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Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg buys historic Palo Alto home

Original post made on May 5, 2011

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has reportedly purchased a historic home in Palo Alto that was once owned by a Palo Alto pioneer. Zuckerberg, 26, previously lived in a rental home in Palo Alto's College Terrace neighborhood. His new home is located in the 1400 block of Edgewood Drive in Crescent Park, according to public documents.

Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, May 5, 2011, 2:05 PM

Comments (44)

Posted by Neighbor across the street
a resident of Crescent Park
on May 5, 2011 at 2:18 pm

Where did she get the last piece of information across the street? I live across the street from this house and i have know about this for almost one month. Maybe ask me?


Posted by JT
a resident of Crescent Park
on May 5, 2011 at 2:20 pm

Zuckerberg "reportedly" purchases this home? Yet there are no records with his name? What's the source of this information? The Mercury News story doesn't give an address or say it's an historic home. The Daily Post story gives an exact address and recites the history of the property. The Post also explains how it tracked down the news, finding the registered agent of the LLC that owns the property and going to the current owner's door and a neighbor's door. If the Weekly is "lifting" this story from the Post, good ethics would require that it attribute its source.


Posted by palo alto mom
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on May 5, 2011 at 2:32 pm

"good ethics" would actually require giving all those involved privacy.


Posted by Neighbor
a resident of Crescent Park
on May 5, 2011 at 3:37 pm

JT...Seriously? The Mercury breaks the story last night and it is all over the Internet, including the exact address, which was easy to find with a few Google searches using the info in the Mercury story. Both the Post and the Weekly simply followed the story, like every other news outlet. Only difference is the Post had no regard for anyone's privacy.


Posted by narnia
a resident of another community
on May 5, 2011 at 3:55 pm

The marble is CARRARA not Carrera. Sue, please mind your P'sa and Q's.


Posted by musical
a resident of Palo Verde
on May 5, 2011 at 4:03 pm

If Mark hangs out for 20 years his new neighbors will be complaining that he doesn't pay enough property tax because of Prop 13. The description reminds me of the bin Laden place, but nicer.


Posted by Ivan
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on May 5, 2011 at 4:08 pm

>>> "good ethics" would actually require giving all those involved privacy.

Ha, is that was Zuckerbug does? A quick review of the ethics of facebook would indicate other wise.

Sure glad he does not live near me.

I say publish it all on the little bug.


Posted by PA Neighbor
a resident of Community Center
on May 5, 2011 at 4:30 pm

Has anyone warned Mark that if he tries to alter, rebuild, add on to or otherwise change the house the Historic Police will be breathing down his neck!!

Anyway, I hope he gets to enjoy his new house while he can before any proposed alterations cause the usual mind boggling objections from a certain segment of Palo Alto's Historic Society. They'll be watching!!


Posted by Zippy
a resident of Crescent Park
on May 5, 2011 at 4:49 pm

Mark,

Please invite your neighbors to any zip line parties you may be considering.

We'll bring our own harness.


Posted by Sue Dremann
Palo Alto Weekly staff writer
on May 5, 2011 at 5:03 pm

Sue Dremann is a registered user.

Narnia --

I stand corrected! Many thanks.


Posted by howard
a resident of Crescent Park
on May 5, 2011 at 6:03 pm

Is there a facility for burning trash on the property?


Posted by lets party!
a resident of Crescent Park
on May 5, 2011 at 8:05 pm

Mark can hold some wild parties in that place. Come on Mark, invite the neighbors. Don't be an Osama in your fortress.


Posted by Hmmm
a resident of East Palo Alto
on May 5, 2011 at 9:19 pm

Yeah, and there are plenty of us across the creek happy to bring something from Three Brothers to "keep it real."

IMO, he doesn't deserve much privacy for the garbage he's pulled w/FB.


Posted by Bob
a resident of Community Center
on May 5, 2011 at 9:45 pm

Once upon a time, seemingly a long time ago, Palo Alto and Palo Altans exuded good manners and neighborliness. Let's keep it that way. Leave Mark alone - but welcome him. Palo Alto used to be that way - and that goes to the press too.


