Notes On A (Joint) Neighborhood: Westbrae and Northbrae
What is it that “makes” a neighborhood?
I am pondering this question because I have just discovered a whole new Berkeley neighborhood that I wasn’t familiar with before.
First I noticed there were a few homes for sale in a place called Westbrae. Then I figured out that I have of course been to this part of the world but didn’t realize it had been given this moniker. Then I found out that there is another area called Northbrae which is in fact adjoining Westbrae, so the two form a sort of dual neighborhood.
They are both in the northern reaches of the city along the Albany border (see map below) and two small business districts lend them focal points and plenty of opportunity for retail therapy and people watching.
Westbrae, which covers a few blocks on Gilman Street before it ends at Hopkins is bisected by the elevated BART track. There are cafes, some destination restaurants (Lalime’s included) as well as a good-looking nursery.
Northbrae, a little further east on Hopkins, offers some great world-class food shopping (Monterey Market and Monterey Fish Market), tennis courts, a swimming pool and track as well as a Julia Morgan designed branch library.
As is the way with life, I found myself driving through these areas today just a few days after thinking that I must make the effort to explore there. The area had immediate appeal — peaceful and bustling at the same time with a real neighborhood feel — however intangible and difficult to define that may be.
More information on this area can be found here and here.
Homes for sale now there include:
1217 Ordway Street: (pictured below) an “enchanting” 2/1 Mediterranean on for $789,000.
1270 Monterey Avenue: a 4/2 Craftsman with original details on for $1,395,000.
1331 Northside Avenue: a “cute” freshly painted 2/1 cottage on for $539,000.
Notes On A Neighborhood: Chabot
Notes On A Neighborhood: “Everything On Your Doorstep” Rockridge
