June 3, 2004

STREET SCENECranbook Court

Nestled off Camden Avenue is a picture-perfect, tree-lined street with manicured lawns and mature landscaping featuring custom homes built 35 years ago. If you don’t reside there or are not visiting one of the 14 homes on the court, you’d never know it was there off the busy thoroughfare. Each home is different and special in its own way. The same thing can be said about the neighbors who live on Cranbrook Court. With the hustle and bustle of urban life, many neighbors don’t have time for get-togethers, but the people on Cranbrook make time together a priority.

Last weekend they hosted their second annual Memorial Day block party at the end of the cul-de-sac, complete with barbecues to grill meat, side dishes, a pool for the kids, tetherball and even lemonade stand.

“This is a great neighborhood,” Eli Bailey said as she sipped a cool refreshment. “When we moved in two years ago everyone brought over food so I didn’t have to cook while we got settled. You just don’t see that very often. It’s a great mix of ages here, too.” Eli and her husband Mark have two children, 5-year-old Rachael and 1 1/2-year-old Sarah, who were busy enjoying the pool in the hot afternoon sun.

Carlos and Katrina Padilla, owners of the Malibu Grill on Camden Avenue for the past seven years, moved to the street two years ago from Willow Glen with their three children, Johnathan, Jarad and Krysta.

“We loved the privacy of the street,” Carlos, a San Jose native, said taking a break from the family sports grill. “It’s so quiet and the neighbors are all great people.”

Hillary and Marc Baker will always remember the day they moved to Cranbrook Court. It was the exact same day their son was born 12 years ago.

“I always kid her that she had him that day because she didn’t want to do the move,” Marc Baker said laughing. “It is a great street and so close to everything. We have Parma and the Quicksilver Park close by.”

Mike and Pam Wass moved to Cranbrook in 1975. They came from Southern California with their 1-year-old son and were only going to try San Jose for a year. They’re still here enjoying their home, the street and friendly neighbors.

“We’ve really enjoy living here,” Mike said. “We left the two grandmothers in Southern California so it was hard that way but now I’m always running into people I know wherever I go.”

“We had another son while we lived here,” Pam said reminiscing. “Now the oldest is a doctor and the youngest just got married.” She carries the photo album of the wedding pictures with her to share with her neighbors.
Ernie and Rosemary Ralph have lived on the street the longest. Original owners, they bought their home 36 years ago.

“Jim Dyer lived in that house,” Ernie said as he pointed across the street. “He bought the prune orchard that was here and started building spec houses on the street. Each one custom. He also built a lot of spec homes around the Almaden Country Club. We’re downsizing. This house is 2,500 square feet and we’re moving into a smaller condo in Willow Glen. I don’t know what we’ll do with all our things.”

John and Janet La Galante and his mother Carmella, just recently moved to the cozy court. John, retired from Hitachi [IBM], is pleased with the move from Los Gatos.

“The neighbors came over right away and introduced themselves,” John said surrounded by his new neigh-
bors at the block party. “We just love it.”

The court is lined with maple trees that turn brilliant colors in the fall, in front of one-story and split-level homes, a mature neighborhood with a solid feeling of permanence. The last home that sold on the court was over 2,500 square feet with a recorded sale price of $849,000.

The barbecues are ready and the neighbors place their chosen entrées on the sizzling grills. Lemonade and colas are flowing. Rachael and Sarah Bailey are still enjoying the pool. Laura Holford and Kaitlyn Baker are playing tetherball. The congenial neighbors converse and catch up on each others lives. Cranbrook Court. It’s a good place to live.

—By Jeanne C. Lewis