*The following article first appeared in print as part of this feature on housing development in Los Gatos.
From sporting the name of “Forbes Mill,” to earning the distinction of top destination for retirees in California a few years ago, to serving as a hotbed of tech innovation—not to mention the home base for the most successful streaming platform in the world—Los Gatos has gone through plenty of different phases.
It wasn’t too long ago that trains were passing through Lexington Reservoir, down the creek trail. You can still see the stilts that held up the tracks. There’s the miners who came through with twinkles in their eyes.
(Center for Bibliographic Studies and Research)
The Los Gatos Times Newspaper was first published in 1936.
Lumber drove much of the economy at one time. Retirement communities have blossomed. Despite economic downturns, Los Gatans have reaped the rewards of Silicon Valley’s rise—and stamina.
Self-driving cars have been creeping their way down the peninsula. And now you hear people talking more seriously about the possibility of flying cars.
From rails, to batteries, to rotors and wings, this Valley sure likes to test its ability to soar, in one way or another.
But what if I like my 1950s-era Ford Thunderbird parked in my shaded garage, and don’t want to trade it in for a mini-helicopter? Could both coexist?
People began changing their Facebook profile photos to include the text “TOWN NOT CITY,” a few years back. Phase 1 of the North 40 development arrived, but took over a decade to approve.
Phase 2 is now moving forward. But what shadows will it cast down the boulevard?
Mountain lions provided the name “La Rinconada de Los Gatos,” around two centuries ago. At least some of their descendents are still prowling around.
Read more about the housing in the works for Los Gatos.
The original Forbes Mill is no longer active—but its storage annex remains. The home where John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath in Monte Sereno still stands. And shortly, buildings that reach upwards 4-7 stories (or more), could stand, too.
But what about us? Will we still be standing tall?
And just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should.
