Sunnyvale Manor II

Sunnyvale Manor II Eichler Tract, Sunnyvale, 94085

Historical Background and Eichler Legacy

Sunnyvale Manor II – also known as Sunnyvale Manor Addition – is a small but historic Eichler home tract in Sunnyvale, California. Built in 1950 by mid-century developer Joseph Eichler, this was Eichler’s first subdivision to feature homes designed by professional architects eichlerhomesforsale.com. Eichler enlisted the firm Anshen & Allen (led by architect Robert Anshen) to plan the tract after Anshen famously challenged Eichler to build something better than the “conventional” houses of his early forays boyengateam.com. The resulting neighborhood of 51 homes became a blueprint for Eichler’s signature style, introducing core elements of the Eichler design DNA that would define his legacy boyengateam.com. These houses sold out rapidly (within two weeks) and even garnered national acclaim at the time boyengateam.com, firmly establishing Sunnyvale as the cradle of Eichler’s modernist movement in the postwar building boom.

Neighborhood Overview and Boundaries

Sunnyvale Manor II is nestled just a block east of the original Sunnyvale Manor I tract, near the intersection of North Bayview Avenue and East Maude Avenue eichlerhomesforsale.com. The Manor II homes are clustered along East Duane Avenue, East Arbor Avenue, Morse Avenue, and Maple Avenue, forming a compact residential enclave within the surrounding Sunnyvale grid eichlerhomesforsale.com. In total there were about 51 single-family homes built in this tract, all completed around 1950. The layout is an uncomplicated one: Maple and Arbor Avenues are short, quiet residential streets lined with Eichler houses, and on Morse Avenue only the east side of the street consists of these Eichler homes. This integration into an existing neighborhood means Sunnyvale Manor II doesn’t have the winding cul-de-sacs or tract name signage of later mid-century subdivisions – it’s truly a hidden gem tucked amid older Sunnyvale streets. Each lot is roughly a typical suburban size (around 6,000 square feet), providing modest front yards and generous backyards. Mature trees and low-slung profiles give the streets a humble, cozy feel rather than grandiose uniformity. While not immediately obvious as an Eichler tract to the untrained eye, careful observers will notice telltale mid-century lines and glass facades repeating along these avenues. The community’s scale and location create a close-knit, unpretentious atmosphere – in fact, the area is often referred to by locals as part of the “Snail” neighborhood (Sunnyvale Neighbors of Arbor, etc.), reflecting its small neighborhood association.

Architecture and Design Features

Architectural Style: The homes in Sunnyvale Manor II are classic early Eichlers. They were designed by Anshen & Allen and represent Eichler’s first departure from traditional builder plans eichlerhomesforsale.com. Each home is a single-story modernist ranch with either flat or low-pitched (mono-slope) rooflines that hug the horizon eichlerhomesforsale.com. Unlike the dramatic high-gable “A-frame” designs that Eichler would introduce in the 1960s, these early models have simpler roof profiles – a mix of flat-top sections and gently sloping shed roofs – that complement their modest size. The structural system is exposed post-and-beam construction on a concrete slab foundation boyengateam.com, which allowed for open interiors free of bulky support walls. Notably, Sunnyvale Manor II was the tract that established Eichler’s trademark in-floor radiant heating: warm water pipes embedded in the slab warmed the homes efficiently, a feature that became an Eichler hallmark boyengateam.com. (Earlier Eichler houses in 1949 had used conventional forced-air heating boyengateam.com.)

Floor Plans and Layout: All Sunnyvale Manor II houses share a similar compact floor plan, known as the “AA-1” Eichler plan, which was a pioneering design for its timeeichlerhomesforsale.com. These are three-bedroom, one-bath homes originally, each spanning just over 1,000 square feet of living area eichlerhomesforsale.com. Despite the small footprint, the architects emphasized a fluid, open layout that felt revolutionary in 1950. The living room, dining area, and kitchen are arranged in an open-concept configuration, without the compartmentalized rooms typical of 1940s houses eichlerhomesforsale.com. Bedrooms are tucked to one side for privacy, and there is an attached one- or two-car garage (per the original plans) forming an L-shape with the living space. A preserved original floor plan shows features like a central kitchen “snack bar” peninsula and a service yard off the kitchen, illustrating the blend of form and function in these homes【20†source】. Though these models do not have an atrium or enclosed courtyard (those iconic features came in later Eichler designs), they do offer a rear patio or terrace accessed through expansive glass sliders eichlernetwork.com. In fact, large floor-to-ceiling glass walls line the back of the living areas eichlerhomesforsale.com, creating that seamless indoor-outdoor connection Eichlers are famous for. The design literally “brings the outside in,” flooding the interiors with natural light and offering views of the backyard from the living spaces eichlerhomesforsale.com. Other mid-century modern touches originally included Philippine mahogany wall panels, globe pendant lights, and simple clean-lined cabinetry (many of which survive or have been restored in some homes).

