Stern & Price: Mid-Century Bay Area Homebuilders

Introduction and Historical Overview

Stern & Price was a homebuilding and development partnership active in the San Francisco Bay Area during the post-World War II housing boom (late 1940s through the 1950s). They specialized in affordable single-family tract housing, contributing significantly to the region’s mid-century housing stock alongside developers like Joseph Eichler, John Mackay, and others​almanacnews.com. Stern & Price primarily built one-story, flat-roofed ranch-style homes in the early 1950s, aiming to meet the demand for inexpensive modern homes for young families and returning veterans​almanacnews.com​keirealty.com. Their houses often featured many Mid-Century Modern characteristics – open floor plans, post-and-beam construction with vaulted ceilings, and an indoor-outdoor orientation – albeit executed in a cost-conscious way.

A hallmark of Stern & Price’s approach was collaborating with renowned “California ranch” architect Cliff May on low-cost designs. In the early 1950s, they worked with May to develop and build innovative prefab ranch houses marketed as “Miracle House” models​en.wikipedia.org. These modular homes could be constructed extremely quickly (reportedly in a single day) thanks to panelized building techniques​en.wikipedia.org. The partnership’s projects garnered national attention for their efficiency and design; for example, the Cliff May-designed tract built by Stern & Price was recognized with awards from the National Association of Home Builders​usmodernist.org. However, the relationship between the designer and developers soured when Stern & Price later attempted to produce their own versions of the design. Notably, Cliff May sued Stern & Price for copying his plans, and May prevailed in defending his architectural copyrights​eichlernetwork.com. Despite this legal dispute, Stern & Price’s built portfolio left a lasting legacy. Many of their mid-century homes still stand (especially in Santa Clara County), and some are preserved or celebrated today as fine examples of period ranch-style architecture (often misidentified as “Eichlers” due to similar style).

Below is a look at the known developments and neighborhoods where Stern & Price built homes, along with their architectural characteristics and timeframes.

Notable Developments and Neighborhoods

Rancho Rinconada, Cupertino (Early 1950s)

Rancho Rinconada in Cupertino was Stern & Price’s flagship development and is one of the Bay Area’s most notable mid-century tracts. Built circa 1950–1953, this subdivision included hundreds of nearly identical low-cost ranch houses (approximately 375 homes) on modest lots​repositories.lib.utexas.edu​academia.edu. The project was a collaboration with architect Cliff May, who designed the prototypical 2-3 bedroom “Miracle House” models​en.wikipedia.org. Landscape architect Douglas Baylis designed the original landscaping, giving the tract a cohesive suburban ranch character​en.wikipedia.org. The homes were single-story, L-shaped ranch houses with open-plan living areas and attached one-car carports (no garages) – a very minimal, economical design for the era. Each house was built using a modular prefabrication system that drastically cut costs and construction time: “The modular construction and materials used were designed to keep the cost to a bare minimum… a home could be put up in a single day.”​en.wikipedia.org. In 1952, House & Home magazine reported the base model offered ~1,284 sq. ft. plus a carport for about $12,700​usmodernist.org, truly a “miracle” price for new California housing.

These Cupertino ranchos were marketed heavily to returning military veterans and young families on a budget​keirealty.com. In fact, ads touted them as “Western Family” homes with a modern California lifestyle at an affordable price. Despite the low cost, the design was well-received – it combined Cliff May’s signature indoor/outdoor ranch aesthetic (e.g. big windows and sliding doors opening to patios) with extreme efficiency. Contemporary accounts noted the tract’s success: all the houses sold out rapidly from just four model home plans, making it “the fastest-selling house in America at that time,” according to Cliff May​archive.org. The development’s success even spurred competing builders in Southern California to emulate the concept.

Architectural characteristics: Original Rancho Rinconada homes had simple ranch styling – low-pitched gable or hipped roofs (often tar-and-gravel), board-and-batten or plywood siding, and floor-to-ceiling glass in the living areas facing small private yards​en.wikipedia.org. Interiors featured open-beam ceilings and combined living/dining spaces, but unlike higher-end Eichler homes, these houses typically had inexpensive wall heaters (not radiant heat) and less extensive glazing. Still, the open carports, private front courtyards, and integration of indoor and outdoor spaces were modern ideas that prefigured the California mid-century look.

Over the decades, Rancho Rinconada’s original homes have seen significant alterations. Because the area remained unincorporated county land until the 1990s (when it was annexed by Cupertino), homeowners had relatively lax building regulations for many years​en.wikipedia.org. As a result, numerous small ranch houses were remodeled, expanded, or replaced entirely by larger two-story homes once property values rose​keirealty.com. Despite this, one can still find surviving Stern & Price “Miracle Houses” in the neighborhood. They are recognizable by their compact footprint and mid-century ranch design. These homes stand as a reminder of the early 1950s housing boom: a time when a new 3-bedroom ranch in Silicon Valley could be had for under $13,000​usmodernist.org.