Posted by Hmmm
a resident of East Palo Alto
on May 5, 2011 at 10:03 pm

No, really, anyone who has done what he has w/privacy issues doesn't deserve much privacy. It's a taste of poetic justice. I go by his new house all the time. If he wanted to really keep it more private, he should've been more Machiavellian - that strategy has worked well to get him where he is.

Palo Altan polite? When was that? Hmmm, maybe back when I was a kid, many moons ago. Ok, there was a polite cyclist on Mark's new street today who actually stopped at the stop sign, but being the polite ghetto dweller that I am, I let him go 1st, because that's how we roll in the 'hood.


Posted by Bertie
a resident of Midtown
on May 6, 2011 at 12:28 am

Polite Palo Altans? They all moved away by the late 1980's.


Posted by Bob
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on May 6, 2011 at 1:44 am

Tom Van Loben Sels also represents Zuckerberg's Openness Foundation as its registered agent.
Oh and Sue you left out the most important and main descriptive info from the Apercen home page which tells why they are handling the property for Zuckerberg - the part about they help the rich get richer.
"Apercen is a tax consulting firm offering high net-worth individual clients a full spectrum of income and multi-generational tax planning and compliance services. Specializing in the areas of venture, hedge, and private equity partners, entrepreneurs, and corporate executives, Apercen’s core is grounded in aiding clients in maintaining their wealth and property through responsive and insightful tax planning."


Posted by Sim Lowe
a resident of Crescent Park
on May 6, 2011 at 5:02 am

Mark Zuckerberg is a modest man. The purchase of this house for only $7 millions shows his modesty. http://www.digitalundivide.com


Posted by Shorebreak
a resident of Crescent Park
on May 6, 2011 at 6:26 am

I have it on good information that Zuckerberg offered $5.5M for the house, then someone else offered $6M (raised him by $500K), then Zuckerberg responded by offering $7M.

Apercen's off to a bad start - bidding way over asking in Palo Alto, in this market, and for a neighborhood *any* 26-year-old will be bored with instantly - that's not the wisest choice.


Posted by Me
a resident of Palo Alto Hills
on May 6, 2011 at 6:53 am

Glad that he's not invading our lovely Palo Alto Hills!


Posted by Mike
a resident of University South
on May 6, 2011 at 7:04 am

Just goes to show you that Palo Alto is still THE place to live.


Posted by Quit complaining and adapt
a resident of Walter Hays School
on May 6, 2011 at 9:22 am

I get so tired of reading posts from the same negative Palo Altans, complaining about rude Palo Altans. Look into the mirror and see if you appear and act acceptable. You probably have self-esteem issues.

I grew up here since elementary school in the 1970s and have found Palo Altans to be always exceptionally friendly and helpful. Perhaps their helpfulness is confused with rudeness because they are outspoken. But it's a sign of intelligence when people have opinions. And yes, people are more driven/success-minded now than in the 1970s but they are still nice people, just busier.

There is always the option to move and be paid millions for your house if you dislike it here so much. Move to Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, or Wisconsin, where there is nothing to do but hang out and go brain dead. No one is in a rush in those states.

As for Zuckerberg overpaying, you think he cares if he overpaid by a million or two?


Posted by Kate
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on May 6, 2011 at 3:36 pm

Bertie, no they didn't. Some of us - a lot of us - are still here.


Posted by Nearby Neighbor
a resident of Crescent Park
on May 6, 2011 at 3:58 pm

Welcome Mark. Looking forward to sending my kids your way on their next scavenger hunt through the neighborhood. Oh and by the way, I happen to know that you will be living near a lot of very nice neighbors who I'm sure would be happy to lend you an egg or a cup of sugar.


Posted by Hmmm
a resident of East Palo Alto
on May 6, 2011 at 4:25 pm

Palo Alto is NOT the place to be. But for someone who works all the time nearby as he does, it's convenient & safe. He's too busy to be bored & it's a somewhat private place & comfy. He's near Three Brothers, 101, & it's a lovely, tree-shaded area. If he has to beef it up w/security, he can easily do that. As much as I don't like the guy, he comes across as modest in many ways, not showy & I hope he stays safe.