Distinctive Features: From the street, Sunnyvale Manor II homes present a humble facade – often a blank garage door and a plain entry, with minimal ornamentation – yet beyond the front door they open up dramatically to light and greenery. Key Eichler innovations made their debut here, such as the use of unpainted redwood siding and tongue-and-groove ceilings, and of course the signature glass walls and open beam ceilings. These homes pioneered the “backyard-oriented” tract concept, where privacy is maintained at the street and the focus is on the private rear garden eichlerhomesforsale.com. As a result, many houses have modest windows or clerestories on the street side, but broad stretches of glass facing the yards. The overall architectural style is mid-century modern in its purest form – simple geometric forms, honest materials, and integration with nature. It’s worth noting that because Sunnyvale Manor II homes lack the later Eichler atrium or gallery foyers, some Eichler purists once considered them less “classic.” In truth, however, these designs were groundbreaking for their time, establishing the aesthetic and structural template that Eichler would refine throughout the 1950s eichlerhomesforsale.com boyengateam.com. Today they are appreciated as the first true Eichlers – a fusion of form and function that was ahead of its era eichlerhomesforsale.com.

Street Character and Neighborhood Layout

Although a small tract, Sunnyvale Manor II has a distinct character. The streets (Maple, Arbor, Morse, Duane) form a roughly rectangular mini-neighborhood within Sunnyvale’s grid. East Duane Avenue serves as a boundary and a connector road, while Morse Avenue (running north-south) marks the western edge of the tract – with Eichler homes on its east side only. Maple and E. Arbor Avenues are short residential lanes that loop through the tract’s interior, exclusively lined with Eichler homes on both sides eichlerhomesforsale.com. Because the tract was built within an existing area, not as a large master-planned subdivision, you’ll find a mix of other homes just outside its few blocks. This gives the immediate area an eclectic feel, but within Sunnyvale Manor II, the Eichler homes create a cohesive mid-century aesthetic. The streetscape is low-profile and open – front elevations are one-story tall and originally had open carports or simple garage fronts, so sight lines are dominated by horizontal rooflines and mature trees rather than tall structures. Many homes sit back on their lots with low fences or hedges, preserving a communal openness. Neighbors often remark that large picture windows and glass sliders make even these small houses feel connected to the street life and each other (one resident noted that without the big windows “the house would feel small,” but with them, “it allows us to feel like we’re sitting in the patio even though we’re inside”).

The atmosphere is friendly and unpretentious. Longtime owners, some of whom moved in decades ago, mingle with newer buyers who have discovered the tract’s charm. You might see original mid-century quirks like breezeblock accents or period-appropriate landscaping (think modest lawns or Japanese-inspired gardens) in a few yards. Over time, some houses have been modified – a handful gained second-story additions or stucco exteriors – yet the majority (49 out of the original 51) are still recognizable as Eichlers of the AA-1 design. Even where changes have been made (like updated windows or added fences), the neighborhood’s scale and simple lines remain intact. There are no through-traffic roads inside the tract, so Maple and Arbor are generally quiet, neighborly streets where kids might ride bikes and homeowners chat by their driveways. Overall, Sunnyvale Manor II’s layout offers a snapshot of early 1950s suburban planning – a straightforward block of modern homes, integrated into the city fabric rather than isolated behind walls or cul-de-sacs, fostering a sense of belonging to the wider Sunnyvale community.

Preservation and Design Guidelines

Because of its historical significance as Eichler’s first architect-designed tract, Sunnyvale Manor II has drawn interest in preservation. The City of Sunnyvale has implemented Eichler-specific Design Guidelines (adopted in 2009) to help protect the unique character of all its Eichler neighborhoods boyengarealestateteam.com. These Sunnyvale Eichler Design Guidelines provide recommendations (and in some cases requirements) for remodeling Eichler homes – covering everything from maintaining low roof profiles to using appropriate materials and window styles – so that renovations are sensitive to the mid-century aesthetic. Sunnyvale Manor II, with its nearly all-original Eichler stock, certainly falls under these citywide guidelines aimed at preventing incompatible McMansion-style rebuilds. In addition to the design guidelines, homeowner advocates in the neighborhood have considered pursuing a Single-Story Overlay (SSO) zoning for the tract eichlerhomesforsale.com. An SSO would legally prohibit new second-story additions, thus preserving the tract’s single-story skyline and the privacy of one-story living. In practice, however, obtaining an SSO requires strong neighborhood consensus. A few years ago, one resident explored the idea of an overlay for Sunnyvale Manor II to halt any further two-story constructions, but ultimately the effort did not go forward due to lukewarm support. As a result, there isn’t an official SSO in place as of today; nonetheless, the informal community sentiment leans toward keeping the original profile intact.

