Unlock the value of your Eichler. Get expert advice from the Top Santa Clara Midcentury Modern Real Estate Team
In the early 1960s, Santa Clara was undergoing explosive transformation—from farmland and orchards into the suburban heart of Silicon Valley. Amid this rapid change, most developers produced conventional ranch homes, leaving little room for architectural experimentation.
Against that backdrop, Pomeroy Green and Pomeroy West stand out as two of the only modernist townhouse communities ever built by Joseph Eichler, and among the few modern-style planned developments in the city. Their rarity is tied to both their architectural pedigree and their social purpose.
Eichler was not simply adding more homes to Santa Clara; he was introducing a new idea:
attainable, community-oriented modern living for the middle class—rooted in the same design ethics as his single-family homes, but in a denser, more collective form.
These two developments are sister communities, built side by side along Pomeroy Avenue, and together they represent the largest concentration of Eichler townhomes in the South Bay.
Eichler’s decision to build these townhouse developments was driven by a mix of philosophical, economic, and urban planning impulses:
By the early 1960s, land costs were rising sharply across Santa Clara County. Eichler feared that the price of large single-family lots would limit access to his modern homes. Townhouse communities allowed him to:
reduce per-home land cost
offer modern design at more attainable prices
attract young families, teachers, engineers, and first-time buyers
In essence, Pomeroy Green and Pomeroy West were built to democratize mid-century modern living.
These developments let Eichler explore a concept that fascinated him:
shared green space as an anchor for community life.
To Eichler, courtyards and atriums weren’t just architectural gestures—they were social tools. With Pomeroy Green and West, he scaled that idea to a neighborhood level. Both tracts were designed around:
park-like central lawns
pedestrian pathways
car-free interior zones
These features were meant to encourage genuine neighbor interaction—an increasingly rare quality in suburban development.
The Pomeroy townhomes allowed Eichler’s architects—Jones & Emmons and Claude Oakland—to reinterpret the Eichler identity in a denser format:
attached townhomes with private patios
long, low massing
dramatic glass walls facing shared landscape
exposed post-and-beam interiors
radiant floor heating
clerestory windows and atrium-like entries
They were modern to the core, but compact and efficient.
Eichler famously opposed discrimination in housing. His integrated communities, fair-selling policies, and progressive stance set him apart nationally.
By building lower-priced modern homes in a desirable and fast-growing city like Santa Clara, he was:
opening doors to families historically excluded from the conventional housing market
promoting diversity (racial, economic, and generational)
creating neighborhoods explicitly designed for community, not status
Pomeroy Green and West embody Eichler’s belief that well-designed housing improves lives—and should not be reserved only for the wealthy.
Built around 1962–1964, the two Pomeroy developments emerged during:
the rise of microelectronics and early tech industries
a boom in Santa Clara population
a shift toward suburban density
Unlike Saratoga or Los Altos—where custom or isolated mid-century modern homes appeared sporadically—Santa Clara had more land for tract development. Even so, very few developers embraced modern architecture. Eichler saw Santa Clara as fertile ground for:
middle-income modern living
innovative site planning
alternative ownership models
The two Pomeroy communities became prototypes for how medium-density modern housing could coexist with suburban surroundings.
Although Pomeroy Green and Pomeroy West contain attached homes, their architecture is unmistakably Eichler.
Large glass walls opening to patios or common greens
Private courtyards that act as mini-atriums
Homes designed to feel bigger than their footprint
Exposed structural elements inside and out
Clean, rectilinear lines
Honest expression of materials (wood, concrete, glass)
Both developments maintain the long, low silhouettes that typify Eichler’s single-family homes.
Minimal hallways
Vaulted ceilings in some models
Flexible great rooms
Both tracts were built around expansive shared greenspaces—a hallmark that distinguishes them from nearly every other townhouse development of the time.
Despite their proximity, Pomeroy Green and West were designed with slightly different intentions:
Oriented around a larger central greenbelt
Slightly more suburban “park community” feel
Emphasizes pedestrian movement and shared landscape
Includes a pool and private recreation spaces
Homes cluster around internal courtyards and walkways
Slightly more enclosed, village-style planning
Together they offered buyers options—either a more open, park-like environment or a more intimate, courtyard-based layout—while still staying within Eichler’s philosophical framework.
