June 9, 2005

STREET SCENEZinfandel Way

Bill and Linda Costa moved to their house on Zinfandel Way in 1970. There was a vacant lot on one side, cows roamed the open field behind the home and Almaden Expressway was the only access to the street.

Fast forward 35 years and the Costa’s have seen a multitude of changes. Twenty-five homes now occupy the street, Almaden Expressway was blocked off years ago and McAbee Road is the access. And the three children they lovingly raised are grown and have homes of their own.
“The best thing about living on this street is raising my family,” said Bill remembering the sweet memories of his two daughters and son growing up.

And family is what Zinfandel Way is all about.
“I grew up two blocks away on Knoll Park,” said Mary Sprowl Cannon whose family has lived on Zinfandel for six years. “My parents still live there. I went to Pioneer and my husband Steve went to Leland. When we were looking for a house we were looking for a real neighborhood.”

Last year, Mary and neighbor, Patty Liebsher, organized their first block party. They obtained permits to block off the street and invited the whole street. Everyone brought potluck and the barbecues were sizzling with hot dogs and hamburgers. There were games and a bike parade for the kids. Neighbors participated in a bingo game where they each brought a tidbit of information about themselves that the street didn’t know. But the chief ingredient for the whole day was fun.

And the enjoyment doesn’t end there. At Christmas time there’s a party with a very real looking Santa. And what would the holidays be without a cookie exchange? There’s the Easter egg hunt, a garage sale the whole block participates in and pizza parties at Amatos Pizzeria. Cannon says she’d eventually like to arrange a block trip to the Zinfandel Festival in Cambria.

“What I like best about living here is that we have a street full of people who know a lot about different things,” said Cannon holding 20-month old Ben. “Whatever questions one might have, there is someone on the street that can help. You can find someone to help you build a Web page, identify a bird, local history, improve your golf game, bake a fabulous cake, complete your taxes, paint your house…and the list goes on. Everyone is so friendly that you feel comfortable to ask questions and know they will always help you out.”

Patty and Kirk Liebsher have lived on Zinfandel for seven years. There is a sign outside their front door that reads ‘Home Sweet Home.’ Patty is finishing baking a white cake with strawberries, blackberries and Cool Whip for Kirk’s birthday.

“The best thing about this street is the neighbors,” said Patty in her front yard with sons’ 7-year-old Alex and 9-year-old Mark. “Everybody knows each other. If you walk to the park or Las Alamitos School or to McDonald’s, you’ll see a neighbor. We’re all very friendly. And it’s so safe for the kids.”

Kirk Liebsher agrees.

“Patty’s helped a lot with organizing the block party,” said Kirk. “The last couple of years have been the best. It’s really a great street.”

Karen and John Green have lived on Zinfandel since 1992. It’s a sunny California morning and 6-year-old Lauren is ready for a swim. Seven-year-old Christopher has just finished serenading the neighborhood with a very accomplished piano practice.

“This is really a fabulous street,” said Karen. “And what makes it so wonderful is all the families. It really is a family neighborhood.”

But as in all neighborhoods, people move away and making way for new neighbors. A couple of homes on the street are for sale. One is listed at $875,000 and boasts four bedrooms and two and a half baths with 1,955 square feet. It has been completely remodeled. Another is in escrow with a list price of $819,950. It features four bedrooms and two and a half baths with 2,164 square feet.

The highest price for a home was a sale in April of 2005. It sold for a whopping $1.25 million for a three bedrooms with three baths in 3,052 square feet of living space. Only four years old, the house featured a 1,200 square foot wine cellar and home theater with surround sound and bamboo floors.

It’s just one street in Almaden but it’s where family is important and neighbors are great. And who knows? If you move there, you might just get a bottle of wine as a house-warming gift. After all, it is Zinfandel Way.

—By Jeanne Carbone Lewis