This history of the neighborhood plays a vital part in the identity of its residents. If you have lived in the neighborhood for many years, the neighborhood history is a heartfelt reminder of days gone by. If you have just come to call the neighborhood home, it is a way to learn more about the new community you have joined. We would love nothing more than to be able to share the history of neighborhood name with all who reside there. If you are interested in writing a brief history of the neighborhood to share with the community, please contact us! |
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The Gates HistoryBack in 1972 or so this area was pasture land and the only home in the area was near the corner of Santa Rita and Sutter Gate. It was built in 1961 or so. Morrison Homes then added to the Birdland area by developing Willow West in the early 1970’s. Though technically not a part of “The Gates” as it is not a part of “Birdland” Willow West is a buffer neighborhood between the two and I have always included it in my marketing area. William Lyons Development started building the homes along Mohr, Ross Gate, Funston Gate, Smith Gate, Jones Gate and Knox Gate a little later in 1975 or so. These were large homes for the time with relatively large lots and the area was called Amberwood. Woodhill Farms Development started building the newer area from Laramie Gate and Sutter Gate in 1982. The model homes were on Laramie Gate Court and the area was called Woodmeadows. After completing homes up to Lin Gate Woodhill sold the remaining lots to Olympic Builders who started developing the homes along Lin Gate and Hartley Gate and then Olympic was taken over by Signature Homes who completed the subdivision up to Sutter Gate Park. As you can see our neighborhood was a “work in progress” for quite some time with lots of noise and dust. The parks were then developed at the end of Lin Gate and Hartley Gate and Sutter Gate in the following years. The children’s play park area of Sutter Gate Park was just remodeled for safety and updating just this year, 2004.
Most of you have probably realized that the streets are named after historic military forts throughout the United States from Fort McHenry on the East coast to Sutter’s Fort on the West coast. Just like our neighbors to the West who live in what is officially called Pleasanton Valley but unofficially called “Birdland”, our neighborhood has generated the unofficial name of “The Gates” and thus the name of our newest technological advance - Our very own Website. The maturity of our neighborhood and the community atmosphere we exude appeals to many of the newcomer’s to Pleasanton. Because of this we have become one of the prime neighborhoods that relocating and move-up people are drawn to for their next home.
The Sports Park was developed in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s and is probably the most used park in the city as well as being within walking distance of “the Gates”. The Sports park is about 110 acres and includes Adult Softball fields which are lit at night, a great series of walking paths which are also lighted at night, 11 soccer fields, two football fields and somewhere in the neighborhood of 22 little league and girls softball fields. The proximity of this park and the many uses of the park is a major incentive to buyers coming to the area and is a big factor in keeping the value of our homes high.
