“Redwood City’s gorgeous heritage homes are nestled in the borough of High School Acres, as is the city’s premiere green space, Red Morton Park.”
High Schools Acres (MLS # 334) holds the distinction of the oldest enduring neighborhood in Redwood City. Within its boundaries are many pristine vintage homes of varying architectural styles.
High School Acres garners its name from its vicinity to the historic Sequoia High School. The school first opened in 1895, originally occupying what is today the Fox Theater. It moved to its current locale in 1924, which was part of an estate owned by lawyer Horace Hawes. The school boasts Spanish architecture and its one-of-a-kind campus includes a Sequoia grove and Japanese tea garden.
High Schools Acres also owns bragging rights to another city gem, the 31-acre Red Morton Park. Athletic fields, picnic and BBQ areas, playgrounds and open space make this park one of the city’s finest recreational sites.
High School Acres is comprised of a number of sub-boroughs, including Mount Carmel, Wellesley Park, Roosevelt and Edgewood Park.
Wellesley Park was the neighborhood’s inaugural residential development when it was subdivided into 153 distinct lots in 1889. Though much of the original dwellings succumbed to commercial development, some still stand, including dignified Victorians, impressive Colonials, distinctive Arts and Crafts and masterful Mediterraneans. Many of these stately residences offer upwards of 4,000 square feet of classic living space.
Along Edgewood Road in Wellesley Park is “Millionaire’s Row”, a small compilation of huge vintage homes on spacious lots, many hidden behind mature greenery while mere blocks away, the architectural gamut changes to equally impressive yet relatively newer dwellings, originating from the 1940s through the 1980s. For those seeking a unique and charming high-end area, this could just fit the bill.
Homes in Mount Carmel are a blend of 1920s bungalows and English cottages blended with a fair number of 1940s and 1950s ranch homes. A viable sub-borough for many mid-level homebuyers, homes here tend to be on the smaller side, with under 2,000 square feet of living space and two to three bedrooms. Newer homes can be found here, thanks to on-going renovate, remodel and “raze and rebuild” philosophies. These more modern residences offer multiple stories, more square footage and, of course, a higher ticket price.
The sub-district of Roosevelt is much the same as Mount Carmel, its streets blending seamlessly together with a pause here and there to showcase its custom homes that outsize the vintage classics two to one. The main attribute distinguishing the two sub-boroughs is the price: Roosevelt tends toward a lower price point, with its entry level homes hitting the $500,000 mark while its high-end mark is much less lofty at just about $1 million.
High School Acres is filled with city icons, from Red Morton Park and Sequoia High School, to the many historically significant homes that line its streets. Those looking to buy a home in this inaugural neighborhood are presented with options galore tucked in a convenient locale.
Neighborhood Price Point
$600,000 – $2,400,000
Favorable Attributes
- Oldest neighborhood in Redwood City with many of its most beautiful vintage homes
- Affordable and semi-affordable homes of various sizes
- Within walking distance to downtown
- The 31-acre Red Morton Park offers bountiful outdoor recreation opportunities
- Sequoia High School is the borough’s namesake and centerpiece
History of High School Acres, Redwood City
Attorney and politician Horace Hawes was the “father of San Mateo County”, having authored the legislative section that created the County of San Mateo.
Hawes had an impressive estate in Redwood City, which he had purchased from William Cary Jones. During his time on the property, Jones had allowed a total of 13 people to be buried there. After purchasing the land, Hawes immediately discontinued this practice, informing the city he wanted those currently resting in peace on his land to be moved elsewhere. This resulted in the purchase of land and the ultimate creation of the historical Union Cemetery.
The oldest high school in San Mateo County, Sequoia High School is located on the grounds of Hawes’ former estate and was founded as a preparatory institution for Stanford University. Its campus is wholly unique, including a Japanese tea garden and a significant number of historical trees: the Giant Sequoia, Monkey-Puzzle tree, Australian Tea tree, and Cork Tree, to name only a few. In 1995, the school was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The very first residential development began in 1889 when The Wellesley Land and Improvement Company began by creating 153 individual residential lots. This spurred the borough’s development into motion and, as such, resulted in the construction of many Wellesley Park heritage homes.