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NEIGHBORHOODS
Peninsula School. “I enjoy it because it is clearly a neighborhood in transition,” Mr. Fadiman says, in reference to the small and large homes, senior citizens and young families. Tree houses and large play structures dot the backyards, and many neighbors hit the streets each evening to walk their dogs. Neighbors even gather for a picnic each year to congregate and celebrate their treasured environs. The neighborhood got its start before World War II as an enclave of summer homes for folks in San Francisco, says Mary Brown, who arrived in 1945. She likes the fact that the schools regularly bring a new crop of young families with children to the area. The neighborhood has been changing in other ways, too, says 13-year resident Holly Still. “Google money” has been pouring in to Menlo Oaks, as it has in neighborhoods in Atherton. Several newly minted millionaires from the Mountain View company have bought existing homes during the last year or two, she says. “It’s unique. This is a forested neighborhood, (but) I’m three minutes from Menlo Park and two minutes from the freeway,” Mr. Fadiman says. — Kathy Schrenk, Carol Blitzer and Renee Batti
Michelle Le
ver the years, Menlo Oaks has fought to keep its country feel in the face of pressures from bike-lane activists, “McMansions” and even the Catholic Church. This slice of land sandwiched between Menlo Park and Atherton is dominated by the 85-year-old private Peninsula School and its impressive Victorian main building. There are no sidewalks or streetlights in Menlo Oaks and residents want to keep it that way, they say. The 106-acre area in San Mateo County bounded by Ringwood Avenue, Bay Road, Berkeley Avenue, Coleman Avenue and Arlington Way. The big issue is always whether or not to incorporate and become part of Menlo Park. Also adding to that rural feel are the many mature, towering oak, eucalyptus and evergreen trees among the 300 homes. Most are sited on half-acre lots, and only 13 — built before 1941 — are considered historically significant. The architecture is as eclectic as the neighbors themselves: side by side are representatives of Craftsman, ranch, Spanish and California bungalow, with an Eichler or two thrown in, and new homes. The Menlo Oaks District Association holds its annual picnic at Peninsula School, a private, progressive K-8 that was formerly the Coleman Mansion. The neighbors formally meet once a year, but pick up news from a newsletter published electronically and a directory of residents. Their electronic bulletin board shares information on everything from handymen to dealing with mailbox vandalism. Community action is a byword in Menlo Oaks. Over the years neighbors have successfully prevented a storm drain project from killing their cherished trees, promoted installation of traffic-slowing street circles, and joined together in a successful drive to transfer their neighborhood from the Ravenswood to the Menlo Park City School District. The community also has vetoing power over removal of heritage trees. Directly to the neighborhood’s west is the huge campus of Menlo Atherton High School. It’s just a few minutes from downtown Menlo Park, downtown Palo Alto and Highway 101. But it’s the spirit of independence that makes the area special. James Fadiman moved to Menlo Oaks more than 35 years ago because he wanted 24 to send his children to the progressive
FACTS CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOLS: Peninsula School, 920 Peninsula Way, Menlo Park; The Roberts School, 641 Coleman Ave., Menlo Park FIRE STATION: 300 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park LOCATION: Ringwood Avenue to Berkeley Avenue, adjacent to the Veterans Administration Medical Center; Bay Road to Arlington Way NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Menlo Oaks District Association, Michael Johnson, president, 650-533-5102. E-mail: president@menlo-oaks.org PARKS: Flood Park, 215 Bay Road, Menlo Park; Seminary Oaks Park, Santa Monica Avenue near Middlefield Road, Menlo Park; Willow Oaks Park, Willow Road near Gilbert Avenue, Menlo Park PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Peninsula School, Peninsula Way, Menlo Park 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 2010 HOME PRICE: $1,642,500 ($1,022,687-$3,725-000) HOMES SOLD: 8