South Palo Alto Tracts (Late 1940s–1950s)

Another locus of Stern & Price’s building activity was south Palo Alto, in Santa Clara County. After WWII, Palo Alto’s city boundary ended at Colorado Avenue, and the area south of there (what is now known as Midtown and South Palo Alto) opened up for extensive residential development in the late 1940s and 1950s. Stern & Price were among the developers who “added to the available housing stock throughout town” during this period​pastheritage.org. They built dozens of homes in South Palo Alto, primarily in the early 1950s, on streets such as East Meadow Drive, Middlefield Road, Ames Avenue, Alger Drive, Ashton Avenue, Murdoch Drive, Emerson Street, Cowper Street, and two cul-de-sacs that still bear the developers’ names: Stern Avenue and Price Court​pastheritage.org. This cluster of streets (in the Midtown/Meadow Park vicinity) corresponds to a tract developed by Stern & Price on former orchard land.

The Palo Alto homes by Stern & Price were mid-century ranch houses similar in spirit to Eichler homes, though generally less architecturally avant-garde. Like Eichler’s designs, these houses are single-story with post-and-beam construction and open layouts. They often feature exposed beam vaulted ceilings, large windows, and private courtyards or patios to promote indoor-outdoor living​homes.com. A typical example is a 3-bedroom, 1-bath Stern & Price home built in 1950 on Emerson Street, which has a “spacious living & dining room… spanned by a vaulted beamed ceiling and gorgeous wood floors,” plus a private front courtyard and expansive backyard​homes.com. Many of these homes were built on slab foundations with radiant or wall heating, and had flat or very low-pitched roofs (often tar-and-gravel originally)​almanacnews.com. In essence, Stern & Price’s Palo Alto models were economical interpretations of the California contemporary style – lacking some of Eichler’s refinements (like extensive use of redwood or custom mahogany paneling), but still providing modernist flair to middle-class buyers​almanacnews.com.

It is telling that modern real estate listings in Palo Alto sometimes highlight a house as a “Stern & Price (not Eichler) home”, underscoring that while these homes resemble Eichlers, they were built by a different firm​homes.com. In fact, buyers today appreciate their design similarly: “Open & bright… updated Stern & Price home features modern amenities… Natural light cascades throughout; [a] spacious living & dining room… [with] vaulted beamed ceiling”​homes.com. This demonstrates the enduring appeal of the living spaces Stern & Price created. Several of their Palo Alto houses have been preserved or sensitively remodeled, keeping the mid-century aesthetic intact. Others have been enlarged or replaced in recent years given Palo Alto’s high land values, but the neighborhood still retains an enclave of 1950s Stern & Price ranchers as part of its eclectic mix.

Architectural and community notes: In South Palo Alto, Stern & Price homes were part of the first wave of suburban expansion beyond the old city center. They were generally modest in size (often ~1,100–1,300 sq ft originally) with 3 bedrooms and 1 or 2 baths, targeting young families. The design emphasis was on simplicity and affordability, so finishes were modest (drywall or plywood interiors, simple flush doors, etc.). Rooflines were usually flat or nearly flat, with broad roof eaves but without the glass clerestories that some Eichlers had. A Palo Alto Online article notes that Stern & Price “mainly built one-story, flat-roofed, ranch-style homes in the 1950s,” essentially Eichler-like houses that were straightforward and unadorned​almanacnews.com. Because of their simple construction, “it doesn’t take much creativity to duplicate it… it’s very simple,” one preservationist quipped, contrasting them to the slightly more complex Eichler designs​almanacnews.com. Even so, Stern & Price houses contributed significantly to the Mid-Century Modern character of south Palo Alto, alongside those of Eichler, Mackay, and other builders.

Other Areas and Legacy

Beyond Cupertino and Palo Alto, Stern & Price are sometimes associated with a few other Bay Area projects, though information is sparse. There is evidence they planned or built housing tracts in Santa Clara County’s unincorporated areas – for example, archives refer to a “Stanford University Villa” tract and a “Tract 800” in the county connected to Stern & Price’s construction company​oac.cdlib.org. These might have been small developments or paper subdivisions that did not gain the same prominence. Additionally, Cliff May’s records list a 1954 project in Vallejo (Rancho Vallejo, 131 homes) which was part of the same prefab ranch house program​academia.edu, though it’s unclear if Stern & Price had a role there. The firm was headquartered in the South Bay (advertisements cite “Stern & Price Construction Co., Cupertino, Calif.”​usmodernist.org), and they did not become a large regional builder beyond a few key tracts. By the late 1950s, their activity appears to have tapered off, coinciding with the resolution of the Cliff May lawsuit and increasing competition from bigger developers.

