Mackay Homes is a builder's name that comes up often when buyers look at mid-century houses on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. It is also a name that collects stories. Some are true, some are generous, and some are listing shorthand for any low-roofed house built in the 1950s.
This guide sticks to what public preservation records say about Mackay Homes, how the builder's work related to the architects Anshen and Allen, how its houses differ from Eichlers, and how to confirm whether a house you are considering is really a Mackay. Our separate neighborhood posts on Monta Loma and Sunshine Meadows cover those tracts; this post looks at the builder.
What the public record says about Mackay Homes
Three government documents we reviewed mention Mackay Homes, and together they give a consistent picture.
The Greenmeadow National Register nomination. The National Park Service file for Palo Alto's Greenmeadow historic district places Mackay in the context of the mid-1950s housing market. It says the market for new homes softened after 1953, and competition for more demanding buyers led some builders to commission architects. It names Mackay Homes as one Bay Area company that began to employ architects, including Anshen and Allen for a brief period.
The City of Palo Alto's Eichler design guidelines. In a profile of Anshen and Allen, the guidelines say the firm was also hired to design modernist tract homes for John Calder Mackay, described as another merchant builder active in Palo Alto.
The Caltrans history of tract housing. The California Department of Transportation's statewide study, Tract Housing in California, 1945-1973, illustrates the Sunshine Glen tract in Palo Alto, with Anshen and Allen as architects, built around 1954 by MacKay Homes.
Note the spelling. The Caltrans study writes "MacKay," while the National Park Service file and Palo Alto use "Mackay." You will see both on old documents and in listings.
The Anshen and Allen connection
Anshen and Allen designed many houses for Joseph Eichler, but they also designed tract houses for other merchant builders. The Caltrans study describes how that worked:
All of the firm's tract house designs were Contemporary in style and used post-and-beam construction rather than stud framing.
The firm charged builders a flat fee for each house design, plus a royalty on each house built.
Tracts designed by the firm are concentrated in the Silicon Valley communities from Palo Alto to San Jose.
Among them are tracts by builders such as Gavello and Perego and MacKay Homes, who primarily built houses of traditional design and only occasionally built post-and-beam houses in the Contemporary style.
That last point matters for buyers. A Mackay-built tract designed by Anshen and Allen is a different thing from a Mackay tract of traditional houses, and both exist under the same builder's name. Our Anshen and Allen page covers the firm's broader work, and our Anshen and Allen floor plans page shows how their Eichler plans were laid out, which is useful for comparison.
The firm's papers are held by UC Berkeley's Environmental Design Archives as the Anshen & Allen Collection, dated 1917 to 2007, with the bulk from 1940 to 1994. Its online finding aid describes the firm's collaboration with Eichler but does not mention Mackay, so ask the archive before assuming any Mackay drawings survive there.
Modern plan, familiar exterior
The Greenmeadow nomination offers the clearest description of what set Mackay apart. It says Mackay shared the typical builder's concerns about modern aesthetics and hedged on its designs, building homes that were contemporary in plan but clad on the outside in more familiar vernacular styles. By contrast, it says Eichler's work stood out among Bay Area builders for its consistent use of modern aesthetics.
In practice, that means a Mackay house may read as a ranch house from the street while working like a modern house inside. When you tour one, look past the facade:
The plan. Open living and dining areas, a kitchen that connects to the living space, and rooms that open to the rear yard are the modern half of the hybrid.
The structure. Exposed beams and a post-and-beam frame point toward the occasional Contemporary designs; conventional stud walls and an attic point toward the traditional ones.
The cladding. Siding, trim and roof forms that look traditional may be original rather than a later change. Check before assuming a previous owner "covered up" a modern exterior.
For a broader look at how Eichlers relate to other postwar modern houses, see our guide to the difference between Eichler and mid-mod homes.
How to confirm a Mackay house
Because the name carries weight, it gets applied loosely. Before you rely on it, check the record:
County assessor records give the year built and the tract or subdivision name that appears on the parcel.
The recorded tract map shows when the subdivision was created and who filed it. A builder's name or its development company on the map is strong evidence.
The city's permit file may include original plans, the builder's name and an architect's stamp. Later permits show what has changed.
City historic surveys and context statements sometimes name builders and architects for postwar tracts. Ask the planning department whether one covers your neighborhood.
Original sales materials such as brochures and deeds can help, but treat them as supporting evidence rather than proof.
If the records point to Anshen and Allen as architect, compare the plan with their known work. If they point to Mackay with no architect, expect a more traditional design. Our Palo Alto mid-century modern homes page covers the city where the Palo Alto guidelines and the Caltrans study place Mackay's work.
Updating a Mackay house
The hybrid design gives owners more room to choose than an Eichler does, but the same advice applies: know what is original before you change it. Keep a record of original siding, windows, beams and built-ins, and pull permits for structural work. If your house is in a city with design guidelines or a historic survey, read them before you plan an addition or a new exterior. This is general information; for specific projects, check with your city's planning and building departments.
Frequently asked questions
Are Mackay homes the same as Eichlers?
No. They were built by a different company. According to the Greenmeadow National Register nomination, Mackay homes were often contemporary in plan but clad in more familiar vernacular styles, while Eichler used modern aesthetics consistently.
Did Anshen and Allen design Mackay homes?
For some tracts, yes. The Greenmeadow nomination says Mackay employed Anshen and Allen for a brief period, and the Caltrans study credits the firm as architect of the Sunshine Glen tract in Palo Alto, built around 1954 by MacKay Homes.
Is it spelled Mackay or MacKay?
Both appear. The Palo Alto guidelines and the National Park Service file use "Mackay," while the Caltrans study uses "MacKay." Check the spelling on your property's tract map and deed.
How do I find out who built my house?
Start with the county assessor's tract name, then look up the recorded tract map and the city's permit file. City historic surveys and context statements can add the builder and architect for some postwar tracts.
Related reading
Eichler Architects: Who Designed Which Homes, Tract by Tract
Mid-Century Tract Homes vs. Custom Moderns: What Buyers Should Know
Cliff May Homes: The Designer Who Shaped the California Ranch House
Looking at a Mackay house, or wondering who built yours? Call or text the Boyenga Team at (408) 373-1660 or (650) 383-8606, or contact the Boyenga Team to talk through the house and its history.
