Palm Haven Intro and Mission Statement

Real estate activity

Local
Projects

It's that time again!
The biennial collection of photographs of Palm Haven homes is back for 2010. Photos will be taken beginning in June. If you wish to schedule when your photo is taken, send a message to: mail "at" palmhaven.info.

Mission Revival
in the Heart of Palm Haven

   The stark white house at the end of Plaza Drive in San Jose's historic Palm Haven neighborhood takes you by surprise. It's small in scale, a single story on a corner lot. But its domed tower and decorative parapet across the roofline force you to take a second look.

     This is Michael Borbely's mini masterpiece - a recently completed Mission Revival house of stucco and tile that took years of research to create, plus help from San Jose's Fireclay Tile to reproduce century-old details.

      CLICK HERE for the full article on this NOVUSPACE Mission Revival architecture co-published by Lookiloos and the San Jose Mercury News, Aug. 8, 2009, praised by Hewn And Hammered, and featured in the Oakland Tribune and Contra Costa Times.

Photogenic Palm Haven Fronts the 'Merc' and Wins a Contest!

Palm Haven graces the front page of San Jose's major newspaper for the first time in history! The article, lamenting the extended wet season for 2010, covers the front page with a skyward view of the palms. Palm Haven has been featured on the first page of other sections of the 'Merc' several times but this is the first on the front.
And on May 18, 2010, Margaret Ma, born and raised in Palm Haven, took first place honors in the "Adult Landscape" category of the San Jose Historical Landmarks Commission's 2010 "Historical San Jose" photo contest. You can view the contest results HERE. Margaret says of her photograph, "Photos were taken looking down Palm Haven Ave. from our 2nd story window. I was inspired by thinking about how Claude Monet would have painted the palm trees, had he lived in Palm Haven."

Palm Haven real estate snaps!

Real estate activity in Palm Haven continues to buck regional trends. Compared to the greater area of Willow Glen in the 95125 zip code, Palm Haven properties command more than a 20% premium and even more compared to Santa Clara County. And how has it faired during the local and national downturn in real estate sales? Years of transaction data gathered from county records for the www.palmhaven.info database reveals some interesting results. Read on for the full story and comment from the local real estate community ...

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Support the Palm Haven restoration efforts ...
... and purchase one of these unique pillar models!

Order your:
Cast-pewter keychains with the original Palm Haven logo engraved on the bottom!

$10 each!

or for more info.
Proceeds go toward improvements in the Historic Conservation Area under the stewardship of the Palm Haven Restoration Committee.

Introduction

In 1913, real estate developers Eaton, Vestal & Herschbach opened a small "Residence Park" on the southern edge of San Jose, California they called Palm Haven.

"The immediate cause of our putting Palm Haven on the market was the realization that there is an active demand for residence property of the very highest class in San Jose." Said Vestal, "We have made every effort to make Palm Haven a place of pride to us and to the community at large as well as a pleasure to those purchasing from us, whether they buy for a home or for an investment. Palm Haven is destined to occupy a proud position among the well-known residence parks of California."

The San Jose Mercury And Herald (now the San Jose Mercury News) reported after the March 15 opening: "No surer evidence of the upbuilding of San Jose has ever been furnished than the opening of this section which is destined to become the most beautiful and exclusive of the Garden City's unsurpassed park-like districts of residences."

Then, San Jose Mayor Monahan said, "Palm Haven is rightly named. This beautiful row of palm trees shelters the property from the north winds and is a haven in reality as well as in name. The work of the architects is a masterpiece and San Jose could wish for no prettier or more exclusive residence district."

Indeed, Palm Haven managed to attract some of San Jose's leading professionals and politicians to commission architect-specified residences in the neighborhood. Most of those residences remain today as the neighborhood has survived the changes that came with growth in suburbs and the many economic swings that affected San Jose. But the most visible marker of Palm Haven's tenacious claim to its part of San Jose are the great old palm trees that line the streets. The nearly 100 year-old trees stand tall today as though to guard Palm Haven from all peril and comfort those below who rest in their windy whisper.

Palm Haven has garnered a rich history that has earned it numerous historic designations with the City of San Jose and the State of California.

This web site is being developed as a "living" heritage resource for the history of Palm Haven. Unlike a book, this site will contain a variety of collected media that will be presented through a unique interface. As more information is discovered, the historical collection will grow to be the most comprehensive resource on the area's history. The site will not take on an editorial disposition of its history and will include verifiable information unless noted otherwise.

My hope is that you will find the site informative, useful, and maybe even a little entertaining.

- Site master