Formal historic designation has also been discussed. The city commissioned an architectural historian to evaluate Sunnyvale Manor II for historic status, but the study concluded that too many homes had lost integrity through past remodeling. Even a plan to landmark a couple of especially well-preserved houses did not materialize, partly because those owners were not interested in the restrictions that come with historic status. Thus, preservation efforts so far are voluntary and guideline-driven rather than legally binding. Encouragingly, most current owners appreciate the Eichler heritage – many have chosen to restore original elements like exposed ceiling beams, mahogany wall panels, and globe lighting rather than replace them. Community groups and Eichler enthusiasts continue to raise awareness about the tract’s significance, hoping to inspire sympathetic updates instead of drastic alterations eichlerhomesforsale.com. The good news for buyers and sellers is that Sunnyvale’s proactive stance (via the Eichler Design Guidelines) effectively acts as a safety net, discouraging out-of-character rebuilds and thereby safeguarding property values and architectural integrity in Sunnyvale Manor II boyengarealestateteam.com. In short, while there may not be an official “historic district” plaque on the corner, the spirit of preservation is alive – ensuring that this mid-century modern enclave remains recognizable for years to come.

Neighborhood Lifestyle and Amenities

One of Sunnyvale Manor II’s strengths is its strategic Silicon Valley location paired with a pleasant neighborhood feel. Situated in northern Sunnyvale, the tract is conveniently close to major tech employment centers – for example, it’s just minutes from Lockheed Martin’s campus and a short commute to companies like Google, LinkedIn, Apple, and Nvidiaredfin.com. Commuters will love the access: Highway 101 and State Route 237 are only a few blocks away, as is Central Expressway, meaning you can quickly reach Mountain View, Santa Clara, or Cupertino. The Sunnyvale Caltrain station and downtown Sunnyvale (with its shopping, dining, and weekly farmer’s market) are a brief drive or bike ride south, making urban conveniences readily available redfin.com. Despite this proximity to transit and work hubs, the immediate neighborhood remains quiet and residential, tucked away from heavy traffic.

For families, schools and parks are close at hand. Sunnyvale Manor II lies within the Sunnyvale School District and Fremont High School District. Local children can walk to Columbia Middle School, which is actually located on Morse Avenue just down the street from the tract (its campus and adjacent Columbia Park form a community hub in the area). Younger students attend nearby elementary schools (such as Ellis or Bishop Elementary), and there are also magnet program schools in reach – one nearby magnet elementary has attracted neighborhood parents as volunteers eichlernetwork.com. The presence of Columbia Park and its Neighborhood Center means residents have a large park, playground, and even community programs practically in their backyard redfin.com. Additionally, Fair Oaks Park – a bigger park with sports fields and picnic areas – is only a few minutes away, offering more recreation options redfin.com.

In terms of daily life, Sunnyvale Manor II offers a nice balance. The neighborhood is part of an active community association (the area’s affectionate “SNAIL” neighborhood group) that fosters a sense of camaraderie and watches out for local issues. Neighbors describe the vibe as laid-back and friendly – it’s not uncommon to see families out for walks or chatting on front porches in the evenings. Being an older Sunnyvale area, there are also mom-and-pop shops, ethnic restaurants, and markets along nearby streets like Mathilda Avenue and Fair Oaks Avenue, giving a bit of cultural flavor and convenience. For more extensive shopping or a night out, residents hop over to downtown Sunnyvale’s historic Murphy Avenue or the modern CityLine development. All told, living in Sunnyvale Manor II means enjoying a retro suburban charm with modern-day connectivity. You get the benefit of a tranquil mid-century environment – complete with birdsong in the mature trees and children playing in the yards – while literally remaining in the heart of Silicon Valley’s action. This blend of privacy and proximity is a major draw for Eichler buyers who work in tech and appreciate a short commute paired with an architectural refuge at home.

