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Los Gatos prides itself on being a town rather than a city, with the intimacy and friendlines that being a town implies.
Don't let the name "town" fool you, though. There's a lot of "big" in this small town. We do the holidays in a big way in Los Gatos: the tree lighting, the holiday parade, the fantasy of lights, the carriage rides, and the decor throughtout the downtown and neighborhoods are all on a great and beautiful scale. Summer's the same scale of big with outdoor events: we enjoy Shakespeare in the Park, Screen on the Green, and more musical venues than anywhere else in the county (Jazz on the Plazz, Music in the Park, Vasona Vibrations, and last year a newcomer joined the musical scene in Old Town with Saturday afternoon music on the deck next to Borders - all of these are free musical events).
Los Gatos real estate is varied; while it's a well-to-do town, not everyone lives in large homes or view estates with vineyards and olympic sized pools. In fact there is a lot of variety in the size and character of our houses from the inauspicious 1100 sf to 1400 sf track homes built in the 1960s to charming, 100+ year old houses in the heart of downtown - in the Almond Grove, Edelen, Fairway Plaza or Broadway districts. Close by, there are woodsy mountain homes in the neighborhoods off of Highway 17 that are "part of the town" if not legally incorporated into it. And there are the homes in great view locations on enormous lots. Most of these lovely houses that sit atop our closest foothills are not monster homes, but tasteful, larger homes. It's just that the collossal strutures are impossible to miss.
With so much variety, so much "big" and "small", is it any wonder that the valley's smallest home is also in Los Gatos? The former chicken coop is now a showplace of stye and design and blends in modestly among its larger peers in the Almond Grove District. After a fire destroyed the old structure, it was rebuilt in 1997. Designed by Gary Schloh, it is a perfect fit for the tiniest lot (956 SF) in the county too. How tiny is tiny, you are wondering. Would you believe 514 square feet? Needless to say, there's no wasted space!
The smallest home is a private residence and is not for sale. Watch for the annual home tour events in town - the generous owners have offered it as part of charitable tours in the past, and if you are lucky, may do so again!
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RE: Los Gatos is Home to the Smallest House<br>In All of Silicon Valley
I just returned from New York, Mary. I was talking to a gal from college that just bought a 350 sqft apartment.
Human beings are adaptable animals; we make do under any circumstances.
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RE: Los Gatos is Home to the Smallest House<br>In All of Silicon Valley
Hi Brian,
Thanks! Yes, we do find ways to cope. In the case of this tiniest house, it's a point of pride to live in such a unique home plus it has historic interest and truly is in a great location. So really the only sacrifice is the paring down of stuff to make it all fit.
Hope you had fun at Inman! (You did a great job on the Bloggers Connect Panel that I saw online. I enjoyed the video.)
Thanks for stopping by Live in Los Gatos!
Mary
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RE: Los Gatos is Home to the Smallest House<br>In All of Silicon Valley
Posted by: Bella Babot
Date: May. 24, 2008
Hi there,
I think it's wonderful that this home is preserved as is. What a beautiful and peaceful retreat he must enjoy in the heart of this joyful town! When one thinks of being 'green', this is a shining example. Little to no wasted space, small carbon footprint, no need for excess belongings, therefore wonderfully simplifying his life and his environment.
Enjoy your days in this lovely, historical home!
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Live in Los Gatos:
A blog about Los Gatos real estate, homes, houses, condos, townhomes, housing market, neightborhoods, history, events, businesses, parks, schools, photos, issues, and lifestyle.
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