Adams Dr, Menlo Park

The Adams Drive/O'Brien Drive section of Menlo Park seems to be one of the most out-of-place areas to build a business park in, but such is the nature of Silicon Valley, where space is low and real estate prices are high. The area is nestled smack dab in between Belle Haven (one of Menlo Park's poorest neighborhoods) and East Palo Alto, arguably Silicon Valley's poorest town.

Oddly enough, even with this undesirable location, the whole area actually feels quite safe and secure. It is not uncommon to see young professionals riding their bikes to work, or senior executives driving in their Mercedes. It almost feels like night and day crossing from the east side of University Avenue over to the west.

If nothing else, the area has done wonders for gentrifying these poor neighborhoods. Real estate is starting to go up, and there is no doubt that the nearby Starbucks on Willow Road would not be there were it not for the demand from the professionals who commute to the area on a daily basis.