PaloAltoHome Rentals

The property started its life as a residential area in the latter part of the 1800s.  The property is just a block away from Rinconada Park, two blocks from Lucie Stern Center, Children’s Library and the City Library.  The 1233 house and its garage were built on the lot about 100 feet from Wilson Street and was finished just before the big quake in 1906.  Both the 1233 house and the garage survived that 1906 and 1989 quakes in good shape and have been continually improved upon to this date.  The orignal Deed used the 1233 Wilson St. address for the property and in about 1922 the front house, 1231 Wilson, was built.  In the 1960s the front house was expanded and in 1987 through 1989 both houses were lifted off their foundations, placed back on new foundations with new fireplaces and many upgrades internally.   

http://www.paloaltohistory.com/1906-palo-alto-earthquake.php

http://archive.cityofpaloalto.org/depts/csd/news/details.asp?NewsID=118&TargetID=14 

http://archive.cityofpaloalto.org/depts/lib/default.asp

http://archive.cityofpaloalto.org/living/news/details.asp?NewsID=706&TargetID=1,42

http://archive.cityofpaloalto.org/living/news/details.asp?NewsID=470&TargetID=1,42

The 1233 house was built out of mostly first growth redwood with rough cut lumber.  It has two bedrooms upstairs and a Great Room downstairs.  The Great Room downstairs had and still has a fireplace at one end.  It has been used as a grand bedroom by one of the previous Tenants, but most use it as a living room and dining room area.  The bathroom is off the Great Room and just before entering the kitchen area.  The kitchen area has a Breakfast Nook area and a Laundry Room area off from the Kitchen area.  The Laundry area has a door to the backyard and makes a good mud room vice using the front door.  The 1233 house has about 900 sq. ft. of livable space.  The house now makes a very comfortable home for up to a Family of four or it could also be used as a place for your Nanny as she cares for your children’s needs while you occupy the front house (1231).  There are many possibilities for the home and its fenced-in backyard area.  The current Owner lived in this house between 1990 and 1995 after buying the property in the summer of 1987.  In 1987 through 1988 the 1233 house was lifted about two feet and a new foundation was installed along with a new fireplace and upgrades were done to the kitchen and its appliances.  The 1233 house survived the 1989 quake without even an extra crack or two and remains strong and tall to this date.

The 1231 house was started in the 1920s and was expanded in the 1960s.  In 1987 through 1988 the current Owner lifted the 1231 house and replaced its foundation and fireplace and did many upgrades internally including kitchen work.  The current Owner lived in the 1231 house as his family home from 1987 through 1989 and then moved into the 1233 house.  The 1231 house survived the 1989 quake without even an extra crack or two and remains strong and tall to this date.  Inside of the 1231 house there are three levels.  The main level has a total of seven (7) room areas that include a living room, two bedrooms, bathroom, dining room, kitchen and family room.  Below the Kitchen/Family room areas there is a finished basement area with a concrete floor.  The basement area contains the forced air furnace and water heater and it has closet space and has been used in the past as a bedroom as well as small Home Theater with a large screen monitor.  Above the main level there is a finished attic area that can be accessed from within the home and this attic area has at least one large bedroom and two smaller rooms with built in bunk beds and there is a full bath (shower) in that area.  There is an emergency egress door for the attic area and stairs going down on the outside to the north wall of the building.  There is at least 2,300 sq. ft. of livable space in the 1231 home and 12 rooms.

There is a garage on the property between the 1231 and 1233 homes that has been used by the Owner as his workshop/storage area and its ability to be rented with 1233 or 1231 is negotiable.  Only one small car could be fitted into the garage at this time, but parking is available outside of the garage and is shared with 1231 and 1233 or could be made an exclusive place for either Tenant.  The garage is 19 ft. by 19 ft. and has an attic space.  There is 361 sq. ft. of garage space on the ground floor and a little over 256 sq. ft. of attic space.

The current Owner lived on the property from the summer of 1987 until September of 1995.  His Son lived with him during this period and went to local schools including Palo Alto High School and all schools and other activity areas were within walking and biking distances from the home.  The homes have been used as rental units since the Owner left in 1995 and numerous upgrades have been made to enhance the experience of the Tenants since that time to include the addition of air conditioning in 1231 and new roofs.