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Mountain View’s Rex Manor-Mountain Shadows community is a potpourri of diversity in northern Santa Clara County. Bounded by Central Expressway, Shoreline Boulevard, Middlefield Road, Farley Street, Burgoyne Street, and San Ramon and Montecito avenues, its proximity to shopping, entertainment and Google make it an attractive community to singles and families looking for a suburban lifestyle with an urban feel.
Rex Manor-Mountain Shadows “is a nice mixture of different types of people,” said 16-year resident Sharon Gloster. “There are working class people who have lived here for years as well as tech workers who have moved here more recently.”
Gloster said she initially gravitated toward the Rex Manor-Mountain Shadows neighborhood based on its location — only a mile away from downtown Mountain View and close the U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 85 — and local schools. Plus it was within walking distance to the local supermarket and playgrounds.
“(It’s) close to downtown Mountain View, the performing arts center, the library and restaurants as well as CalTrain and highways, plus there is a nearby tennis court, schools, Safeway within walking distance (and) playgrounds,” she said.
That proximity, along with Rex Manor-Mountain Shadow’s closeness to Shoreline Amphitheater, gives residents “all the benefits of being close to downtown but without the noise and parking problems.”
However, Gloster said, the rising cost of real estate in the Bay Area, increasing rents and demolition of older houses has resulted in many of the older residents being forced out of the neighborhood.
“We are losing diversity,” she said.
According to Gloster, one disadvantage of living within the Rex Manor-Mountain Shadows neighborhood comes when Shoreline hosts a large-draw concert. That’s when residents experience the side effects of noise and increased traffic.
“But that doesn’t happen too often,” she said.
Lesley Ruzon, who has lived in the Rex Manor-Mountain Shadows neighborhood since 2000 and in her current home since 2005, supports Gloster’s statement about the cost of living in Mountain View.
“The rents are going up so many of our children’s friends have moved away,” she said, adding that when she first moved to the area it was affordable and one of the few locations where her family could purchase a home.
Like Ruzon, many families have stood the test of time and remain solidly in their homes despite the cost of living.
“We have a range of older retirees who bought their houses 50 years ago when they were first built and never left,” said Gloster. “In addition, we have some younger families with kids. There are a lot of apartments so we do get some of the single techies — especially because we are so close to Google.”
Closeness to tech jobs, a free local shuttle, Theuerkauff Elementary and Crittenden Middle School and local activities are reasons Ruzon loves the mostly quiet Rex Manor-Mountain Shadows neighborhood.
“Our kids can bike to school (and) sports practice,” she said. “Mountain View Los Altos Girls’ Softball headquarters is at Stevenson Park. It’s fun to see all the girls at various ages playing ball. (The neighborhood) is great for jogging and biking.”
Other bonuses of living in the Rex Manor-Mountain Shadows community include a June barbecue and enrichment activities offered by Mountain View.
“We have an annual neighborhood block party,” Gloster said. “In addition, the City of Mountain View has many summer activities, which bring all residents together.”
FACTS
CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOLS: YMCA of the East Bay/Mountain View Child Development Center, 750B San Pierre Way; YMCA — Theuerkauf, 1625 San Luis Ave.
FIRE STATION: No. 3, 301 N. Rengstorff Ave. or No. 1, 251 S. Shoreline Blvd.
LOCATION: Rex Manor: between Farley and Burgoyne streets, Central Expressway and West Middlefield Road; Mountain Shadows: between Burgoyne Street and Shoreline Boulevard, San Ramon and Montecito avenues
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Lawrence Shing, chair, Shings.rus@gmail.com
PARKS: Rex Manor Park, Farley Street and Central Expressway; Stevenson Park, San Luis Avenue and San Pierre Way
POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman School District: Theuerkauf and Stevenson elementary schools, Crittenden Middle School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School District: Los Altos High School
SHOPPING: Bailey Park Plaza Shopping Center, Shoreline Boulevard; strip shopping areas at 112 Rengstorff Ave. and 580 Rengstorff Ave.
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Too close to Google. Do people realize Google actually pays employees extra if they live within a certain radius of their office? Crazy real estate prices are the result.