Mark Zuckerberg’s Illegal School Drove Neighbors Crazy
The Crescent Park neighborhood of Palo Alto, California, is known for its valuable real estate, featuring a mix of Tudor revival, modern farmhouse, and contemporary Mediterranean homes. Among these properties stands a massive compound owned by Mark Zuckerberg, his wife Priscilla Chan, and their daughters Maxima, August, and Aurelia.
The compound has grown to encompass 11 formerly separate properties, with five sharing property lines. This expansion first raised concerns among Crescent Park residents in 2016, as they feared Zuckerberg's property acquisitions were inflating the local housing market.
About five years later, neighbors noticed a school operating within the compound. This use violated local residential zoning codes, which require permits for such institutions. Determined to stop the unauthorized school, neighbors launched a campaign that lasted until summer 2025.
WIRED obtained 1,665 pages of documents related to the dispute through a public records request filed with the Palo Alto Department of Planning and Development Services. These files include 311 records, legal filings, construction plans, and emails. Mentions of “Zuckerberg” have been redacted, but neighbors and separate public records confirm the property belongs to the family.
"Mentions of 'Zuckerberg' or 'the Zuckerbergs' appear to have been redacted. However, neighbors and separate public records confirm that the property in question belongs to the family."
Neighbors’ Complaints
- Noise disturbances
- Security guards presence
- Heavy traffic
The neighbors’ concerns reflect the disruptions caused by the unauthorized school and the expanded compound's impact on the community.
Author’s Summary
The expansion of Zuckerberg’s compound and the illegal school deeply disturbed the Crescent Park neighborhood, sparking a lengthy legal struggle to enforce zoning laws and preserve neighborhood tranquility.