Palo Alto’s Trifecta – Leland Manor, Garland, and Embarcadero Oaks
If you are looking for a quiet, peaceful Palo Alto neighborhood look no further than Leland Manor, Garland, and Embarcadero Oaks. Located in the middle of Palo Alto, these three small neighborhoods, all connected, extend north from Oregon Expressway to Middlefield Road, Embarcadero Road, and Louis Road, making them some of the most desirable Palo Alto homes.
These three neighborhoods were annexed into Palo Alto proper in the 1930s. Each quaint neighborhood has its own unique and pleasurable personality. Most of the homes in these neighborhoods were built in the 1930s to 1960s and many have been upgraded and improved over time. Many of the homes in these three mini-neighborhoods were built as three and four-bedroom ranch-style homes, sprinkled with the occasional custom Eichler. The central location for Leland Manor, Garland, and Embarcadero Oaks allows for ease of access to US 101, local shopping, great Palo Alto schools, Stanford University, and community amenities.
Leland Manor Defines The Trifecta Neighborhood
Separated symmetrically by Newell Road, the Leland Manor neighborhood is a tranquil and quiet Palo Alto community, desired by many due to its central location and slightly less pricey homes than Old Palo Alto or Professorville. Due to its size, most people in Leland Manor are familiar with the other families, homes, and architecture. Whenever there is a construction project underway, everyone seems to know about it and anxiously awaits the completed project. Leland Manor has recently improved its community awareness, engagement, and earthquake preparedness.
Because Leland Manor is small compared to other Palo Alto neighborhoods, the traffic flow is limited. Well-placed stop signs and the neighborhood street design create a confluence of factors seriously limiting outside traffic, which increases overall desirability.
Local amenities include Rinconada Park, swimming pool, playgrounds, library, and zoo. There is also a Leland Manor Room in the Palo Alto City Library.
Garland Drive Makes Neighborhood Living Easy
Centered around Garland Drive, this tiny neighborhood shows off the magnolia tree-lined streets, a familiarly quiet Palo Alto community, and highly desirable proximity because of its central location and lower costs than other Palo Alto neighborhoods.
Garland is basically secluded due to the street design and its location to Oregon Expressway and Middlefield Roads. Garland also has “curvy” streets which help mitigate traffic cut-throughs. Garland boasts an active community engagement with a large “Fourth of July” party, neighborhood watch program, and many participating neighbors.
Embarcadero Oaks Boast Christmas Tree Drive
Named for the large old-growth oaks that define this neighborhood, Embarcadero Oaks boasts an eclectic mix of homes built in the 1930s through the 1960s, including Ranch Style, Monterey Colonial, and Grand Tudor style homes.
Christmas Tree Lane is famous throughout the Peninsula as thousands of people drive through Fulton Street every year during the holidays to see the amazing display of tree lights lighting up the neighborhood.
Like Leland Manor and Garland, Embarcadero Oaks is centrally located close to many amenities, US 101, and Stanford University.
Importantly, each of these Trifecta neighborhoods enjoys the amazing Palo Alto School District and all of the concomitant benefits of sending kids to these schools. Palo Alto schools typically rank extremely high in testing and desirability for Bay Area Schools. Families from all over the S.F. Bay Area and even other countries try desperately to get their children into the Palo Alto School District.
Palo Alto’s Trifecta Neighborhoods Are Great Investments
Owner-occupied properties dominate the Trifecta neighborhoods; however, these neighborhoods have both great location and a Palo Alto zip code for real estate investors looking for long-term buy and hold scenarios. It is important for an owner to hire an experienced property manager and/or a professional property management company who knows the intricacies of Palo Alto government and can help a new investor navigate their bureaucratic hurdles. A professional and competent property manager can help an owner achieve long-term growth in equity and obtain a more than average return-on-investment.
These trifecta Palo Alto neighborhoods do well as long as Stanford University does well. As long as Stanford remains a world-class university, the city—including the wonderful neighborhoods like Leland Manor, Garland, and Embarcadero Oaks surrounding it—will continue to prosper.
David is a licensed real estate attorney, a licensed real estate broker, and has been involved in the real estate business since he graduated from college in 1986.
David currently is the broker/owner of several real estate related businesses which manage and maintain 300+ client properties on the San Francisco Peninsula.
Trust, transparency, and performance guarantees are the foundation of these businesses. David challenges anyone to find a PM professional that offers services similar - extensive education, customer service, and performance guarantees.
David also provides consulting for his clients on property development feasibility, construction, and complex real estate transactions.
David has authored a published law review article, three real estate books, and over 150+ real estate blog articles.
