On this page
San Alma is one of the smallest named neighborhoods in Palo Alto. It is a single townhome community, 34 homes on two short streets, at the southern edge of the city. The Palo Alto Weekly includes it in its neighborhood guides for a simple reason: residents act like a neighborhood. They hold picnics, holiday parties and a spring potluck under the huge elm at the center of the complex.
The name is a mashup of the nearest intersection, San Antonio Road and Alma Street. The site has a much longer history, tied to one of the ranchero families who held this land before Palo Alto existed. This guide covers where San Alma is, its history, its homes and the parks, schools, shops and transit nearby.
Where San Alma is
San Alma sits east of Alma Street off San Antonio Road, a few blocks before Palo Alto ends and Mountain View begins. Palo Alto Online lists two streets: Ponce Drive, a narrow semicircle, plus Hemlock Court, a cul-de-sac. Briarwood Way is nearby.
It is surrounded by larger 1950s tracts. Greendell and Walnut Grove are close by on the Palo Alto side, while Charleston Meadows is across Alma Street and the Caltrain tracks. Across San Antonio Road lie the big Mountain View shopping centers.
Parking is the first thing visitors notice. The complex has spaces for only about 12 visitors, so guests are encouraged to park on San Antonio Road or Briarwood Way. Plan ahead if you are hosting a party.
History: a rancho adobe and a heritage elm
Long before any townhomes, this land belonged to the Robles family. Brothers Secundino and Teodoro Robles bought Rancho Rincón de San Francisquito in the late 1840s, a holding that covered much of what is now south Palo Alto. Their family adobe stood in this area. Palo Alto Online reported that the site is that of the Don Secundino Robles adobe and dated it to around 1840. Accounts of the exact date and location vary, so treat both as approximate. Our page on the Spanish and Mexican era explains the ranchos.
The adobe is long gone. What remains is an American elm. When San Alma was built in 1974, the architect placed the homes around the tree, then about 40 feet tall. By 2000 it had grown to about 60 feet and the City of Palo Alto designated it Heritage Tree No. 6, citing its historical significance on the old Robles site. Today it shades the common area at the center of the community.
Robles Park, a city park named for Don Secundino Robles, sits less than a mile away in Charleston Meadows. It is one more reminder of the family's place in local history.
The homes
Palo Alto Online credits San Alma's design to John Brooks Boyd, an architect it says also designed homes for Joseph Eichler. The plan is compact and modern, with private space kept small and shared space kept generous.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of homes | 26 townhomes plus 8 below-market-rate condominiums |
| Townhome size | About 1,500 to 1,777 square feet |
| Height | One and two stories |
| Private outdoor space | Small backyards |
| Common areas | Front yards, the heritage elm grounds and a swimming pool |
Front yards are planted with liquidambar, crepe myrtle and olive trees and count as common area, which the homeowners association maintains. Residents vote together on exterior questions. When the complex was repainted around 2014, the Weekly reported, owners agreed on a single exterior color scheme with six choices for individual front doors.
The below-market-rate condos are part of Palo Alto's long-running program to include affordable units in new housing. If you are interested in one, start with the city's below-market-rate housing information rather than the open market. For the wider picture, see our real estate guide and our guide to renting in Palo Alto.
Community life
The Weekly described San Alma's residents as a microcosm of Palo Alto, with families from Russia, Korea, China, India, Brazil, France, Mexico and the United States. Neighbors over the years have included a Stanford professor, a firefighter, engineers, a doctor, a former Palo Alto mayor and an Olympic silver medalist. Some original owners still live there. Others started as renters and bought when a unit came up.
Traditions include picnics, Christmas parties and the spring potluck under the elm. Residents described a culture of holding each other's keys and showing up with food when a neighbor is hurt. As with any small community, events depend on volunteers and change over time.
Parks nearby
San Alma's own common areas and pool are for residents. The nearest big public park is Mitchell Park at 600 East Meadow Drive, with the Magical Bridge Playground, sports fields, courts and a fenced dog run. It is a short bike ride north.
Palo Alto Online also listed Greenmeadow Park, which is private and belongs to the Greenmeadow Community Association. Robles Park in Charleston Meadows is a small city park on the other side of the tracks. Shoreline at Mountain View, with its lake and bay trails, is a short drive east.
Schools by attendance area
Palo Alto Online listed these public schools for San Alma:
- Fairmeadow Elementary at 500 East Meadow Drive.
- JLS Middle School at 480 East Meadow Drive.
- Gunn High School on Arastradero Road.
Confirm any address with the PAUSD school finder, since boundaries change. Several preschools and child care centers operate along Alma Street and Parkside Drive nearby. Our public schools guide explains enrollment.
Shopping and getting around
Location is San Alma's practical strength. The Village at San Antonio Center and San Antonio Shopping Center in Mountain View are just across San Antonio Road, with supermarkets, restaurants and a cinema. The Charleston Shopping Center on Middlefield Road is a short drive north.
San Antonio Caltrain station at 190 Showers Drive is a short bike ride away, which makes San Alma one of the easiest places in south Palo Alto to live without a daily car commute. San Antonio Road leads to US 101 and Alma Street runs north to downtown Palo Alto. VTA buses run along El Camino Real, a few blocks west.
San Alma Association
The San Alma Association is the homeowners association. Its board meets monthly and all owners meet once a year, but any resident may bring an issue to a board meeting. The association maintains the common areas, front yards and pool and collects monthly dues to cover them. It also acts as the neighborhood's voice with the city. Contacts change, so check with current owners or the City of Palo Alto's neighborhood association list.
Good to know
- Visitor parking inside the complex is very limited. Use San Antonio Road or Briarwood Way.
- The heritage elm is protected. Work near it needs city review.
- HOA dues and rules apply to every unit. Read the documents before you buy.
Visitors to San Alma can stay at the hotels clustered along San Antonio Road and El Camino Real nearby. Compare hotels near San Antonio Road before you book.
Frequently asked questions
Where is San Alma in Palo Alto?
San Alma is at the southern end of Palo Alto, east of Alma Street off San Antonio Road. Its name comes from that intersection. The community has two streets: Ponce Drive, a narrow semicircle, plus Hemlock Court, a cul-de-sac.
How many homes are in San Alma?
Palo Alto Online counted 26 townhomes and eight below-market-rate condominiums, built in 1974. The one- and two-story townhomes range from about 1,500 to 1,777 square feet with small private backyards.
What is the big tree at San Alma?
It is an American elm at the center of the complex. The city named it Heritage Tree No. 6 in 2000, citing its historical significance on the site associated with the Robles family adobe. The townhomes were built around it in 1974.
Which schools serve San Alma?
Palo Alto Online listed Fairmeadow Elementary, JLS Middle School and Gunn High School. Attendance areas change from time to time, so confirm any address with the Palo Alto Unified School District school finder.
Who designed San Alma?
Palo Alto Online credits the architect John Brooks Boyd, who it says also designed homes for Joseph Eichler. The complex is managed by a homeowners association that maintains the common areas and pool.