Posted by MidtownMom
a resident of Midtown
on May 6, 2011 at 8:20 pm

Thank you Mark for keeping your property tax $ in Palo Alto and not giving them to MP or Woodside ..

Its too bad you had to move FB out of PA ..


Posted by Celeste
a resident of another community
on May 7, 2011 at 10:52 am

I grew up in Palo Alto and loved every minute of it. It was the fabulous 60's and it was still rather and unpretentious small city. I moved away in the late 90's mainly because I wanted to be at peace and Palo Alto had changed. It was no longer the city of my youth. When I was a child people were kind and helpful, not so much now. By seeing all these comments it seems to me there is an underlying bitterness toward Zuckerberg and that is not the Palo Alto I remember. He is a human being and has just as much right for to find happiness as you all do. If that's in Palo Alto so be it. Mark welcome to your new home, may it be everything you are hoping for. Oh, and Palo Alto residents lets give him a warm welcome and remember our manners.


Posted by Hmmm
a resident of East Palo Alto
on May 7, 2011 at 1:23 pm

Celeste, that's a really lovely commentary. I'm a former Palo Altan who has no love for Zuckerberg because of his piratical ambition & lack of concern for this end users. If it was any other wealthy, famous individual who had more of a respect for the privacy of others, I'd feel more respect towards his privacy. But many of us paid a price for being lied to & misled w/his product. I respect his seeming personal modesty w/how he uses his personal wealth & I hope he remains safe & happy in his new abode, but it's really hard to feel sympathetic for his lack of privacy re his new place due to his machinations w/Facebook.

You're right, though - Palo Alto used to be much nicer than it is now, people-wise. There are some of the old timers around who aren't so busy striving while driving that every now & then you get the scent of that polite past :-) I hope you enjoy living where you are currently.


Posted by Muffy
a resident of Atherton
on May 7, 2011 at 5:01 pm

Oh darlings, haven't you figured it out yet? People haven't gotten ruder since you were children. You simply grew up and haven't noticed that nobody goes out of their way to be polite to adults they haven't been introduced to.


Posted by Anita
a resident of Barron Park
on May 7, 2011 at 6:03 pm

I am amazed - Mark enjoy the house. It's nobody's business what the price tag is, what the square footage or $/capital ratio.
It's also nothing to do w/Facebook privacy. Nobody stole your identity. It's you, voluntarily offering it to enjoy "connection" to the world. Sony, credit cards, all types of companies are loosing our data daily. How is this topic connected to Mark, buying the house.
Welcome to Palo Alto, still one of the nicest, friendliest place to raise a family


Posted by Hmmm
a resident of East Palo Alto
on May 7, 2011 at 6:42 pm

Muffy - loved your comment!

Anita - It's related because of the irony that he was outed in buying this house under an LLC & he has violated the privacy of many w/underhanded tactics & dishonesty. How do you know if anyone's identity was stolen or not via Facebook? You don't know. While I truly don't care where he lives or what he paid for the house or the details, I am appreciating the irony that he's been outed despite his attempts at privacy - just like his end users. The difference is that so many of them were hoodwinked.

Palo Alto is a hard place to raise kids - suicide rate, school pressure, peer & parental pressure. It's truly been difficult that way for a long time. It's a lovely town in many ways but it's *not* easy to grow up in for many, many young people.


Posted by anita
a resident of Barron Park
on May 8, 2011 at 12:12 am

Hmmm,
PA is as difficult as parents stress children at home. Its a city with tons of opportunities, resources and possibilities. Returning back to the personal choice: whats best to be the strongest among the weak, or weakest among the strong. With all my respect to parents and teachers - school, sport, etc is not the end of the world. Your passion is what's important and keep you moving to the final goal. How many cities have the offerings that our kids get here? We are a bit off topic.
I still think that we may like or dislike Facebook, but its completely voluntarily that we sign up and nothing to do with anybody's real estate. Welcome Mark and all people moving in.


Posted by Kt
a resident of Midtown
on May 8, 2011 at 10:14 am

I wish I could "like" Muffy's comment!!!