Legacy: Stern & Price’s developments encapsulate a unique moment in Bay Area housing history – when entrepreneurial local builders teamed up with architects to mass-produce the California Dream in tract form. Their Rancho Rinconada project, in particular, stands as an early example of mass-produced California ranch homes, bringing modern design to the masses years before it became mainstream. Many original Stern & Price homes still exist (especially in Cupertino and Palo Alto), and some have become prized by mid-century modern enthusiasts. Real estate agents often highlight these homes’ open layouts and mid-century pedigree when marketing them​estately.com​homes.com. Even as remodels and new construction change the face of these neighborhoods, efforts are made by some homeowners to preserve the classic look – for instance, maintaining the low profile and post-and-beam elements during renovations.

In summary, Stern & Price were influential mid-century homebuilders in the Bay Area, known for their affordable ranch house subdivisions. Active mainly in the early 1950s, they built hundreds of homes in cities like Cupertino and Palo Alto, characterized by modest, modern ranch architecture. From the acclaimed Miracle House tract in Cupertino to the Eichler-like enclaves in Palo Alto, their work helped define the region’s suburban landscape in the post-war era. The table below provides a summary of their known developments and characteristics:

City / NeighborhoodDevelopment (Tract)Period ActiveCharacteristics & NotesCupertino – Rancho RinconadaLarge low-cost ranch tract (375+ homes)Early 1950s (c.1952–53)Cliff May-designed “Miracle House” models​en.wikipedia.org; single-story 2–3 BR ranches with carports; modular prefab construction for ultra-fast builds​en.wikipedia.org. Marketed to WWII vets as affordable ($11k–$13k) homes​usmodernist.org​keirealty.com. Homes had open-plan layouts, big windows to yards, and simple modern styling. Many have since been expanded or replaced due to lax early county building codes​en.wikipedia.org. Landmark tract for mid-century modern affordability.Palo Alto – South of MidtownMultiple small tracts (e.g. on Stern Ave, Price Ct, East Meadow Dr, etc.)Early-to-mid 1950s (c.1949–55)Contemporary ranch homes (mostly ~1,100–1,300 sq ft) on Palo Alto’s post-war outskirts. One-story, flat or low-pitch roofs, post-and-beam construction​almanacnews.com. Often feature vaulted open-beam ceilings, courtyard entries, and glass sliders to back patios​homes.com. Built in existing city blocks and new cul-de-sacs (two streets named after Stern & Price​pastheritage.org). Stylistically similar to Eichler homes, but typically with cheaper finishes and without radiant floor heat. These homes provided affordable modern housing for young Stanford-area families. Many still exist, prized for their mid-century design (often marketed as “Stern & Price (not Eichler) homes” in real estate listings​homes.com).

As Eichler home specialists and Silicon Valley real estate innovators, Eric and Janelle Boyenga—founders of the Boyenga Team at Compass—proudly represent buyers and sellers of architecturally significant properties throughout the Bay Area. With deep expertise in mid-century modern design and a data-driven, NextGenAgent approach, the Boyenga Team helps clients uncover hidden gems like Stern & Price homes and achieve optimal results in competitive markets.

References:

1. Wikipedia – “Rancho Rinconada, Cupertino, California” (describes Stern & Price’s role, Cliff May’s design, and project details)​en.wikipedia.org​en.wikipedia.org.

2. Palo Alto Stanford Heritage – “Mid-Century Modern Houses in Palo Alto” (lists Stern & Price as a significant 1950s builder in Palo Alto, with streets where their homes are found)​pastheritage.org.

3. Palo Alto Online/Almanac – “The rebirth of the Eichler” (notes that Stern & Price built mainly one-story, flat-roofed ranch homes in the 1950s, sharing Eichler’s aesthetic)​almanacnews.com.

4. Real estate listing for 3519 Emerson St, Palo Alto (example of a 1950 Stern & Price home with modernized amenities and classic open-beam design)​homes.com.

5. Estately listing for 3517 Ramona St, Palo Alto (describes a Stern & Price home’s open floor plan and original characteristics)​estately.com.

6. Eichler Network forum (user “joe b.”) – notes Stern & Price built the Cliff May Cupertino tract in ’52 and were later sued by Cliff May for copying the designs​eichlernetwork.com.

7. Kei Realty – “Rancho Rinconada” neighborhood profile (confirms original 1950s homes built by Stern & Price as low-cost modular houses for returning veterans)​keirealty.com.

8. Cliff May oral history (“The California Ranch House” transcript) – Cliff May recalls the Cupertino tract (900 homes) by Stern & Price selling out rapidly from four models​archive.org​archive.org.

9. House & Home magazine (Oct. 1952 & Jul. 1955 issues) – coverage of Stern & Price’s “Western Family” house models and pricing​usmodernist.org, and later NAHB awards for the design​usmodernist.org. (Trade publications highlighting Stern & Price’s innovative tract housing.)