April 28, 2005

STREET SCENEHolly Ann Place

Panoramic shot of Holly Ann Place, showing cul-de-sac at the end of the street.

Nestled in a cul-de-sac off Elwood Road lays Holly Ann Place, an enclave of a dozen or so homes built in the 1970s on generous quarter-acre lots.

Two floor plans offered a 1,900-square-foot single-story model for small families and a 2,650-square-foot two-story option for larger ones.

In 1974, Sandy Rosenberg and her husband Larry purchased one of the two-story homes for a mere $60,000—a hefty return on their investment today, considering the same model at the end of the court just sold for $1,050,000. It’s prime real estate, especially for families looking to make Williams, Bret Harte, and Leland their neighborhood schools.

Five bedrooms, coupled with plenty of living and playing room, enabled the Rosenbergs to raise three children and accommodate Larry’s pension for building single-passenger airplanes, thanks to a bonus three-car garage. Now, Sandy looks forward to visits from her four grandchildren, who play in the same yard parents once did.

“When we moved up here, there were a bunch of little kids,” she says. “My son was 6—now he’s 36. My grandson plays with Carol’s little boy down the street. They’ve known each other since they were babies.”

Rosenberg is the only original owner left and has seen plenty of change, both on Holly Ann Place and in Almaden.
“I remember when Elwood was a horse ranch,” she says. “And you had to go up Meridian to Coleman and around to get to Camden because it didn’t go through. That was before Highway 85. There was hardly any traffic coming out Almaden Expressway back then, and you know what it’s like now.”

In the past five years the neighborhood has virtually reinvented itself, according to Carol Weller, a resident since 1993. Tabs reaching $100,000-$300,000 now showcase upgrades such as mahogany doors, hardwood floors, custom inlaid tile, second story or room additions, and designer landscaping.

“It’s funny how almost everyone did it at the same time,” she says. “The entire neighborhood has all but been upgraded both inside and out.”

Twelve years ago, the Wellers paid $328,000 for the single-story home that now boasts an upgraded kitchen and a 350-square-foot family room addition. When you combine buyers hungry to find homes with good neighborhood schools, their home could fetch close to $1 million in today’s market.

“There’s been lots of kitchen and bathroom remodels,” she adds. “One neighbor added a second story, while the couple down the street redid the entire interior and exterior of their home and are now redoing the landscaping.
Another home is going through so much renovation that the family isn’t living in it. Last week, it didn’t even have a back wall.”

There’s been an increased flurry of activity on the street as well, with an influx of kids who hit the court each day for quick pick up games. Lately, there’s been enough to form their own baseball and hockey teams, which they often do.

“It’s been interesting seeing the neighborhood turn around—like recycling,” Sandy says. “Children grow up and have their kids. Now there’s a whole new batch.”

Nearly six years ago, Lisa Fletcher added her three children Aaron, Melissa, and Elijah to the mix.

“They all play together and we all work,” she says. “The moms get together quite often. Everyone else is kind of quiet.”

A few months after the Fletchers moved in, Les and Elizabeth Rehklau set their sights on Almaden for its charm and notable schools when they discovered a 25-year-old home in need of repair. Still, its location at the end of the court was hard to pass up.

“It’s a great environment for our two boys,” Elizabeth says. “Especially with the amount of other kids here.”

They started remodeling immediately and today, signs of Les Rehklau’s carpentry and masonry artistry are hard to miss—from the inlaid tile foyer and custom furniture inside to the stone waterfall, koi pond, swimming pool, and raised vegetable garden out back, it has become a tranquil respite after a hard day’s work.

“Les is the Tool Time guy,” Elizabeth jokes. “He’s the Tim Allen of the court and he likes to piddle in the garage. He’s always helping others with advice and tools.”

“Les is real handy like my husband used to be,” agrees Sandy. “I think everybody here is how neighbors should be. We all help each other out in times of need.”

Looking back, highlights include sights of former neighbor San Jose Sharks player Todd Harvey, who organized hockey matches on the court with players ranging from peewee hockey wannabees to professional athletes who traded their roller blades for ice skates when it came time to “play for real” at the Shark Tank.

“My kids really didn’t get it,” Lisa exclaims. “Here they were, playing street hockey with a professional hockey player and his friends like it was no big deal.”

“Todd and his teammates treated our kids just like normal people,” adds Les. “There was none of the high and mighty ‘I’m bigger and badder than you’ stuff. They just fit in—that was the good part.”

Although it’s been nearly a year since Harvey moved, life on the court goes on for the dozen or so kids ages 7–13 who gather daily for quick games of football or their own version of America’s pastime, using bare feet and a rubber ball in lieu of the more traditional bat and ball.

One thing everyone agrees on is the need to resurrect the annual neighborhood block party, which got scratched last year due to conflicting summer schedules.

“They’ve been really fun,” admits Fletcher. “We’re trying to get one together this year.”

“We’ve all missed it,” adds Elizabeth. “What’s really neat about these get-togethers is there is such a diverse group of people here that we all try different types of food and although my husband is German, he’s famous for his sushi.”

After more than 30 years, the once similar homes have since taken on a charm of their own, with mature trees, neatly manicured lawns, and colorful flowerbeds along the cozy perimeters.

“From one to the next, everyone’s done different things to personalize their homes,” Sandy explains. “Even though there’s so much sameness, there’s so much more that’s different.”

Content in her tenure, Sandy admits it doesn’t hurt owning a little slice of heaven in Almaden, especially when it is bought and paid for. Thanks to Proposition 13, her taxes remain low as well.

“It’s a nice neighborhood,” she says. “I know everyone and they know me. I feel comfortable and safe here.”

—By Kymberli W. Brady