Market Appeal and Pricing

Homes in Sunnyvale Manor II are both rare and highly sought-after in the real estate market. With only 51 houses in the tract (and a limited number of sales each year), inventory is tight – when an Eichler in this neighborhood comes up for sale, it often triggers strong interest from a niche pool of buyers who have been waiting for an opportunity. These buyers include mid-century modern enthusiasts drawn to the tract’s historical significance and authentic design, as well as young tech professionals who love the idea of owning a piece of Silicon Valley architectural history close to work eichlerhomesforsale.com. The result is typically competitive bidding whenever a well-preserved Manor II Eichler hits the market eichlerhomesforsale.com. In recent years, some homes have received multiple offers and sold over asking price, reflecting the intense demand.

In terms of pricing tiers, Sunnyvale Manor II Eichlers are generally more affordable than the larger, later Eichlers in Sunnyvale’s western neighborhoods – but they still command a premium over standard tract homes of similar size. As of the mid-2020s, a typical 3-bedroom, 1-bath (~1,100 sq ft) Eichler in mostly original condition here might trade in the mid to high $1 millions. For example, even modestly updated homes have been selling in the $1.4M to $1.8M range in the last couple of years, depending on lot size, condition, and any expansions (some owners have added a second bathroom or small addition to increase functionality). Fully remodeled or expanded examples (with a second bath or a sensitively added master suite) can approach or exceed $2 million, especially if they blend modern upgrades with preserved Eichler character. This pricing is notably above the average for older 3-bedroom homes in Sunnyvale’s 94085 zip code, illustrating the “Eichler premium” that these mid-century homes carry. It’s also still below the median price of Eichlers in more upscale parts of Sunnyvale and Palo Alto, where larger models often sell for $2.5–3M+ boyengarealestateteam.com. In other words, Sunnyvale Manor II Eichlers represent an entry point into Eichler ownership for many – sometimes described as “starter Eichlers” or an “entry-level Eichler” option eichlernetwork.com – albeit entry-level in a very high-value Silicon Valley context.

The market appeal lies not just in dollars per square foot, but in the intangible value of these homes. Buyers covet them for their design pedigree and the lifestyle they afford. Many are willing to pay a premium knowing that Eichler homes, especially early ones with historical cachet, tend to hold their value and appreciate strongly over time eichlerhomesforsale.com. The combination of limited supply and enduring architectural appeal has led to steady appreciation – Sunnyvale Eichlers in general have seen robust value growth, and Manor II is no exception eichlerhomesforsale.com. Additionally, the neighborhood’s proximity to major employers means there’s a constant demand from well-qualified buyers who prioritize location. Investors and preservation-minded flippers have also taken interest, occasionally buying these homes to restore and resell, which further elevates neighborhood values. However, most purchasers are end-users who fall in love with the mid-century modern vibe. These owners often invest in tasteful updates – like remodeling kitchens or bathrooms with period-appropriate styles, upgrading to high-efficiency heating (while retaining the radiant floors), or adding dual-pane retrofitted glass – which improves comfort without erasing Eichler character. Such improvements, combined with Sunnyvale’s Eichler-friendly policies, give buyers confidence that the value of these homes is well-protected for the future boyengarealestateteam.com. In summary, Sunnyvale Manor II offers a rare blend of historical significance, lifestyle appeal, and sound investment potential, making it a prized micro-market within the Silicon Valley real estate scene.

Comparing Sunnyvale Manor II to Sunnyvale Manor I and Other Nearby Eichler Tracts

Sunnyvale Manor I vs. II: Sunnyvale Manor II was essentially an extension of Eichler’s very first housing tract. Sunnyvale Manor I, built in 1949 just a block away, was Eichler’s initial foray into homebuilding eichlerhomesforsale.com. Manor I homes were constructed using pre-designed stock plans and without direct architect involvement – they sported some modern touches (like flat or slightly pitched roofs and simple open layouts) but were relatively conventional in execution eichlerhomesforsale.com. In contrast, Manor II (1950) was the first to be architect-designed, marking a huge step forward in Eichler’s evolution eichlerhomesforsale.com. The differences are notable: Manor I houses had central forced-air heating and more basic finishes, whereas Manor II introduced radiant floor heating and a higher level of design refinementboyengateam.comboyengateam.com. Both tracts featured single-story 3-bedroom homes and share a similar location and overall look from the street. However, Manor II’s homes became the true template for Eichler’s future developments, incorporating the post-and-beam structure, glass walls, and integrated indoor-outdoor ethos that define the Eichler brand boyengateam.com. Some historians even refer to Sunnyvale Manor II as the “first true Eichlers” for this reason eichlerhomesforsale.com. Physically, the two tracts abut or are very close (Manor I is just west, across Bayview Ave.), so in daily life they blend into one broader neighborhood. But Eichler aficionados recognize Manor II as more significant architecturally. In modern times, owners in Manor I and II cooperate as one community (often simply called “Sunnyvale Manor”) for neighborhood events and preservation advocacy, given their shared mid-century heritage.

