College Park
Posted on 06. Dec, 2011 in Davis Community
Situated across Fifth Street from the UC Davis campus and just blocks away from downtown is College Park, one of the most gracious and storied neighborhoods in Davis. Built as a means to attract professors to the university, this neighborhood has a variety of homes set along the circle drive, lined with huge trees. Though moments away from everything, walking through this neighborhood is like getting wrapped up in a quiet, pleasant bubble.
College Park Drive circles the neighborhood, with houses lining each side. A park sits at the entrance to the enclave, providing a great spot to go for walks in the evenings or to gather with neighbors while getting some fresh air. The tree-lined streets create a sense of place, adding wonderful shade in the summer and great foliage during the fall. Coldwell Banker Doug Arnold Real Estate (CB DARE) Realtor Leslie Tuel has lived in the neighborhood for almost four years, and she says, “The trees are giant, they seem like they are 100 or 200 feet tall.”
The overall feel of the neighborhood is calm, which is impressive, considering how close to the action the neighborhood is. Leslie says, “The street is very quiet, with lots of bikes and pedestrians.” Eureka Street branches off College Park and connects to Eighth Street; however, Eureka is closed to cars. It’s possible to go from Eighth Street to Fifth Street through the neighborhood, but you need to do it on a bike or on foot.
The style of homes varies in this area, with Tudors and French-inspired brick sitting next to Spanish and California bungalows. Over the years the homes have been remodeled and extended. According to Leslie, the trend has been for the owners to build up their initially smaller homes with renovations and add-ons; for example, many of the residents turned their one-car garages into small cottages. As a result, the homes are fairly considerable in size, with the improvements over the years adding to the homes and their features.
In fact, many homeowners on the street are original owners or related to original owners. The area is so renowned within Davis, the homes so stately and impressive, the neighborhood so elegant and peaceful, that property is only rarely available on the street. Along with the considerable number of original owners, many children of original owners have elected to take on their parents’ homes. As Leslie says, “Who would ever leave this street if you are lucky enough to move here in the first place?”
Looking at the neighborhood now, it’s hard to believe that the lots sold for around $500 when the university was developing the neighborhood. The area was developed by the university in the 1920s, and the street also hosts the university chancellor’s residence, cementing the connection with the university. It’s funny to think that more than 90 years ago, when the neighborhood was developed, it was in a rural area – Miller Drive and A Street north of Fifth Street was all sheep pasture until after World War II. The street’s connection to the university, the town, and the tendency for families to buy a home and stay for generations, provides a real sense of permanence inhabiting the homes along with the residence. Leslie wraps it up by saying, “There is a lot of history on this street.”
To learn more about College Park, contact the CB DARE office in Davis at 530-758-3080.
