECR to Alma on A/C at certain times of the day. Then, once I get across Alma, I need to make that first left-hand turn, which comes just at the point where I have to merge right (into the new silly single lane) before getting into the turn pocket, where I can wait another 5 minutes before the unending stream of cars (because they have all been forced into one lane) never breaks. This was never a problem when there were two lanes. My uncle has changed his work route to avoid that section. Now he goes along East Meadow. So some traffic has been forced over to another school-lined, residential street. And, oh - my - God, if any of you knew what the insane parents do in the morning to get their kids to JLS: We've seen passing at high speed in the bike lane (right in front of the school, where kids are riding to get there too, 98% with their helmets hanging from their handlebars), parking half on the sidewalk, and constant speeding along South Court. The JLS traffic mess is why I never go out the East Meadow way in the morning. Also, just getting in and out of our local grocery store has become a much greater challenge/danger because of the ridiculous smooshing of two lanes to one. Anyway, it's getting to the point where it's not at all pleasant to live here anymore because it's too hard to get anywhere when i leave the house. My mother had to move from a home and neighborhood she loved (in FL) for exactly the same reason: when it takes an hour of sitting in a traffic jam every time you need to get to a store, it's just not a good place to live. Thanks for letting me vent. P.S. I always drive the speed limit on all these roads. Other drivers hate me for it, but I'd rather do that than have the roads changed so that it takes twice as long (if not longer) to get out of my neighborhood. P.P.S. And I can't stand all the bikers (adult and child) who are moronic enough to be riding in the wrong direction in the bike lane. They are asking for an accident. P.P.P.S. I think it would be better to leave A/C all two lanes (with turn pockets)-- that means restoring the one already removed--And then turn East Meadow into a road for bikes only unless you're a resident who has to get to their home on it somehow (maybe like parts of Bryant), and then shift all the bikers on A/C over there, where it would be safer (if that change were made).
Fairmeadow
on Jun 25, 2009 at 1:21 pm
on Jun 25, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Oh, and I am not exaggerating about how long it takes to go those few short blocks between ECR and Alma on A/C at certain times of the day (God forbid a train comes and makes it take even longer). Every time I hit that segment of road at the wrong time, I can count on seeing at least three cars make illegal U-turns to get out of it and head back to ECR.