Oakland Real Estate
Oakland is a much larger city than most people realize, with very distinct neighborhoods.
Key Oakland Neighborhoods include: Claremont Hills, Crocker Highlands, Dimond District, Glenview, Hiller Highlands, Jack London Square, Lakeshore, Grandlake, Laurel District, Montclair, North Oakland, Oldtown Oakland, Redwood Heights, Rockridge, Temescal, Trestle Glen, and Uptown Oakland. Oakland was founded in 1852, and has experienced an increase in population over the past decade. To generalize about Oakland real estate would be doing a great disservice to the unique neighborhoods that exist. To the north lies Berkeley, and to the west stands San Francisco which is accessed via the Bay Bridge. To the southwest is the city of Alameda which sits on an island, and it also shares a border on the southeast with San Leandro. I think one of Oakland’s main draw (especially for me!) is the climate. It’s generally warmer than San Francisco, with more sunshine, and yet is cooler than San Jose. With an overall land area of approximately 54 square miles, Oakland is the seventh biggest city in California. Approximately 11 percent of its total land area is devoted to parks including redwood forests, estuary shorelines and urban parks. Oakland has also played an active role in initiating renewable energy programs. To manifest its thrust on promoting green initiatives, Oakland also takes pride that numerous of its hotels are holders of California Green Business Certification. Oakland has also been included in the prestigious Forbes Magazine list of Top 10 Places for business and employment. Other features that propelled Oakland to make its mark and gain recognition include Oakland’s ethnic diversity, the Port of Oakland as one of the top 20 largest container ports worldwide, internationally renowned Oakland Museum, its people-friendly climate and the Oakland Asian Cultural Centerbeing the biggest in North America. Above: Oakland train station by kla4067
The city’s average population in 2010 is 390,274. Primarily an agricultural region, Oakland thrives from its hillside oak and redwood timber resources. Through the years, Oakland’s economy never stopped growing and expanding with the potentials of its shipyards and automobile industry. Thus, it is no doubt that the marine cargo transport has served as a major employer industry in Oakland, providing approximately 200,000 jobs to its residents.
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In addition to its thriving economy, Oakland also boasts of numerous points of interests you can check out. To satisfy your gastronomic cravings, you can check out the different restaurants featuring a variety of cuisines such as Enssaro for Ethiopian cuisine, Shan Dong Restaurant for Chinese cuisine and Bellanico Restaurant and Wine Bar for Italian cuisine. You can also find a number of credible educational institutions including Oakland University. You can also go shopping at any of the department stores and shops you find in the city such as the Bargain Shop in the Dimond District area, Cost Plus World Market in Clay Street and Cultural Crossroads in Grand Avenue.
Above: Downtown area of Oakland, California by greenbk
Here is a super cute video on Oakland. It highlights all the nice things about Oakland, and made me laugh! If you’re interested in learning more about Oakland, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’d love to discuss the pros and cons of each neighborhood and make recommendations for you based on your unique lifestyle needs.
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Oakland Neighborhoods
Claremont HillsClaremont Hill neigborhood straddles the city limits of Oakland and Berkeley. Mailing address is Berkeley, but property taxes are paid to Oakland. Boundaries are Claremont Avenue, Grizzly Peak Blvd, and Tunnel Road/Caldecott Tunnel. The roads can be windy, but the views, particularly the bay views, can be quite spectacular. Due to 1991 Oakland Hill fire, many of the homes are post-1991.
Claremont Hills also remains one of the favorites of realtors with its proximity to transportation modes. The city’s most prominent recreation spot is the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park that features a variety of wildlife and plants.
Dimond DistrictThe Dimond District is a neighborhood centered on the intersection of MacArthur Boulevard and Fruitvale Avenue in East Oakland, Oakland, California, in the United States. It is located about two miles east of Lake Merritt, north of the Fruitvale District, and west of the Laurel District. It is named after Hugh Dimond, who came to California during the Gold Rush and purchased the land comprising the district in 1867. In 1897 he built a cottage that used the adobe bricks from the Peralta family’s 1827 home. The bricks were used again to build the Boy Scout hut that is still standing in Dimond Park. Below: Dimond theatre from a long time ago.
