Living Near OpenAI's Mountain View Campus: Eichler and Mid-Century Neighborhoods Near East Whisman
Quick answer: OpenAI's new Silicon Valley campus at 350–380 Ellis Street in Mountain View sits in the city's East Whisman district, just south of Highway 101 near the Sunnyvale border. Some of the Bay Area's best-known Eichler and mid-century modern neighborhoods are close by, including Monta Loma and Bell Meadows in Mountain View, Fairbrae and Rancho Verde in Sunnyvale, and Fallen Leaf Park in Los Altos. This Property Nerds® guide covers what each neighborhood offers, how it relates to the new campus, and what buyers should know.
Why East Whisman is suddenly on every buyer's map
In March 2026, OpenAI leased a five-building, roughly 450,000-square-foot campus at 350–380 Ellis Street, the former NortonLifeLock headquarters. It's the company's first major Silicon Valley campus, and reports describe it as a 10-year lease.
East Whisman is changing quickly. Mountain View has designated the area for up to 5,000 new homes, and developers have proposed projects including SummerHill Homes' plan for 464 homes along Middlefield Road and Essex Property Trust's plan for 576 homes at 355 East Middlefield Road. Over time, that will create a new, more urban neighborhood right next to the campus.
But many tech buyers want something different: a single-family home with character, a garden, and a calm place to recharge after work. That's where the area's mid-century modern neighborhoods come in.
Why AI and tech buyers gravitate to mid-century modern
Eichler homes were designed in the 1950s and 1960s around ideas that still feel futuristic: walls of glass, open floor plans, atriums that bring the outdoors in, and honest post-and-beam construction. For people who spend their days building the future, these homes offer clarity, light, and a sense of design history. We explore this connection in depth in From the X-100 to the AI Era: Why Silicon Valley's Builders Are Choosing Eichlers.
Mountain View neighborhoods
Monta Loma
Monta Loma, in north Mountain View, is one of the closest mid-century neighborhoods to the new campus. Its Fairview tract includes about 200 Eichler homes built in 1954, alongside mid-century homes by builders Mackay and Mardell.
Why buyers like it: a walkable, bikeable neighborhood feel, local parks, and easy access to Mountain View's major tech employers.
Homes: mostly single-story mid-century homes, many thoughtfully expanded or remodeled.
Schools to research: Monta Loma Elementary, Crittenden Middle, and Mountain View or Los Altos High (verify by address).
Fun fact: a young Steve Jobs lived in Monta Loma in the 1960s.
Bell Meadows
Bell Meadows, in south Mountain View near Trophy Drive, holds 48 Eichlers completed in 1972–1973, making them some of the last Eichlers ever built.
Why buyers like it: later Eichler designs that are often larger, with four-bedroom plans, in a quiet residential setting.
Homes: mature Eichler architecture with more interior space than many earlier tracts.
Good fit for: buyers who want authentic Eichler design plus room for a home office or growing household.
New construction in East Whisman
For buyers who prefer a newer, lower-maintenance home steps from the campus, the East Whisman pipeline will add townhomes, condos, and apartments over the next several years. Timelines vary by project, so ask us for the latest status before you plan around a specific development.
Sunnyvale neighborhoods
Fairbrae
Fairbrae, in west Sunnyvale, is the city's largest Eichler enclave, built in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It's known for wide, tree-lined streets, many atrium models, and the Fairbrae Swim & Racquet Club.
Why buyers like it: a cohesive mid-century streetscape and a strong sense of community.
Design protections: residents helped establish single-story overlay zoning and Eichler design guidelines, which help preserve the neighborhood's character.
Schools to research: Cherry Chase Elementary, Sunnyvale Middle, and Homestead High (verify by address).
Rancho Verde
Rancho Verde is a smaller, cozy Sunnyvale Eichler enclave with a mix of longtime owners and young families. It offers mid-century design in a quieter setting with convenient access to Sunnyvale and Mountain View employers.
Sunnymount Gardens
Sunnyvale is also where the Eichler story began. Sunnymount Gardens holds the very first Eichler homes, built in 1949–1950. For design-history enthusiasts, owning a home here is owning a piece of the beginning.
Los Altos and Palo Alto options
Fallen Leaf Park (Los Altos)
Fallen Leaf Park is one of the most prestigious Eichler tracts in the area, with some of the largest Eichler homes on generous lots with mature trees.
Why buyers like it: larger homes and lots in a highly regarded school area.
Schools to research: Oak Avenue Elementary, Blach Intermediate, and Mountain View High (verify by address).
Greenmeadow and Charleston Meadows (Palo Alto)
South Palo Alto's Eichler tracts, including Greenmeadow and Charleston Meadows, offer iconic mid-century neighborhoods with Palo Alto schools and quick access to both Mountain View and the Stanford area. Prices are typically higher than in nearby Mountain View and Sunnyvale tracts.
How to choose the right neighborhood
Map your real commute. Test the drive, bike route, or transit trip to Ellis Street at the times you'd actually travel.
Decide original vs. updated. Some buyers want an untouched original to restore; others want a fully modernized Eichler. Both exist in every neighborhood above.
Know the zoning rules. Single-story overlays and design guidelines affect future additions.
Plan for Eichler systems. Radiant heating, roofing, and insulation deserve careful inspection. Our guide, Buying an Eichler: Inspection Questions for Silicon Valley Homes, walks through the essentials.
Verify schools by address. School boundaries don't always follow neighborhood names.
Be ready to move quickly. Well-kept Eichlers in these tracts don't stay on the market long.
What the AI boom means for prices
AI growth is a major force in the 2026 Bay Area housing market, with the strongest gains at the high end. Mountain View, Palo Alto, and Los Altos have also led Silicon Valley in rent growth. For a full breakdown, read our market outlook, The AI Office Boom and the Silicon Valley Housing Market.
Frequently asked questions
Where is OpenAI's Mountain View campus?
OpenAI leased the five-building campus at 350–380 Ellis Street in Mountain View's East Whisman district in 2026.
Which Eichler neighborhoods are closest to OpenAI's Mountain View campus?
Monta Loma in Mountain View is among the closest, with Sunnyvale's Fairbrae and Rancho Verde, Mountain View's Bell Meadows, and Los Altos' Fallen Leaf Park also within reach.
Are there new homes being built near the campus?
Yes. Mountain View has designated East Whisman for up to 5,000 new homes, with several large projects proposed or approved.
What makes Eichler homes popular with tech buyers?
Open floor plans, walls of glass, atriums, and a strong connection to nature create calm, flexible spaces that suit modern work and life.
Work with the Eichler experts
Eric and Janelle Boyenga and the Boyenga Team at Compass have spent years specializing in Eichler and mid-century modern homes across Silicon Valley. Whether you're relocating for a new role in Mountain View or looking for the right mid-century home, contact the Boyenga Team to start your search.