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Blocks from Palo Alto’s city center, Professorville is a highly sought-after address due to its charming, genteel feel and easy access to the bustling action of downtown. The access to downtown makes this a very active neighborhood. People are on their feet wherever they want to go – walking to work, walking to eat, walking to schools.
The neighborhood offers an eclectic array of turn of the century architectural styles including Queen Ann, Classic Revival and Craftsman Bungalows. Professorville’s main claim to architectural fame, however, lies in its rich collection of turn of the century Shingle Style homes. This concentration of historic homes in the area bordered by Ramona, Waverley, Addison and Kingsley is listed as a Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places.
Professorville was settled at the turn of the century by the professors who were coming to teach at Stanford. Leland Stanford wanted to lease land on the campus. They didn’t like that idea, so they came across the street, bought their own land and built their own homes.
Professorville has a long history of civic activism starting in the early 1900’s, when neighborhood residents helped develop water and other utility service to Palo Alto. These very active individuals formed the first utility company and whole community services from the ground up. Today, Palo Alto is one of the few municipalities in the country that has its own city-owned water, electrical and full utility system.
The maverick personalities of those professors have shaped the character of the neighborhood. Their spirit is carried on in the entrepreneurship at the heart of Silicon Valley. Professorville is where the Hewlett-Packard garage is located. The Packard Foundation recently bought and renovated that garage, and visitors can walk by and read the plaque in front of it. Many of the entrepreneurs and go-getters who drive this economy live right here, at ground zero, where it all started 100 years ago.
Professorville a very strong family neighborhood because its schools are so good. People buy here for the elementary school, middle school and high school.
The technology of the Valley permeates this area, but it’s a thriving culture at the same time. This neighborhood, and this location in general, has a varied demographic because it fits everyone – empty nesters, young professionals. Neighbors are a bunch of neat people who keep things lively and active. You’ve never seen a city council meeting until you’ve seen one in Palo Alto.
After helping build Palo Alto, Professorville residents were also instrumental in stopping growth. In 1970, neighborhood residents led the first successful challenge to city development by defeating a proposition for an 18-story hospital to be built on the edge of the neighborhood. This victory reversed the City’s pro-development tide, galvanized other neighborhood communities, and led to the strong, politically active neighborhood associations which dominate Palo Alto politics today.
The neighborhood offers an eclectic array of turn of the century architectural styles including Queen Ann, Classic Revival and Craftsman Bungalows. Professorville’s main claim to architectural fame, however, lies in its rich collection of turn of the century Shingle Style homes. This concentration of historic homes in the area bordered by Ramona, Waverley, Addison and Kingsley is listed as a Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places.
Professorville was settled at the turn of the century by the professors who were coming to teach at Stanford. Leland Stanford wanted to lease land on the campus. They didn’t like that idea, so they came across the street, bought their own land and built their own homes.
Professorville has a long history of civic activism starting in the early 1900’s, when neighborhood residents helped develop water and other utility service to Palo Alto. These very active individuals formed the first utility company and whole community services from the ground up. Today, Palo Alto is one of the few municipalities in the country that has its own city-owned water, electrical and full utility system.
The maverick personalities of those professors have shaped the character of the neighborhood. Their spirit is carried on in the entrepreneurship at the heart of Silicon Valley. Professorville is where the Hewlett-Packard garage is located. The Packard Foundation recently bought and renovated that garage, and visitors can walk by and read the plaque in front of it. Many of the entrepreneurs and go-getters who drive this economy live right here, at ground zero, where it all started 100 years ago.
Professorville a very strong family neighborhood because its schools are so good. People buy here for the elementary school, middle school and high school.
The technology of the Valley permeates this area, but it’s a thriving culture at the same time. This neighborhood, and this location in general, has a varied demographic because it fits everyone – empty nesters, young professionals. Neighbors are a bunch of neat people who keep things lively and active. You’ve never seen a city council meeting until you’ve seen one in Palo Alto.
After helping build Palo Alto, Professorville residents were also instrumental in stopping growth. In 1970, neighborhood residents led the first successful challenge to city development by defeating a proposition for an 18-story hospital to be built on the edge of the neighborhood. This victory reversed the City’s pro-development tide, galvanized other neighborhood communities, and led to the strong, politically active neighborhood associations which dominate Palo Alto politics today.
