1024 Fifth Avenue$1,375,725Sold

Outstanding opportunity to renovate and/or build new with R2 zoning in a great neighborhood on the edge of Menlo Park. Vintage Mediterranean home with 3 beds, 1 bath, bonus room with outside entrance plus bonus bath and huge detached garage for up to 6 cars with lift, wraparound loft, and plumbing in place for bath. Lots of potential for one or possibly two ADUs in addition to main home. Just short blocks from 35-acre Stanford University Redwood City campus, less than 2 miles from downtown Redwood City, and minutes to downtown Menlo Park.

History of 1024 Fifth Ave, Redwood City

With roots dating back to 1941, this home is one of just 3 homes in Friendly Acres with a grand Mediterranean style designed by an architect from Russia. The builder, Harry Friend, for whom Friendly Acres is named, first had the home at 1148 Fifth Avenue built for himself in 1936 and it was known as Friendly Castle.    

Harry Friend owned all of Friendly Acres, as well as the industrial park, which he sold to David Bohannon. He also donated two acres of land for Taft School. He subdivided Friendly Acres in 1934 and began selling lots for $20 down.   

The architect of this home and the two others close by, was a man named Kapliroff, the personal architect of Nicholas II, the last Czar of Russia. Kapliroff escaped from Russia during the revolution and made his way to America, ultimately arriving in Redwood City where he met Harry Friend who was of Polish descent. The two got along quite well and Friend hired Kapliroff to build the 3 homes, including this one at 1024 Fifth Avenue built in 1941.

Summary of the Home

• Excellent potential for renovation or redevelopment
• Lot of approximately 6,696 square feet; zoned R2
• Circa 1941 Mediterranean with 3 bedrooms and 1 bath upstairs, bonus room and bath just off the main level, living room, dining room, and eat-in kitchen, plus large office/storage room with laundry
• Approximately 2,095 square feet on two levels (per floor plan artist)
• Existing plans for main home addition
• Significant off-street parking plus detached 6-car garage with wraparound loft, lift, and plumbing for bath; approximately 1,075 square feet (per floor plan artist)
• Solar power for both buildings
• Blocks from 35-acre Stanford University Redwood City campus and less than 2 miles from vibrant downtown Redwood City