Posted by neighbor
a resident of Crescent Park
on May 11, 2011 at 10:42 am

Mark Zuckerberg's past COO also just bought into the neighborhood.
Owen Van Natta bought a place in the 300 block of Churchill & put down a chunk more cash for it. let the upscaling begin.


Posted by Hmmm
a resident of East Palo Alto
on May 12, 2011 at 12:34 pm

Yes, upscaling but w/a low rent mentality:
Web Link

Mark should be ashamed. I don't hold Google in high esteem ethics-wise - they're not going to be sainted any time soon, but this really makes Mark's beloved company look baaaad.

Thanks for your input, Anita - I know all about PA because lived & was educated there for many years. I have no illusions about life in PA, which is why I don't believe Mark's moving in is all that special. It's good for various coffers, but he's not someone I particularly admire. Let the status seekers be thrilled about him in their neighborhood.


Posted by palo alto mom
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on May 12, 2011 at 1:37 pm

Mark bought a comfortable home with a great yard that is a reasonable drive from both the current and future Facebook offices. He can well afford it. Lighten up.


Posted by Resident
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on May 12, 2011 at 4:39 pm

A successful young man buys his first home. This is not news.

For those who don't like him, what do you really know about him? He is not his company. The movie and the book portray him in a poor light, but we have no idea how much of that is completely accurate. After all, they were trying to sell books and movie tickets, not write an accurate biography.

Anyone could have bought this particular home and "we" would have known even less about them. They could have been someone really unpleasant, and none of us would know or even cared.

I say welcome to Mark to the City you chose to start your company in and you chose to rent in. I hope you enjoy living here and working nearby. I hope your neighbors are as nice as you would want and that everyone gets along as neighbors should. To anyone who doesn't like this, then you must be really judgmental and I hope that there is nothing in your job/past that can be held against you by your neighbors.

Now, let's leave the poor guy alone.


Posted by Hmmm
a resident of East Palo Alto
on May 12, 2011 at 8:44 pm

No, I'm not going to leave him alone because he doesn't deserve it. He lacks professional ethics and has violated the privacy of many people, only reluctantly correcting some of the problems long after the fact. This is indeed something to be concerned about and it's this irony - his lack of concern about his users privacy - which is what is driving a lot of the interest in his home. The latest flap about what his company has pulled on another company started in PA by PA residents is evidence of this lack of ethics - all privacy-related.

I find it odd that so many want to defend someone whose lack of ethics re important privacy issues is a concern for so many. While I respect his right to privacy in his home, the lack of respect he has given to others for their privacy needs is telling and isn't going to disappear. Neither will my criticism and concerns about this. He is in my group of acquaintances and I have every right to be critical of his lack of business ethics.

"Leave the poor guy alone"? Pshaw. He is poor only in his business ethics and can afford security to ensure many levels of privacy.

Please quit trying to preach those of us who are cynical and/or critical of him in some ways- it's distasteful and makes you seem like you're siding with a business bully.


Posted by Chris
a resident of Greene Middle School
on Jun 2, 2011 at 1:09 am

It does put us even more so on the map, and will help businesses. IMHO.


Posted by ana
a resident of Crescent Park
on Oct 26, 2011 at 11:34 pm

OMG! I used to live one block away from this house, and I was going for a walk almost everyday by this house.


Posted by miss anonimity
a resident of Professorville
on Feb 2, 2012 at 8:24 pm

Professorville is THE best area with historic houses. Mark's house is
no longer historic since it has been renovated. Does it have an indoor chimney?


Posted by Are you serious
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Feb 2, 2012 at 8:56 pm

Mark has it better, a historic home that does not have the burden of a historic designation


Posted by Agree
a resident of Palo Alto High School
on Feb 2, 2012 at 10:51 pm

Agree with poster above, Are you serious. Look at what happened to Steve Jobs' historic Woodside house. He wanted to raze it and rebuild and move his family there but had to fight razing it for years (even though he owned it!), thus was never able to build his house before his untimely passing.


Posted by Kevin
a resident of Los Altos Hills
on Mar 19, 2013 at 3:36 pm

[Post removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]


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