Foster City

Foster City Eichler Homes

Foster City, a master-planned community on the San Francisco Bay, contains a rare collection of mid-century modern Eichler homes. Approximately 235 Eichler homes were built in Foster City in the mid-1960s (primarily 1964–1966) as part of the city’s early development. These houses were developed by renowned builder Joseph Eichler at the invitation of Foster City’s founders (T. Jack Foster, Sr. and Jr.), who admired Eichler’s modern designs. As a result, Eichler contributed a significant share of the new city’s housing, making Foster City’s Eichlers one of the most unique groupings in Eichler’s portfolio. Unlike many standalone Eichler subdivisions, here Eichler homes were built alongside other developers’ homes in a large planned community – an unprecedented collaboration that required Eichler to integrate his modernist designs with more conventional tract homes. Despite this, the Eichler houses have remained testaments to modernist design and an integral part of Foster City’s architectural identity.

Eichler Neighborhoods in Foster City

Eichler homes in Foster City are dispersed across three distinct neighborhoods rather than confined to a single tract. These areas correspond to the city’s Neighborhoods 1, 2, and 4, each with thematic street naming and a mix of Eichlers and other homes:

• Bay Vista (Neighborhood 2): The largest Eichler tract in Foster City. Bay Vista Eichlers are intermixed with other contemporary homes, creating a diverse streetscape. The tract lies around Gull Avenue and Beach Park Boulevard, with many street names following a bird theme. Bay Vista’s Eichlers sit on cul-de-sacs and streets alongside non-Eichler homes, reflecting the developers’ goal of architectural variety.
  
  

• Treasure Isle (Neighborhood 1): In this neighborhood, Eichler homes are scattered among other homes rather than grouped in one block. They can be found on Matsonia Drive, Lurline Drive, Pilgrim Drive, and Constitution Drive, named after ships. Treasure Isle’s blend of Eichler and non-Eichler houses results in a rich mix of architectural styles, giving the area a unique community charm.
  
  

• Marina Point (Neighborhood 4): The Eichlers in Marina Point form a smaller cluster, mainly on Schooner Street, Yawl Court, Barkentine Street, and Mainsail Court. (Street names here follow a nautical theme, in harmony with the lagoon-side setting.) Marina Point is known for some rare Eichler models not seen elsewhere – including homes with fully enclosed atriums and Polynesian/Tiki-inspired design touches. On Mainsail Court, several Eichlers still retain original “outrigger” beam-ends on their roofs – a whimsical decorative detail that sets these homes apart.
  
  

Note: Because Eichler homes are spread out in pockets within these neighborhoods (often separated by blocks of non-Eichler houses), Foster City doesn’t have one single “Eichler tract” with a uniform look. Instead, Eichlers sit side-by-side with other styles, which was intentionally done to create visual variety.

Architectural Features and Design

The Foster City Eichlers showcase hallmarks of mid-century modern design and embody Joseph Eichler’s philosophy of bringing modern architecture to mainstream homebuyers.

• Indoor-Outdoor Living: Open floor plans, floor-to-ceiling glass, and numerous windows facing private yards or courtyards, often with central atriums or courtyards serving as outdoor rooms.
  
  

• Post-and-Beam Construction: Exposed beams, flat or low-pitched roofs with broad eaves, and open structural layouts that allow flexible interiors.
  
  

• Floor Plan Variations: Designed by Claude Oakland and John Brooks Boyd, these homes included courtyard, atrium, and gallery style layouts. Ranging from 3-bedroom, ~1,800 sq ft to 4-bedroom, 2,200+ sq ft models, they offered both modest and spacious options. Some plans were unique prototypes, such as fully enclosed atriums or trapezoidal entryways.
  
  

• Modernist Aesthetic: Clean horizontal lines, minimalist facades, and integration of natural materials like mahogany paneling and concrete slab radiant heating. Decorative features such as Polynesian-inspired outrigger beams appear on some Marina Point homes.

Community and Preservation

Foster City’s Eichler homes have aged into true architectural treasures, and many remain intact or carefully restored. While some homes experienced unsympathetic remodels in decades past, a significant number still retain their original mid-century features. Recent owners have worked to restore atriums, ceilings, and period details, reflecting the broader Bay Area trend of renewed appreciation for Eichlers.

Because Eichlers are scattered among non-Eichlers, the sense of a contiguous Eichler “community” is less pronounced than in Palo Alto or San Mateo Highlands. However, micro-clusters (such as on Mainsail Court) have fostered neighbor camaraderie, and the broader Foster City identity – master-planned with lagoons, parks, and trails – reinforces Eichler values of blending architecture and nature.

Legacy and Current Market

Today, Foster City Eichlers are highly prized for their architecture, rarity, and waterfront-adjacent lifestyle. Built at the height of Eichler’s career, they represent some of his most refined and diverse designs. Limited supply (~235 total) and consistent demand from tech professionals, families, and design enthusiasts drive values upward. Recent sales of Foster City Eichlers have exceeded $2.8 million, reflecting the combined appeal of Cupertino/Silicon Valley proximity, San Mateo County schools, and mid-century modern pedigree.

Foster City’s Eichlers remain living artifacts of California Modernism – reminders of Joseph Eichler’s bold vision and the Fosters’ ambition to create a forward-looking planned community. Their survival and renewed appreciation ensure they will continue to stand as icons of design and as some of the Peninsula’s most interesting real estate opportunities.