I looked up the lot lines of this property to try to find out exactly which parcel they were talking about. The two parcels abutting Portola Road are apparently already owned by the town of Portola Valley, as per the article. That leaves the parcel containing the equestrian center, and the parcel behind and beside it containing the Goodstein home and accessory dwellings (if I remember right, there used to be a trailer there for a barn manager to live in, or a guest house or something, as well as likely the garage and so forth.) The equestrian center is a huge part of not only this community, but other communities as well---it is really the sole place left for regular people to have their kids "try out" horses, in the form of taking lessons, having a birthday party, Girl Scout camp, etc. That parcel MUST remain an equestrian center. It is part of the heart of this community. The Goodstein home parcel, however, would be a great place to put community housing---it's tucked away in a beautiful spot that directly abuts the Town Center playing fields, the view of the hills, and the green grass and open space. It's flat and it's safe from the road. I don't know which parcel the Goldstein's still own, and have no idea why they don't own the second one. But if Carol sells out the equestrian center after all this time as a horsewoman, and after her ongoing commitment to keeping Portola Valley horse country, that would really be a hard and sad situation for us all. I hope above all hopes that the equestrian center can remain, and affordable housing can be built and perhaps the big house modified so that we can meet all of our community's needs.

It would be a shame if the horse census gets reduced still further--84 to 40 to what??? The Page Mill Pastures boarders had to scramble when that facility downsized.

It's not accurate to say that "it is really the sole place left for regular people to have their kids 'try out' horses, in the form of taking lessons, having a birthday party, Girl Scout camp, etc." Webb Ranch is all that and more. Chaparral is some of that. Still, a loss to one is a loss to all.

A bit of history: "Spring Down Equestrian Center" was originally named "Spring Down Farm". It was established in the last century by H. Myrl Stearns whose daughter loved horseback riding, and participating in riding events.

Web Link

Town of PV is rumored to be purchasing it to.meet State guidelines for affordable housing.