In 1953, the entire tract was owned by Leslie Salt. The already venerable salt company developed a real estate arm, called Concord Ranch Properties, to sell and develop its substantial property holdings. Eichler, who built 11,000 homes designed to bring California Modern design to middle-class homebuyers between 1950 and 1974, was just beginning to hit his stride when he built 19th Avenue Park.

Eichler’s 19th Avenue Park development is humbler than his later work in San Mateo, The Highlands. Homes in both communities share Eichler’s distinctive wood and glass construction, open floorplans, dramatic walls of glass and central atria. 19th Avenue Park is distinctive, even among Eichler tracts, however. As one of Eichler’s first large-scale developments, it is more centrally-located than most – certainly more so than The Highlands. 19th Avenue Park offers easy commute access (the neighborhood is cradled by the 92 and 101 freeways) and is close to downtown San Mateo.

19th Avenue Park real estate is also humbler than some of its nearby relations. Homes are smaller than those in The Highlands, with three to four bedrooms and somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet of living space. Residents send their children to well-regarded Sunnybrae Elementary School, Borel Middle School and Aragon High School.

Eichler lovers/bargain-hunters are attracted to 19th Avenue Park homes for sale because they command less than those in The Highlands. Single-family homes can be had for around $1.5 million and up, making 19th Avenue Park still one of the best deals in Eichlerland – and the tract most in line with Joseph Eichler’s original plan of providing stellar design to the masses -- but still a little bit dear for Sunnybrae, where non-Eichler homes have recently sold for a median of $1.35 million and a range of $1.1 to $1.55 million.

To view a detailed google map of the Sunnybrae and 19th Avenue Park neighborhood, click here. The MLS area is 418.

San Mateo has it all: a diversity of neighborhoods, great parks, easy access, a plethora of shopping, and home to many businesses and an anchor for employment on the peninsula. With a rich heritage, dating back to the turn of the century with its most famous resident being A.P. Giannini, the founder of the Bank of Italy and later Bank of America, San Mateo offers a delightful spread of activity for all. The downtown area is studded with delicious restaurants and a variety of retail stores, and also boasts a 12 screen movie theatre and one of the largest wine cellars in the country, at Draeger’s Grocery Store. Shopping abounds at Hillsdale and Bridgepointe as well as the many neighborhood shopping centers.

Perhaps the most well known natural area is Coyote Point, a rock outcropped peninsula that juts into San Francisco Bay and home to a natural history museum, the Peninsula Humane Society, windsurfing, a private marina, and large picnic areas with uplifting vistas. Within walking distance of downtown, Central Park has something for everyone: ride the toy train, pick up a game of tennis, take a serene walk through the Japanese Garden, have a picnic while listening to Thursday evening’s Jazz in the Park, or enjoy the playgrounds.

San Mateo attracts a variety of homeowners, from those seeking their first home in the upcoming neighborhoods of the Village, Parkside, or Shoreview, to those looking for more a little more space in Hillsdale or the Meadows, to larger families seeking the spaciousness offered by San Mateo Park, Baywood, and Aragon.