What's Happening in Oakland - 2014

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So many exciting changes are going on in Oakland; it's hard to keep up! Lock down your real estate investment in Oakland now!  Here's a snapshot by neighborhood.

Jack London/Estuary District - Just announced, a multi-lane upscale bowling alley/outdoor beer garden/live music venue in the old Barnes & Noble location in the heart of the square. This will be a great addition to pioneering establishments like Chop Bar, Lungomare, Haven, Brotzeit Lokal Beer Garten, Forge and others who recognized the opportunity and got in early.

Also, ground has broken near the Oakland Estuary on a multi-building high-rise living development with retail that is slated to bring over 3,000 housing units with exceptional panoramic views of the Hills, San Francisco and even across to the Peninsula and South Bays.

Now, all that's needed is for the A's and/or the Warriors to ink the deal to build their new stadiums!

Uptown District - the restoration of the Fox Theater, spurred the movement and is now the most exciting place in Oakland and the Bay to see live music.  A great evening Uptown includes: a nice dinner at Flora or Duende, followed by a show at the Fox or the Paramount Theater; drinks after at Dogwood or Making West or even the hip-staple, Van Kleef; drop in for an decompression dance/drink or two at the Somar or the LGBT Club 21 then a late-night burrito from Xolo or breakfast at Can't Fail Café. There's also the new-age Feelmore Art/Retail Gallery (for adults only.)

Broadway Avenue Corridor - I've always loved this street and envisioned what it once was.  Lukas Taproom/Bar has been around forever and the food and ambiance are down-home and comforting.  Headed uphill, don't miss the delicious fried chicken at Pican, deserts at Sweet Bar Café and take stroll through the Auto Row District. I'm most excited about the new Sprouts Farmers Market-style grocery with a panoramic roof-deck garden.  Uphill, Kaiser has revamped the corridor between MacArthur-40th with modern-design appealing architecture, which really cleaned up the neighborhood.  Up from there is the New Style Motherlode hip-hop dance studio where owner has been quietly behind lots of major artists and has taught his skills around the world. Across the street is home to the new flagship, Blue Bottle Coffee Café in the old JW Morris art-deco space.  If you don't' know them, you missing some great coffee. 

One of the largest and most important upgrades is the revamp of the Safeway Center at 51st and Broadway.  This will be one of the largest commercial developments in Oakland in years and will include housing, grocery, and retail all in a small-town community format.  Incredible!

If you have been considering making the move to Oakland, and have been swayed away for any number of reasons, like crime, public schools, local government leadership, etc., you might want to rethink, invest now and be a part of the change.

Oakland has a really good stock of mid-century, modern, and craftsman/bungalow properties and property values have nowhere to go but up.  Call me discuss your real estate desires.

Ken Fox, Broker Associate

Ken@EastBayModern.com

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