Zuckerberg's Leaving A ‘Mark' & Neighbours Don't Like It: Bat Cave, Wife's Statue To Private School
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has got his wife's statue, private school and billionaire's bat cave in Crescent Park area of Palo Alto, California, which was known for neighbourly warmth
The Crescent Park area of Palo Alto, California, which was known for its neighbourly warmth, block parties brimming with families, and the sound of children cycling from yard to yard, has changed dramatically in recent years.
And according to residents, there's only one person to blame for it — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The New York Times, in its special report, noted the changes in the neighbourhood since the shifting of Zuckerberg.
Zuckerberg, who moved to the area with his wife Priscilla Chan more than 14 years ago, has spent over a decade purchasing property on just two streets, changing the physical landscape and the social character of the neighbourhood. While some see his investments as a matter of private choice, others argue they have eroded the fabric of Crescent Park, according to the report.
How Zuckerberg purchased properties in Crescent Park
Zuckerberg's introduction to Crescent Park began in 2011 with the purchase of a 5,600-square-foot house on Edgewood Drive — noted by the local heritage society as the oldest home in Palo Alto.
Within a few years, he began acquiring additional nearby residences. Between 2012 and 2013, four more houses were purchased for more than $40 million, creating an L-shaped cluster around his initial home. The expansion paused for a time but resumed in 2022, with six more properties bought in quick succession — four of them within a 15-month window.
Public records and local accounts suggest that at least 11 homes are now owned by Zuckerberg or through limited liability companies linked to him, each using distinctive nature-themed names such as Pine Burrow and Seed Breeze, reported The NYT.
Sellers are frequently asked to sign nondisclosure agreements, and some report being approached directly with offers significantly above market value — sometimes double or triple the going rate.
One homeowner is said to have accepted $14.5 million.
By chance a few days ago I walked past Mark Zuckerberg's house in Palo Alto. You can't see a thing for the gloomy dense hedge of trees, like a Victorian cemetery. pic.twitter.com/eQHdJjF6YP — Nicholas Shakespeare (@dolphinsands) January 7, 2025
Bat cave, Priscilla's statue & private school: The construction work
Several houses were demolished and replaced with smaller structures featuring large basements, courtyards, gardens, and recreational spaces. Other renovations included filling in swimming pools to create open lawns and constructing facilities such as a pickleball court, a guesthouse, and a pool with a movable hydrofloor for safety or event use.
Beneath the main home and adjoining buildings lies approximately 7,000 square feet of additional space.
Officially described in permits as basements, these underground areas are referred to by some residents as 'bunkers" or even 'a billionaire's bat cave."
The complex also features a seven-foot statue of Priscilla Chan in a silver robe, commissioned by Zuckerberg last year. Several buildings are connected by landscaped paths and high hedges, ensuring privacy and creating what some neighbours describe as a closed-off enclave in the middle of their once-open community.
Neighbours say the transformation of these properties has brought constant disturbance. Construction work has filled the streets with large vehicles, blocked driveways, and in some cases, damaged residents' cars.
According to local accounts, debris from building activities has caused flat tyres, and heavy machinery manoeuvring on narrow streets has clipped mirrors from parked vehicles.
One of the houses in the network has reportedly been used for the past few years as a private school for 14 children. The arrangement involved six staff members, including four teachers, operating out of the property. Such use is not permitted under local residential zoning regulations, and neighbours have complained to the city about the apparent violation. To date, residents say little has been done to address the situation.
Michael Kieschnick, a long-time resident whose Hamilton Avenue home is now bordered on three sides by Zuckerberg-owned houses, summed up the frustration shared by many, telling The New York Times: 'No neighbourhood wants to be occupied. But that's exactly what they've done. They've occupied our neighbourhood."
While construction activity has lessened in recent months, residents expect more development in the future.
here are 3 pics of houses in Palo Alto from google maps. 1 is Mark Zuckerberg's house. 2 are his neighbors. Can you guess which is which? He sure seems to value his privacy! pic.twitter.com/iCgWcQ7lnQ — Derp State (@EricVictorino) June 2, 2020
Zuckerberg's surveillance measures
Several neighbours have described seeing cameras positioned in ways that capture parts of their own properties.
Zuckerberg's spokesperson, Aaron McLear, said that such measures are necessary due to 'specific, credible threats" to Meta's chief executive. He told The New York Times that the cameras are not aimed at neighbours' homes and are adjusted when concerns are raised.
According to McLear, the family takes steps to minimise impact on the community, including giving advance notice of events, reimbursing staff for ride shares to limit on-street parking, and providing a direct contact for reporting issues.
'Mark, Priscilla and their children have made Palo Alto their home for more than a decade," McLear said.
'They value being members of the community and have taken a number of steps above and beyond any local requirements to avoid disruption in the neighbourhood."
Mark Zuckerberg commissions an artist to create a sculpture of his wife, Priscilla Chan pic.twitter.com/vVzIDEpIQH — Women Posting W's (@womenpostingws) August 14, 2024
Is Zuckerberg given preferential treatment?
Critics say that the City of Palo Alto has been overly accommodating toward Zuckerberg. In 2016, his proposal to demolish four homes and replace them with smaller structures and large basements was denied by the city's Architectural Review Board.
Despite this, neighbours say the plan was effectively implemented over time through individual permits.
The city's online permit system shows 56 permits linked to his properties, covering demolitions, remodels, landscaping, and specialised installations such as wine storage and a pool house.
Residents also express concern that city authorities and local police appear to give the billionaire preferential treatment. The parking restrictions for his barbecue and the use of city officers for event support are among examples cited by neighbours as evidence of this deference.
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'Billionaires everywhere are used to just making their own rules — Zuckerberg and Chan are not unique, except that they're our neighbours," Kieschnick said. 'But it's a mystery why the city has been so feckless."
With NYT Inputs
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August 13, 2025, 15:57 IST
News explainers Zuckerberg's Leaving A 'Mark' & Neighbours Don't Like It: Bat Cave, Wife's Statue To Private School
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