This conservation area consists of the Hanchett and Hester Park neighborhoods, which were designed by John McLaren, the designer of Golden Gate Park. The neighborhoods are adjacent to one another with the boundaries being Mariposa Avenue to the south, Magnolia Street to the north, The Alameda to the east, and Park Avenue to the west. The neighborhoods have maintained a high level of architectural integrity through the years and represent a variety of styles including late turn-of-the-century Queen Anne styles, Craftsman bungalow, and Spanish Mission Colonial Revival Residences. In addition, several Prairie style homes are located in Hanchett Park. This style more typically is associated with Frank Lloyd Wright and the Midwest. Of particular interest is palm tree-lined Martin Avenue located just off The Alameda. This street contains some of the best mix of Prairie, Spanish Revival, and Craftsman styles found in San Jose. The residence park was surveyed in 1906 and was originally part of the fairgrounds. Interesting design features include the curb curvatures at the Martin Avenue intersections, which at one time had granite monuments in their centers.
The neighborhoods were easily served by trolley cars that ran between Santa Clara and downtown San Jose on the Alameda. They also traveled along Martin Avenue and Tillman Avenue to Park Avenue.
While both neighborhoods are included within one conservation area, it appears that Martin Avenue of the Hanchett Park neighborhood meets qualification for listing on the National Register as an important streetscape.