Southgate

Southgate is one of the smallest named neighborhoods in Palo Alto and one of the easiest to miss. It occupies a few blocks between El Camino Real and the Caltrain tracks, just south of Churchill Avenue. Many drivers pass it every day on El Camino without knowing it is there. That is largely the point. The tract has only a few ways in, so most of its streets carry little traffic beyond residents.

The neighborhood dates from the 1920s and still has period touches, including stucco houses and original street lights. This guide covers its boundaries, its history as a planned subdivision, its homes, schools, the parking program that shapes daily life and what is nearby.

Where Southgate is

Southgate is bounded by El Camino Real, Churchill Avenue, the railroad tracks and Park Boulevard. Palo Alto Weekly and the city's historic survey both use those four edges. Across Churchill to the north are Palo Alto High School and, beyond Embarcadero Road, Town & Country Village. To the south the houses continue into Evergreen Park and then the California Avenue business district. To the west, across El Camino Real, is Stanford land and the College Terrace neighborhood a little further south.

The railroad on the east side is a hard edge. The tracks separate Southgate from Old Palo Alto. Crossings are limited to specific streets and underpasses. Combined with busy El Camino on the other side, that leaves Southgate with few entrances, which keeps through traffic low.

A 1920s planned subdivision

Before it was subdivided, the land was orchard. Palo Alto Weekly has reported that it belonged to the Stanford family, which sold it for development in the 1920s. The name refers to its position along the southern side of the Stanford lands.

The city's historic survey credits the subdivision design to the Palo Alto Development Company and places the neighborhood's main period of development between 1923 and the 1950s. The survey describes Southgate as an upper middle class neighborhood developed for automobile owners. That set it apart from the older blocks near the University Avenue station, where many early residents walked to the train.

Early deed rules reflected the era. Palo Alto Weekly reported that the original 1923 land documents banned alcohol and poultry. A 1924 newspaper advertisement promoted the first phase as Palo Alto's finest residential section, with lots starting at $660. Our history of Palo Alto covers the dry town rules and the Mayfield merger in more detail.

Homes and streets

Southgate has roughly 200 to 250 properties, nearly all single-family homes. Palo Alto Weekly put the number at about 230. The city's survey describes the houses as stucco-clad with a mix of styles:

• Period revival houses from the 1920s and 1930s, the first style the city survey lists.
• Ranch houses from the years around World War II, built as the last lots filled.
• Modern and contemporary homes, many of them rebuilds on original lots.

Remodeling has been close to constant for years, according to longtime residents quoted by Palo Alto Weekly. The streets are narrow by modern standards, which is one reason parking became such a fight. The survey also singled out the neighborhood's 1920s street light fixtures as worth keeping for their looks. Watch for them on an evening walk.

The city reviewed Southgate as a possible historic district but concluded there was not enough documentation to treat it as one, partly because of later alterations. As a result Southgate has no historic district status, unlike Professorville or the Greenmeadow Eichler tract. For market context, see our real estate guide.

Parking and traffic

Southgate's biggest local issue for many years was parking. Palo Alto High School sits just across Churchill Avenue. Students and other commuters parked on Southgate's narrow streets. In 2017 the City Council approved a residential preferential parking program for the neighborhood. It limits nonresident parking on covered streets during the day.

The Churchill Avenue crossing of the Caltrain tracks is one of the street-level crossings the city has studied for years as part of its rail grade separation planning. Any change there would affect how Southgate residents get across the tracks. Follow the City of Palo Alto's transportation pages for updates.

Parks and open space

Southgate has no park inside its own boundaries. Residents use Peers Park at 1899 Park Boulevard, a short walk south in Evergreen Park. It has lawn, play equipment and the city's largest fenced dog park. The playing fields at Palo Alto High School are school property, so check posted rules before using them.

For bigger outings, Stanford's campus is across El Camino Real. Walkers and runners use its quiet roads and paths. The Dish trail is a short drive away. See our guides to visiting Stanford and the outdoors in Palo Alto.

Shopping and food

Two shopping areas sit within walking distance. Town & Country Village, at El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road, is an open-air center with groceries, restaurants and shops. The California Avenue district to the south has more restaurants, cafes and the Sunday farmers market. Our guides to Town & Country Village and the California Avenue district list what is there.

Getting around

Southgate's location is central. The California Avenue Caltrain station is a short walk or bike ride south. The downtown Palo Alto station is roughly a mile and a half north, an easy bike ride. VTA buses run on El Camino Real, including local Route 22 and the limited-stop Rapid 522.

By bike, Park Boulevard is a calmer alternative to El Camino Real for heading south. Stanford is a short ride across El Camino. Our getting around guide covers trains, buses and parking across the city.

Schools

Southgate is served by the Palo Alto Unified School District. Palo Alto Weekly neighborhood guides in 2019 and 2021 listed Escondido and Walter Hays elementary schools, Greene Middle School and Palo Alto High School for the area. Paly is close enough that many students walk. Boundaries follow specific streets and can change, so confirm any address with the PAUSD school finder. Our schools guide explains how the district works.

What living here is like

Southgate residents are a mix of families, empty nesters and retirees. Neighbors organize their own traditions. Palo Alto Weekly has written about a Memorial Day block party and a December toy drive with a holiday gathering. A volunteer neighborhood watch has long served as the main point of contact with the city.

The appeal is a quiet residential pocket with unusually good access. Schools, two shopping areas, Stanford and a train station are all close. The trade-offs are small lots, narrow streets, school traffic on Churchill and ongoing construction as older houses are rebuilt.

There are no hotels inside Southgate. Visiting family usually stay on El Camino Real or downtown. You can compare hotels along El Camino Real or look for a short-term rental for a longer visit. For more on the area around Southgate, read the neighborhoods overview.

Frequently asked questions