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Leland Manor and Garland are two of Palo Alto's smallest named neighborhoods, side by side off Middlefield Road just south of Embarcadero Road. They share a middle school campus, a quiet ranch-house character and an easy bike ride to Rinconada Park. Each has a story that stands out. Leland Manor was sold in 1939 as a modern subdivision with its power and phone lines buried. Garland Drive came along after World War II as one of the city's first curving streets.
Palo Alto Weekly's neighborhood guides group them with a third micro-neighborhood, Embarcadero Oaks, near the corner of Middlefield and Embarcadero. This page covers where they are, how they were built, what the homes look like and the parks, schools and shops nearby.
Where they are
Both neighborhoods lie east of Middlefield Road and west of Louis Road in north Palo Alto. Newell Road crosses the area. North California Avenue runs through the middle, with the Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle School campus at 750 North California Avenue and the former Garland Elementary School campus beside it.
- Leland Manor sits on the Embarcadero Road side of the school campuses. Palo Alto Weekly describes it as bordered by Embarcadero, Middlefield and Louis roads and the middle school. Its streets include Northampton Drive, Southampton Drive, East and West Greenwich Place, Portal Place and Barbara Drive.
- Garland is on the other side of the schools, toward Oregon Expressway. Garland Drive snakes from Middlefield Road to Louis Road with short cul-de-sacs branching off it.
- Embarcadero Oaks is the small triangle formed by Embarcadero Road, Seale Avenue and Middlefield Road, as Palo Alto Online defines it.
The neighbors help with orientation. Old Palo Alto is across Middlefield Road. The Community Center neighborhood and Rinconada Park are across Embarcadero Road. Triple El is just across Louis Road. Midtown begins south of Oregon Expressway.
Leland Manor: a 1939 subdivision
Leland Manor was developed by the firm of Hare, Brewer and Kelley at the end of the 1930s. The developers sponsored a contest to name the streets, which is how the neighborhood got its English-sounding Northampton, Southampton and Greenwich names.
The selling point was modernity. Electric and telephone lines ran underground, which promoters described as an entirely new principle that eliminated unsightly poles. A Leland Manor model home was exhibited at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island. Long ranch-style houses went up on lots of roughly 9,000 to 10,000 square feet. Underground wiring is still one of the neighborhood's quiet advantages.
Garland Drive: postwar ranch homes
Before subdivision, the Garland land was part of Rancho Rinconada del Arroyo de San Francisquito, the Mexican land grant that covered much of north Palo Alto. When it was subdivided in 1945, the new street took the name of John and Temperance Garland. Palo Alto Weekly reported that many of the nearly 100 ranch-style homes were built by Coastwise and that most date from the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Residents describe Garland Drive as one of Palo Alto's first curvy streets. The bends and the short cul-de-sacs every half block keep traffic slow. Magnolia trees are the street's signature and neighbors hold a Fourth of July barbecue each year.
Garland Elementary School, which shares the name, closed decades ago and the campus on North California Avenue has since been leased out, most recently to a private school. Our history of Palo Alto puts these postwar tracts in context.
Housing in general terms
Both neighborhoods are almost entirely single-family. Expect long, low ranch houses on deep lots, many with attached garages. Many have been remodeled over the decades and some have been replaced by larger two-story homes. Palo Alto Weekly found a mix of baby boomers, retirees and younger families in Leland Manor. Prices follow north Palo Alto's market. Our real estate guide explains how it works.
Parks, the art center and the library
The area's best amenities are a short walk across Embarcadero Road. Rinconada Park at 777 Embarcadero has lawns, playgrounds and the city's year-round public pool. The Junior Museum and Zoo sits beside it. The Palo Alto Art Center and the Rinconada Library share the civic block at Newell and Embarcadero roads. Our libraries guide lists hours and programs.
Schools by attendance area
Palo Alto Weekly neighborhood guides have listed these public schools for Leland Manor and Garland:
- Walter Hays Elementary on Middlefield Road at Embarcadero Road.
- Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle School, formerly Jordan, at 750 North California Avenue. It was renamed in 2018.
- Palo Alto High School at Embarcadero Road and El Camino Real.
Living next to a school does not guarantee a seat there. Confirm any address with the PAUSD school finder. Expect bikes and drop-off traffic on North California Avenue and Middlefield Road on school mornings.
Shops and getting around
Residents walk or bike to the Midtown shops on Middlefield Road around Colorado Avenue, where Safeway at 2811 Middlefield anchors the center. Edgewood Plaza on Embarcadero Road at St. Francis Drive is another nearby option. Our guide to Midtown and Edgewood Plaza shopping has details.
VTA buses run along Middlefield and Louis roads. Caltrain is about a mile away, at either the Palo Alto station downtown or the California Avenue station. Embarcadero Road and Oregon Expressway lead east to US 101.
Neighborhood groups
Leland Manor once had a formal association. Palo Alto Weekly reported that the Leland Manor Neighborhood Association formed in the 1980s to oppose closing Jordan Middle School and later went dormant. Garland Drive's annual barbecue keeps neighbors in touch. For a current contact, check the City of Palo Alto's neighborhood association list or the Palo Alto Neighborhoods (PAN) network.
Good to know
- Leland Manor's buried utilities date from 1939, so check the condition of older service lines when buying.
- School traffic is heavy on North California Avenue at the start and end of the school day.
- No hotels are nearby. Visiting family often stay downtown or along El Camino Real.
A short walk or ride
The two neighborhoods are easy to see in half an hour on foot or a few minutes by bike. Start at Rinconada Park and cross Embarcadero Road at Newell Road. Follow Northampton Drive and the Greenwich Places through Leland Manor, then head down to North California Avenue past the Greene campus. Pick up Garland Drive at Middlefield Road and follow its curves and magnolias east to Louis Road. From there it is a short ride to the Eichlers of Triple El or north along Louis Road toward Edgewood Plaza. Please keep to the sidewalks, since every house here is a private home.
For a family visit, you can compare Palo Alto hotels or look for a nearby house rental.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Leland Manor and Garland in Palo Alto?
Both sit east of Middlefield Road and west of Louis Road in north Palo Alto. Leland Manor runs from Embarcadero Road to the Greene Middle School campus on North California Avenue. Garland Drive lies on the other side of the school campuses and winds from Middlefield Road to Louis Road.
Why are Leland Manor's utilities underground?
The developers buried the electric and telephone lines when the tract opened in 1939 and marketed the lack of unsightly poles as a selling point. That was unusual for the time. A Leland Manor model home was also shown at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco.
How did Garland Drive get its name?
The land was subdivided in 1945 and the street was named for John and Temperance Garland, according to a Palo Alto Weekly neighborhood profile. Most of its nearly 100 ranch homes date from the late 1940s and early 1950s.
Which schools serve Leland Manor and Garland?
Palo Alto Weekly guides have listed Walter Hays Elementary, Jordan Middle School (now Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle School) and Palo Alto High School. Greene is right next door. Confirm any address with the Palo Alto Unified School District school finder.
Is there a Leland Manor neighborhood association?
An earlier Leland Manor Neighborhood Association formed in the 1980s to oppose closing Jordan Middle School and later went dormant. Garland Drive neighbors organize an annual Fourth of July barbecue. Check the City of Palo Alto's neighborhood association list for current groups.