As land values in Santa Clara have increased, the Pomeroy townhomes have faced the same pressures affecting all Eichler properties:
upgrades needed to meet modern efficiency standards
homeowner associations balancing preservation with practicality
owners deciding between restoring original elements or modernizing
Thankfully, many residents recognize the architectural value of these communities. A large percentage of homes still retain:
original beams
glass walls
radiant heat systems
unaltered rooflines
Because these are attached homes governed by HOAs, large-scale alterations are less common, which has actually helped preserve architectural consistency.
Today, Pomeroy West and Pomeroy Green remain highly attractive because they offer:
authentic Eichler design at lower prices than single-family Eichlers
walkable layouts and shared greens rarely found in newer townhome complexes
a close-knit feel that reflects Eichler’s ideal of community
a unique architectural identity in a city dominated by conventional suburban housing
Their rarity—both historically and architecturally—means demand remains strong whenever one enters the market.
The Pomeroy Eichler communities matter not only because they are beautiful or rare, but because they represent:
Eichler’s commitment to modern design for everyone
a pioneering experiment in community-based housing
one of the few intact mid-century townhouse developments in Silicon Valley
a bridge between traditional suburban living and modernist ideals
They stand as physical reminders of a developer who believed architecture could elevate everyday life and bring people together.
Architectural vibe: classic Eichler attached design: exposed beams, private patios, clerestory windows, floor-to-ceiling glass facing greenbelts, radiant slab heat.
Why it matters: Pomeroy West is one of the very few true Eichler townhome communities in Santa Clara. Every listing showcases how Eichler translated his single-family modernism into a compact, community-focused format.
Architectural vibe: long horizontal rooflines, open-plan interiors, interior courtyards, walls of glass, community greenbelt access.
Why it matters: Often priced more accessibly than Cupertino/Palo Alto Eichlers, Pomeroy Green gives buyers townhome convenience without losing the authentic Eichler post-and-beam identity.
Architectural vibe: low-slung attached structure, atrium-like entry, indoor–outdoor flow, open living/dining volume, signature Eichler glazing.
Why it matters: Demonstrates the strong buyer pool for preserved Eichler details—radiant heat, unaltered beam structure, period-correct materials—within a centrally located Santa Clara enclave.
Architectural vibe: sheltered courtyard entry, glass-lined living room opening to communal lawn, clean mid-century geometry.
Why it matters: Confirms that Eichler townhomes benefit from both architectural scarcity and community-driven amenities (large shared greens), helping them command premium $/sqft versus conventional ’60s condos.
Architectural vibe: pedestrian pathways, park-centered planning, expansive common greens, floor-to-ceiling glass, radiant heat.
Why it matters: One of the biggest surviving Eichler townhouse communities in the Bay Area; exemplifies Joseph Eichler’s push for affordable, community-oriented modern design.
Architectural vibe: private patios, low profiles, indoor–outdoor living, classic Eichler beam structure.
Why it matters: The companion community to Pomeroy Green—together they form Santa Clara’s largest Eichler cluster and illustrate Eichler’s vision for medium-density modern living.
Architectural vibe: atrium models, gable-roof Eichlers, dramatic glazing, open-beam ceilings.
Why it matters: These single-family neighborhoods establish pricing benchmarks for authentic Eichler architecture and help explain why the Pomeroy townhomes remain in demand.
Architectural vibe: post-and-beam ranches, open living rooms facing yards, clerestory windows—a lighter mid-century touch without full Eichler pedigrees.
Why it matters: Helps show how Eichler’s ideas influenced other builders in Santa Clara during the 1960s, even in non-tract or mixed-style neighborhoods.
Includes: Pomeroy Green & Pomeroy West (north of Benton, east + west of Pomeroy Ave).
What to look for: courtyard entries, long rooflines, shared greens, preserved beam structures.
Includes: scattered MCM ranches influenced by mid-century modernism.
What to look for: open-beam living rooms, glassy rear façades, subtle Eichler echoes in stand-alone homes.
Includes: atrium and gallery models off Lawrence + Homestead.
What to look for: pure Eichler DNA for price comparisons—useful when positioning Pomeroy Green/West for buyers seeking entry-level Eichler ownership.
Eric & Janelle Boyenga
Founding Partners | The Boyenga Team at Compass
📞 Call/Text: 408-373-1660
📧 Email: homes@boyenga.com
🌐 www.BoyengaTeam.com | www.EichlerHomesForSale.com
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