After Years of Real Estate Heat, the Neighborhood's Location Continues to Attract Attention
As is true for much of the East Bay, West Oakland is changing.
Once viewed as unappealing due to crime and a lack of amenities, West Oakland -- the block of land just west of downtown Oakland bordered by Highway 880 to the south and west, Highway 980 to the east and Highway 580 to the north -- has seen years of growth and investment.
As the area's great location -- easy access to the first BART stop into San Francisco, a short skip to downtown Oakland and easy highway access all around -- becomes more popular, the area's once notorious crime has dwindled and, thanks to lots of remodeling and development, home prices have increased.
Amenities are starting to pour in as well.
A notorious food desert, West Oakland got its first large grocery store in June with the opening of Community Foods Market at 3105 San Pablo Ave. Its mission of providing affordable fresh food fits a big need in the neighborhood. Previously, residents had to either do their grocery shopping at liquor stores or at grocers outside of the area.
The idea is that this place will serve the community, which is mostly working class, not only as an affordable place to shop but also as a place to gather, says Community Foods Market owner Brahm Ahmadi.
From the first quarter 2013 to the first quarter 2019, the median sale price of a West Oakland single-family home jumped 240 percent, from $206,850 to $710,000. Source; Red Oak Realty analysis of MLS data.
The area's location is too hot for Bay Area developers and homebuyers to pass up, especially given its easy access to San Francisco, where many area jobs are. Discussions of big developments constantly come up.
For example, there's a 1,000-unit development near West Oakland BART in development.
Still Heat
"There's a lot of younger couples moving in, and older people who want to live in an urban environment," says Red Oak Realty agent Simon Black who does a fair amount of work in the neighborhood.
Aside from the location and the increasing amenities, the area's charming old Victorians attract buyers, Black added. They see diamonds in the rough that really shine when given some attention.
The area's real estate, hot for seven years, is starting to slow, he said. But, given that tech companies located in the South Bay are beginning to allow employees to work from home two or more days per week in recognition of their ability to find nearby housing, demand is rising. This more flexible work environment at Bay Area companies increases attention for East Bay homes, including in West Oakland.
West Oakland Victorian.
So the heat is still there. For example, Simon helped buyers recently purchase a 770-square-foot, two-bedroom bungalow for $907,000 (a few blocks outside West Oakland but which still reflects the neighborhood's market dynamics) for about 30 percent over the $699,000 list price; the home attracted nine offers. That price jump is high even for the East Bay's pricing culture that often pushes prices over asking.
"My clients wanted it," Simon says. The big seller was walkability to the West MacArthur BART station, a half-mile away.
Street as Gallery
On an overcast summer morning, an artist stands on his ladder to fill in intricate details of a mural at 16th Street and Poplar Avenue, near DeFremery Park, just about the heart of West Oakland. He's turning a warehouse grey wall into a vibrant piece of art.
Making this city more beautiful, that's what it's all about, he says, rolling up his paint-speckled sleeves, especially West Oakland.
Artists have transformed storefronts, warehouses and street signs into portraits of civil rights heroes, local sports legends, and abstract explosions of color.
The West Oakland art scene, which includes galleries and work spaces like American Steele and The Crucible, is alive and well.