Dimond was originally a settlement distinct from Oakland, in an area called Dimond Canyon. The Dimond post office was opened in 1891 and by 1908 had become a branch of the Oakland post office.
The Dimond Business District is situated among several of Oakland’s neighborhoods including Oakmore, Glenview, and Lincoln Heights. National (e.g. Safeway, CVS Pharmacy, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, McDonald’s) and regional retailers (e.g. Farmer Joe’s Marketplace) are mingled with locally-owned retail outlets and mom-and-pop restaurants including La Farine, a French bakery. Romano Pizza, a local pizza shop, is also located in the Dimond District. Major national banks, a U.S. post office and a branch of theOakland Public Library are also located in the district. Dimond has excellent freeway access and visibility from Interstate 580. Jack London SquareJack London Square is located at the south end of Broadway, across the Oakland Estuary from Alameda and is a popular attraction on the waterfront of Oakland. Named after author Jack London, it is the home of attractive stores, hotels, an Amtrak station, the (re-located) cabin Jack London lived in, and a movie complex. The farmer’s market is hosted among the retail shops on Sunday mornings. The name has also come to refer to the formerly industrial neighborhood surrounding Jack London Square proper, which has undergone a significant amount of loft conversion and new construction over the last decade.
Jack London Square serves as Oakland’s waterfront jewel. It is certainly one of the spots you should not miss every time you visit Oakland. If you want to satisfy your gustatory cravings, you can dine at any of the restaurants and dining establishments such as Bocanova for pan-American grill, Cocina Poblana for Mexican cuisine, Hahn’s Hibachi for Korean BBQ and Il Piscatore Ristorante for Italian seafood dishes. If you prefer light snacks only, you can try out Ben & Jerry’s, Heinold’s First and Last Chance Saloon, Miette Patisserie and Confiserie and Subway Sandwiches. Most of these restaurants are open for lunch and dinner. You can also buy artisan food and culinary retail at the Jack London Market or shop for local produce and handcrafted souvenir items at the Jack London Square Farmers’ Market open every Sunday. Laurel DistrictLocated in East Oakland, Laurel District features rich cultural diversity being the home of culturally rich neighborhoods. You can find Laurel District between the foot of Oakland hills and Mills College. With an elevation of approximately 226 m, Laurel District is home to MacArthur Boulevard, seat of a vibrant commercial arena and host to annual festivals and local stores. Indeed, the rich cultural diversity also adds to the existing vibrant energy in the neighborhood.
Laurel District serves as home to a variety of industries and businesses. Indeed, this is one place you can certainly put up any kind of business and be confident that it has the potential to thrive.
If you are also interested in the toy industry, you can put up your own toy company to compete with Komodo Toys. Another potential business arena that never grows out of season is restaurants or food cafes. In Laurel District, you can find a number of dining establishments serving different types of cuisine. You can take a pick from Roma Pizza & Deli, Subway Sandwiches & Salads, Happy Garden Restaurant and Fountain Garden Seafood Restaurant among many others. Other stores and shops that are present in the district also include real estate companies, hobby shops, music stores, fitness clubs, clothing boutiques and liquor stores and lounges. North OaklandNorth Oakland is one of the up-and-coming neighborhoods of Oakland. It’s centrally located, with easy access to various Bart stations and bus lines. It shares a border to the north with Berkeley, and is minutes from Emeryville, downtown Oakland and Rockridge/Elmwood to the east. There are several popular stores, such as Sweet Adeline Bake Shop and Nomad’s Cafe.
Oldtown OaklandAlso known as Old Oakland or Downtown Oakland, Oldtown Oakland is located on the northwest side of Broadway between the City Center Complex and the Jack London Square District. Oldtown Oakland’s major attraction is its historical significance. In earlier times, Oldtown Oakland served as home to elegant brick Victorian hotels with classic architectural styles featuring tall, cast-iron columns and large plate-glass windows. Most of the resident working males and females hold sales and office positions.
