Stop Press: An Underrated (Underpriced?) Bay Area Neighborhood
I have long thought the Piedmont Avenue area of Oakland has a huge amount to offer and yet seems to be somewhat overlooked when surveys are taken of the joys to be had of living in the Bay Area.
Reasons to like this spot include the fabulous Piedmont Avenue itself with its extensive choice of stores, restaurants and cafes. It’s all there, from Fenton’s Creamery to Piedmont Grocery, from a highly regarded yoga studio, to the quirky Dr Comics & Mr Games, from useful stores such as a cobbler to serious cycling hot spot Montana Velo, from where my son is determined to acquire his next bike.
Half a dozen of my favorite restaurants are on this street — including Dopo and Bar Cesar (above, middle), and at least one is run by an Alice Waters alum: Mary Jo Thorenson’s Jojo.
The Piedmont cinema (above left) is a gem — showing art house and foreign movies; the Frederick Law Olmstead designed Mountain View Cemetery (above right) is a splendid place to take a bracing walk and pause for spectacular Bay views; and to top it all there’s a real down-home neighborhood feel to this enclave — not something that can necessarily be said of nearby chi-chi Piedmont proper.
The Chronicle might have put it best:
“Block for block, it may be the most interesting and eclectic district in Oakland.”
Current Redfin estimates put the median price per square foot of a single family house in the neighborhood at $469. Here are three interesting recent listings to investigate:
4384 Howe Street: a remodeled, 2+/2, one-level Craftsman with bonus room opening onto back deck. Price: $549,000 ($469/sq ft).
4135 Howe Street: a 2/1 updated Craftsman bungalow with two car garage and French doors to large deck and garden. Price: $675,000 ($764/sq ft).
4141 Piedmont Avenue: 1/1 condo in 1970s 10-unit block, with one-car garage, updated in “mid-century” style with bamboo floors. Price: $369,000 ($590/sq ft).
Related links:
Piedmont Avenue neighborhood data from Redfin
Sweet Digs: A Neighborhood with Curb Appeal
San Francisco Chronicle neighborhood review: Piedmont Avenue
[Photo credits: cemetery: www.mountainviewcemetery.org/; Cesar: www.barcesar.com; cinema: flickr.com]
