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University South is the neighborhood most visitors walk through without knowing its name. Head south from University Avenue toward the HP Garage and you cross it. Shingled professors' houses, small apartment buildings, a museum in a 1907 mansion and a downtown park all fit inside a few dozen blocks. It is old, walkable and close to everything, which is exactly why parking and noise are its constant debates.
This guide explains where University South begins and ends, how it relates to Professorville, what the housing looks like, which parks and schools serve it and how residents get around.
Where University South is
Palo Alto Weekly's neighborhood profile describes University South as bounded by Homer Avenue on the north, Alma Street and the railroad on the west, Embarcadero Road on the south and Middlefield Road on the east. The commercial core of downtown lies just north of Homer Avenue. Old Palo Alto begins across Embarcadero Road. The Community Center neighborhood and Rinconada Park are across Middlefield.
The streets carry on the downtown grid. Emerson, Ramona, Bryant, Waverley, Kipling, Cowper, Tasso and Webster streets run south toward Embarcadero. Channing, Addison, Lincoln, Kingsley and Melville avenues cross them. Homer Avenue and Channing Avenue carry much of the cross-town traffic.
The Professorville historic district sits inside these lines. The National Park Service describes it as roughly bounded by Embarcadero Road, Addison Avenue, Emerson Street and Cowper Street. University South is the wider neighborhood around that core.
History
The land was part of University Park, the townsite Timothy Hopkins laid out in 1887 beside the new Stanford University. Stanford's first faculty could only lease land on campus, so many bought lots here instead. The blocks south of University Avenue filled with their houses from the early 1890s. Most of the area was built out by the 1920s.
The neighborhood's tech history is famous. In 1938 David and Lucile Packard rented the house at 367 Addison Avenue and Bill Hewlett moved into a shed on the property. They began Hewlett-Packard in the garage out back in 1939. Earlier, between 1911 and 1913, Lee de Forest developed the vacuum tube amplifier at the Federal Telegraph Company lab near Channing Avenue and Emerson Street. A state landmark plaque marks that site. Our page on the HP Garage covers the garage in detail.
The northern edge changed most in recent decades. The Palo Alto Medical Foundation once had its main campus near Homer Avenue. After the clinic moved to El Camino Real around 1999, the city planned the South of Forest Avenue area, often shortened to SOFA, for new housing and open space. Heritage Park was created on part of the old medical campus.
Housing in general terms
University South mixes owners and renters more than most neighborhoods near it. Expect:
- brown shingle, Colonial Revival and Craftsman houses from the 1890s to the 1920s, concentrated in Professorville
- cottages and small houses on split lots, some with backyard units
- apartment buildings, especially near Alma Street and the northern blocks
- newer condominiums and townhouses built near Homer Avenue
Palo Alto Weekly found a mix of longtime owners, families and renters, including shared houses rented by Stanford graduate students. Inside Professorville, exterior changes go through the city's historic review. For prices and buying advice, see our real estate guide.
Parks and landmarks
Heritage Park at 300 Homer Avenue covers about two acres on the former medical foundation site. A single tall redwood stands over the lawn and there is a playground with picnic tables. Each May the free fair after the May Fete Children's Parade takes over the park.
The Museum of American Heritage sits across the street at 351 Homer Avenue in the Williams House, a 1907 home designed by Ernest Coxhead. It collects everyday technology from typewriters to radios. Admission is free with a suggested donation and the museum opens only a few days a week. Check our museum guide before you go.
Scott Park at Scott Street and Channing Avenue is a small neighborhood park on the quieter eastern side. For a full-size park with a pool, Rinconada Park at 777 Embarcadero Road is a few minutes away by bike.
Schools by attendance area
University South is in the Palo Alto Unified School District. Palo Alto Weekly's profile listed Addison Elementary, Jordan Middle School and Palo Alto High School. Jordan was renamed Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle School in 2018. Paly sits at Embarcadero Road and El Camino Real, a short ride through the Embarcadero underpass.
Attendance areas follow specific streets and can change. Confirm any address with the PAUSD school finder. Castilleja School, a private girls' school, is just across Embarcadero Road in Old Palo Alto.
Shops, food and the library
Daily errands are a walk away. University Avenue, Hamilton Avenue and the downtown side streets have restaurants, cafes and services a few blocks north. The Downtown Library at 270 Forest Avenue sits a block north of Homer Avenue. City Hall is on Hamilton Avenue. For a broader shopping trip, Palo Alto Weekly pointed residents to Town & Country Village at Embarcadero Road and El Camino Real, about a 10 minute walk from the southern blocks.
Getting around
The Palo Alto Caltrain station at 95 University Avenue is about a 10 to 15 minute walk from most of the neighborhood. VTA buses and the free Stanford Marguerite shuttle also stop there. Bryant Street, the city's oldest bike boulevard, runs straight through University South and carries a steady flow of students and commuters. Embarcadero Road is the main route east to US 101 and is busy at school times.
Living here: noise, parking and the association
Life next to downtown has trade-offs. Residents told Palo Alto Weekly that overflow parking from downtown offices fills their streets. One put it bluntly: if you don't like noise, this is not a good place to be. Many blocks now fall under the city's residential parking permit program. Check the city parking page for current rules.
University South has a residents' association that has worked on parking, traffic and development near downtown. Volunteer contacts change, so check the City of Palo Alto's neighborhood association list or the Palo Alto Neighborhoods (PAN) network for the current contact.
Good to know
- Homes inside Professorville follow city historic design guidelines.
- Blocks near Alma Street hear Caltrain bells and horns.
- Bryant Street is a bike route first. Drive it slowly.
A short walk
Start at Heritage Park and the Museum of American Heritage on Homer Avenue. Walk south on Bryant Street to Addison Avenue and turn toward the HP Garage at 367 Addison. Continue through the Professorville blocks on Lincoln and Kingsley avenues, then finish at Embarcadero Road. The loop takes about an hour. To stay close by, compare hotels near downtown Palo Alto. If you prefer a guide, try a self-guided audio tour. Our Downtown North guide covers the residential blocks on the other side of University Avenue.
Frequently asked questions
Where is University South in Palo Alto?
University South is the residential area just south of downtown. Palo Alto Weekly describes it as bounded by Homer Avenue, Alma Street, Embarcadero Road and Middlefield Road. The Professorville historic district lies inside it.
Is University South the same as Professorville?
Not exactly. Professorville is a National Register historic district covering the core blocks around Kingsley, Lincoln and Addison avenues. University South is the wider neighborhood around it, including the blocks near Homer Avenue, Alma Street and Middlefield Road.
Which schools serve University South?
Palo Alto Weekly listed Addison Elementary, Jordan Middle School (now Frank S. Greene Jr. Middle School) and Palo Alto High School. Boundaries follow specific streets and can change, so confirm any address with the Palo Alto Unified School District school finder.
What parks are in University South?
Heritage Park on Homer Avenue has a playground, lawns and a tall redwood across from the Museum of American Heritage. Scott Park at Scott Street and Channing Avenue is a small neighborhood park. Rinconada Park is a short bike ride east.
Is parking hard in University South?
Parking near downtown is a long-running issue. Residents have told Palo Alto Weekly that overflow from downtown offices fills their streets. Many blocks are covered by the city's residential parking permit program, so read the signs before leaving a car.