Despite the preservation of its authentic antique aura, several modern business establishments have already been put into place such as bistros, boutiques, condominiums and retail stores. You can also visit any of the area’s dining establishments such as B Restaurant & Bar for American cuisine, Battambang Restaurant for Cambodian dishes, Le Cheval for Vietnamese cuisine and Tamarindo Antojeria for Mexican dishes. Oldtown Oakland has also been one of the preferred sites for housing projects.
RockridgeRockridge, a very popular and thriving neighborhood is generally defined as the area east of Telegraph Avenue, south of the Berkeley city limits, west of the Oakland hills and north of the intersection of Pleasant Valley Avenue/51st Street and Broadway. The main street of Rockridge is College Avenue, home to many cafes and restaurants, upscale retail stores, and several bookstores. At the foot of College Avenue is the California College of the Arts. Highway 24 runs through the center of the district on its way east to Contra Costa County. The Rockridge BART station is located in the center of Rockridge, where College Avenue and Highway 24 cross.
With numerous establishments in Rockridge, you will barely find an Oakland tourist guidebook that fails to mention this place. Rockridge is the home of the international corporate headquarters of Dreyer’s Ice Cream. Both locals and tourists also frequent the Rockridge Branch of the Oakland Public Library for its extensive and interesting collection of children’s books and audiovisual materials. You should also not miss the College Avenue that serves as the thoroughfare of Rockridge. You can see more than 80 restaurants, cafes, upscale retail stores, art galleries and bookstores. You can dine at any of the leading dining establishments such as Flavors of India, Asmara Restaurant for Ethiopian dishes, Wood Tavern for American cuisine and Pizzaiolo. Top shopping establishments also include Viva Diva Boutique for women’s clothing and accessories, Homesteader for furniture and home decors, Young’s Trading for sporting gears and Angel Light Books for books and gifts. For post-dinner entertainment, you can check out Ye Olde Hut, The Graduate, Kingfish Pub & Cafe or Toast Wine Lounge among many others. If you want to relax and simply just have a good time, you can visit the Body, Mind and Spirit Massage and Therapy Center, A Royal Nail Spa or About Face and Body. Indeed, the Rockridge’s business district remains as strong and vibrant as ever.
Trestle GlenLocated east of Lakeshore Avenue, a shopping avenue that also rans along the Grand Lake District, Trestle Glen features streets patterned after the traditional curvilinear design in 20th century suburban gardens. The surrounding hills became the foundation of most of the houses, particularly those constructed before the Great Depression. The community of Trestle Glen took its name after a railroad trestle. The trestle became just a thing of the past after automobiles became the primary mode of transportation in the San Francisco Bay Area instead of trains.
Trestle Glen is now home to several edifices including an affordable rental community of 119 apartments developed by BRIDGE Housing. This five-story building also includes a 56-slot child care facility with an outdoor play area. You can also find a number of restaurants and dining establishments in Trestle Glen such as Ultimate Grounds Et Al, Pastinos Pasta & Pizza and Marzano Restaurant. You can also visit Heart and Dagger Saloon, Baggy’s By The Lake, Easy Lounge and Flower Lounge Restaurant for post-dinner entertainment. You can also pamper yourself at Center Stage West Salon, U Go Girl Style Salon, Face & Body by Taylor and Follicles. You can also take advantage of exercise programs at Jazzercise Oakland Glenview School andGold’s Gym.
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Crocker HighlandsThis part of Oakland, formerly known as Indian Gulch, was in 1917 a laurel lined canyon and hillside known for its waterfall, streams and oak studded groves. The Olmsted Brothers, famous landscape architects of the time fromBrookline, Massachusetts, were hired to help in preparing the subdivision maps laying out the streets and parcels in a manner which would follow, or compliment, the natural contours of the canyons, ridges and hillsides. Residents enjoy the governance of the Lakeshore Home Owners Association, the eight commonly-owned park squares and spaces, including a dog-walking trail, and the proximity to urban amenities and transportation.