Relation to Other Sunnyvale Eichlers: Sunnyvale Manor II is one of several Eichler enclaves in Sunnyvale, but it stands out for its early date and smaller home size. Just after Manor II, Eichler built Sunnymount Gardens (also 1949-50, a bit farther south in Sunnyvale near Las Palmas Park) which similarly used early designs. A few years later came tracts like Fairorchard (1954), in southwest Sunnyvale, where Eichler introduced larger 3-4 bedroom models and the first atrium and courtyard layouts to cater to growing families boyengateam.com. Compared to those mid-50s Eichlers, the Manor II homes are more compact and lack atriums, but they are cherished as the origin of the species. Fairbrae (1958) and its huge addition in 1959-60 were upscale Sunnyvale Eichlers with a community pool – worlds apart from the humble beginnings at Manor II boyengateam.com. Even later, Eichler’s Rancho Verde (1960-62) and others in Sunnyvale’s 94087 zip code offered expansive models with double carports and atriums, often designed by architects like Claude Oakland and Jones & Emmons, reflecting the company’s growth. By comparison, Sunnyvale Manor II’s Anshen & Allen designs are more simplistic, but they hold a special allure for historians and enthusiasts. In fact, Eichler experts often describe Manor II (and its kindred first tracts) as the “foundation of the movement” – the purest form of Eichler’s vision from which all later innovations sprang boyengarealestateteam.com.

In practical terms, Sunnyvale Manor II homes may appeal to a slightly different segment than, say, the larger Eichlers in Fairwood or Rancho Verde. Some buyers specifically seek these “entry-level Eichlers” because they prefer a smaller home or a lower price point while still getting Eichler authenticity eichlernetwork.com. Others might compare Manor II with Manor I and find that Manor II offers the better investment due to its architect pedigree and the fact that almost all Manor II homes were built with the modern features (like glass walls and radiant heat) from the start. On the other hand, those wanting a true atrium model Eichler would need to look at later tracts; Manor II has no atrium models by design boyengateam.com. That said, Manor II aligns closely with Manor I and Sunnymount in spirit – all are early-era Eichler neighborhoods and share a certain quaint, experimental charm that the later, more mass-produced tracts don’t quite have.

Conclusion: Sunnyvale Manor II is a treasured Eichler enclave that offers buyers the chance to own a piece of Joseph Eichler’s early legacy. It differs from nearby Sunnyvale Manor I by being more architecturally significant, and it contrasts with later Sunnyvale Eichler tracts by its smaller scale and first-generation design features. Yet it also aligns with all Eichler communities in the most important ways: an emphasis on indoor-outdoor living, a strong sense of community, and an enduring mid-century modern appeal. For Eichler sellers in Manor II, these distinctions become selling points – the tract’s story is part of the property’s value, and informed agents often educate buyers on how Manor II set the stage for Eichler’s future. For Eichler buyers, Manor II represents both a smart investment and a lifestyle choice: a chance to live in a historic modernist home that’s a conversation piece in itself, all while enjoying the conveniences of a Silicon Valley location. In sum, Sunnyvale Manor II may be compact in size, but it looms large in Eichler’s development timeline – and it continues to thrive as a vibrant, property-savvy neighborhood where mid-century history and modern Silicon Valley living intersect beautifully.

Sources:

1. Boyenga Team – Sunnyvale Manor II Overview eichlerhomesforsale.com

2. Boyenga Team Blog – Midtown Tract Deep Dive (Historical Context) boyengateam.com

3. Boyenga Team – Architectural Genesis: Sunnyvale Manor I & IIeichlerhomesforsale.com

4. Eichler Network – What’s Become of the Holy Grail? (Sunnyvale Manor II Article)eichlernetwork.com

5. City of Sunnyvale – Eichler Design Guidelines (2009) boyengarealestateteam.com

6. Boyenga Team – Sunnyvale Eichler Enclaves Guide boyengarealestateteam.com

7. Redfin – Listing Description, 598 Maple Ave (Neighborhood Details) redfin.com

8. Boyenga Team – Sunnyvale Eichler Market Trends eichlerhomesforsale.com