Howard Park and White Oaks are similar in many ways. Both are bordered to the west by Alameda de las Pulgas. Both are located a short walk from downtown. White Oaks’ homes are of the same vintage – most were built between the two World Wars – but are slightly larger. Howard Park counters with walking access to Caltrain, unsurpassed Halloween and Christmas celebrations on Eucalyptus Avenue and the city’s best-known public green space, Burton Park.

Howard Park real estate is defined by quiet, tree-lined residential streets lined with a mixture of English, Mediterranean and Arts & Crafts bungalows. The western edge of the neighborhood includes a few winding roads, like Knoll Drive and Elizabeth Street, whose high-end contemporary homes would be at home west of The Alameda.

Howard Park homes may be modest-sized, but they command maximum-sized prices. While the neighborhood range for recently-sold single-family homes falls between $1.6 and $3.2 million, that works out to over $1,000 per square-foot in a neighborhood with an average home size of approximately 1,800 square feet. Howard Park does have an active condominium market, where sales of one- and two-bedroom units have recently ranged from $800,000 to $1.5 million.

Howard Park’s popularity is due in part to a trend: buyers, especially those with families, leaving the secluded hills for the more pedestrian-friendly flats. As long as people see value in quaint streets, classic homes and a short walk to downtown, this neighborhood will continue to thrive.

To view a detailed google map of the Howard Park neighborhood, click here. The MLS area is 353.

Schools

There is one elementary school in the neighborhood, Brittan Acres Elementary. You can see this illustrated on a handy map from the San Carlos School District here.

The middle school is Central Middle, and the high school is Sequoia High.

History

Howard Park is one of San Carlos’ original neighborhoods, part of early growth efforts by the San Carlos Park Syndicate and Frederick “The Father of San Carlos” Drake. The city’s first schoolhouse was in Howard Park, completed in 1918. Its site at 650 Elm Street is now the location of San Carlos City Hall. Development reached Arroyo Avenue by 1930. Growth south of Arroyo included Burton Park, which opened in 1940 despite a curious city law prohibiting baseball. The San Carlos Men’s Athletic Club successfully argued in favor of waiving the law. In return, the city named the park after the club President (and long-time City Councilman), Edward Burton, Sr.