Crocker Highlands features tree lined streets, period lamps, gardens and gracious homes accented by traditional architecture pieces such as Tudor, arts and crafts, decorative pieces and beaux arts. In Crocker Highlands, you can find one public elementary school serving kindergarten until the fifth grade, the Crocker Highlands Elementary School. The school is managed by the Oakland Unified School District. The students from the school were even tapped to assist in researching, writing, editing and designing Oakland: The City of Dreams, a published book about Oakland’s history and culture. GlenviewGlenview lies in the Oakland foothills, bordering Dimond Park on the eastern side of the district, Park Boulevard on the southwestern side. The northwestern portion crosses Park Boulevard and is bordered by Piedmont atTrestle Glen. Park Boulevard serves as the neighborhood spine and is also the main local shopping node, with a small number of convenience shops and several restaurants stretching a few blocks.
When you visit Glenview, you can take advantage of the different restaurants and dining establishments and satisfy your gustatory cravings. Diggery Inn,Blackberry Bistro, Banana Blossom and Southern Cafe are just some of the excellent choices available in the district. If you want to go shopping, Radio Shack, Act One Costumes and Glenview Florist may suit your needs. Hiller HighlandsHomes in Hiller Highlands feature arguably the best views in the world, situated high above Highway 24 with a direct view of the Golden Gate Bridgeand downtown San Francisco. It was an area that was devastated by the Oakland Hills fire of 1991. The Hiller Highlands / North Hills neighborhood features about 1500 homes. The local neighborhood association, North Hills Phoenix, is a strong advocate for fire-safe building practices with Oakland City Hall and Sacramento, doing its best to ensure that the tragedy of the 1991 Oakland Hills Fire is not repeated.
Hiller Highlands may seem like a silent entity but it features a very vibrant commercial energy. Several restaurants and dining establishments can be found in or near the area including Rick and Ann’s, Paragon Restaurant and Bar Berkeley, MG’s Pizza and Meritage Restaurant. You can also go shopping at Terrace Gifts & Coffee, Accent on Tuning and Afikomen-Jewish Books & Gifts. If you prefer entertainment and leisure spots, you should not miss Judah L. Magnes Jewish Museum, Spirits in Stone and Susan Filter-Paper Conservator. Then you can relax at any of these salons, spas or beauty shops: A Current Affair in Montclair, Tique Salon and Claremont Hotel Club & Spa.
Lakeshore, GrandlakeThe Lakeside District is a five-block area on the east side of Downtown Oakland, next to Lake Merritt, which was designated by the city as a historic neighborhood in the 1980s. This area is graced by several historically significant apartment buildings built in the 1920s. Some are in the art-deco style of the ’20s and are protected as official city landmarks. The neighborhood has seen a continued history of sustained residency in part because of its close proximity to Lake Merritt.
The Grand Lake District, is located near the northeast corner of Lake Merritt, where Grand and Lakeshore Avenues cross under Interstate 580. It borders Adams Point to the west, Trestle Glen to the east, and Piedmont to the north. It is a dense urban environment that hosts a diverse population of peoples from many walks of life. There are two shopping areas in the Grand Lake District:
Above: Afternoon view of Lake Merritt
MontclairLocated in the hills east of Piedmont, Montclair features a charming and vibrant community in a valley formed by the Hayward Fault. Montclair is bordered by Highway 24 to the north, Highway 13 to the west, Skyline Boulevard to the east and Joaquin Miller Road to the south. Since it is a hilly community, much of the area is covered by forests.
Despite the green environment, Montclair does not lack the vibrant commercial spirit you would eventually look for. A variety of business establishments is in Montclair to make sure all your needs are catered to. Montclair serves as home to numerous thriving business establishments such as Dolce Cafe & Bakery, Open Road RV Rentals and G&L Carpet Cleaning. If you want to go shopping, you can go to the Montclair Village located next to Highway 13. You can also visit the world class hiking trails and biking routes in Montclair Village. You can choose from Italian Colors Ristorante for Italian cuisine, Flavors India Bistro for Indian dishes, for Kakui Sushi for Japanese cuisine and Montclair Bistro for European dishes. You can also shop for your favorite apparel at Hula, McCauluo’s Department Store and Le Rouge.
