LomaLiving - Page 2

The fact that Eichler folks do not say they live in 'Fairview,' opting instead to join their non-Eichler neighbors as proud Monta Lomans, indicates true neighborhood solidarity. "When I say Monta Loma, it's the whole neighborhood. We are one," says DelGaudio, president of the neighborhood association.

"We have an email network, and around 800 families connect," says Jim Cochran, an Eichler owner for 53 years who helped found the CERT emergency team for Monta Loma. "When people ask questions or comments, you never hear discussion about what sort of house you have."

Monta Loma includes about 1,100 homes, including later additions and apartments. Adding to cohesiveness is the neighborhoods' recognizable border, a rough square bounded by broad boulevards.

Several Eichler streets are named after Joe's architects or family members who worked for Eichler homes: Alvin Street for Joe's brother Al, Nedson Court for his son Ned, Quincy Drive for A. Quincy Jones, and Emmons Drive for Frederick Emmons.

In Mountain View, often dubbed 'Googleville' because it is home to Google, Monta Loma is one of the tightest-knit neighborhoods.

"When my realtor told me it was a really great neighborhood, I was, hehhhh, I was a little skeptical," says Pat Moran, a computer scientist at NASA in Moffett Field, just minutes from his home. "But it's a really great neighborhood."

DelGaudio says a survey two years ago found "one in seven households had someone working for Google, and I think it's gone up. My husband is one of them. There are a lot of people in this neighborhood who are dual Google couples. You've got tech within walking distance."

Moran got to know neighbors quickly thanks to a block party. "The block on Benjamin was doing one," he says. "I wasn't even in their block, but they knew I was new and they invited me over. People really take the extra step to make people feel welcome."

Tricia DelGaudio met a different sort of welcome. Before moving in, Tricia says, she and husband Michael noticed a note on their door: "Hi. We're so-and-so. We notice you have a son. We would love to meet you and have a play date someday."

"That's never happened anyplace I lived," Tricia says. And, yes, they have become good friends, both children and adults.