Redwood HeightsCatering to mostly middle class households, the Redwood Heights features a scenic hill neighborhood. With its proximity to Highways 13 and 580, Redwood Heights is certainly one place you can live, play, work, study and enjoy life in. Graders need not worry about their schooling because they could enroll in Redwood Heights Elementary School located just within the neighborhood. They do not need to travel far and their parents can also save on transportation expenses. Redwood Heights also feature a recreation center and a daycare center rolled into one. The recreation center offers different activities for different ages such as summer camps, ballet classes, karate, gymnastics and culinary arts sessions.
TemescalTemescal is one of the oldest neighborhoods in the northern section of Oakland. It is centered around Telegraph Avenue bordered by Broadway and Shattuck Avenue to the east and west, and Claremont Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard to the north and south. Temescal received its name from the Peralta family who established their Rancho San Antonio in the East Bay. It was first applied to the major creek which runs through the district. It was subsequently applied also to the estate of one of the Peralta brothers (Vicente) which was established in today’s Temescal district adjacent to the creek. Primarily a residential neighborhood, Temescal is home to numerous twentieth-century bungalows, multi-family homes and mid-sized apartment complexes. Initially inhabited mostly by Italians, Temescal now hosts people from from different racial and economic backgrounds. Temescal has become one of the preferred communities since the real estate prices in Rockridge became too high. Tourists also consider Temescal a hip haven.
Temescal has long been an important junction of several principal thoroughfares: Telegraph, Claremont, and Shattuck Avenues, and 51st Street. However, Telegraph Avenue serves as the heart of Temescal. With the numerous dining, shopping and entertainment establishments along Telegraph, you are certainly in for an exciting and worthwhile experience in Temescal. With the wide array of dining choices Temescal offers, it has already been named as a Gourmet Ghetto. You can dine at Addis Ethiopian Restaurant,Church’s Fried Chicken, Kansai Japanese Restaurant or La Calaca Loca Mexican Restaurant among many others. You can also go shopping at Clausen House Thrift Shop. For post-dinner entertainment, you can choose from The Avenue, Kingfish Cafe and Pub and Bigum’s Silver Lion.
One of the greatest attractions is its regular Street Fair usually held at Telegraph Avenue from 47th Street to 51st Street. You should also visit Lake Temescal and Temescal Tool Lending Library managed by the Temescal Branch of the Oakland Public Library. Uptown oaklandUptown is a relatively new neighborhood in Oakland. Part of Downtown Oakland, Uptown’s loose boundary is Grand Avenue to the north, Telegraph to the west, Broadway to the East, and 17th street to the south. Heart of Uptown is 20th and Broadway.
Uptown Oakland is also known for its nightlife renaissance. Featuring a wide lineup of chic bars, hip art community and numerous music venues, no night will certainly be dull in Uptown Oakland. You can start your night by enjoying coffee at the Farley’s East and by visiting the famous Oakland Art Murmurduring the first Friday of the month. You can also enjoy small-plate menus and sips of wine at the Franklin Square Restaurant and Wine Bar then hit Ozumofor their happy hour to take advantage of cheaper drinks and bar bites from 4:30 in the afternoon to 7:oo in the evening. For dinner, you can proceed to the neighboring Pican Restaurant or Flora. You have a wide array of options for post-dinner entertainment. You can enjoy the great shows at the Fox Theater or you can dance the night away at the 1000-square feet dance floor in Luka’s Taproom or at the two-storey lounge and dance club of Paradiso. You can also visit Somar Bar & Lounge, Mimosa Champagne Lounge and Mua. Other points of interest in the neighborhood include 19th Street Bart, Cafe Van Kleef, GWPC Climbing Gym, Uptown Night Club, and most recently Bakesale Betty.
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