Moving to Oakland (Piedmont: sublet, apartments, crime)

[Jedijacob]

Hi, I current live in Louisiana and have accepted a job in Oakland. I'll be moving there this July and need some advice. I'll be working downtown on Webster Street and have been using Craig's List to look at a few places in Downtown/Lake Merritt. Any recommendations?...I'm looking at mainly 1 bedrooms and have set a maximum of about $1200/month. It needs to be within walking distance to a BART or even walking distance to work.

Also, I've considered selling my car before moving there. It's hard for me to imagine not having a car, as mass transportation is a little lackluster around here. My fiancee is the one concerned as she will be joining me in January and will be a teacher.

I'd really appreciate any suggestions or help on these issues. Thanks!

-- Jacob

[artemis78]

You might want to check out www.actransit.com and take a look at their bus map--you may find that a bunch of neighborhoods are options if you don't need to have BART nearby, since most bus routes head to downtown Oakland. If neither of you is commuting by car, you can probably get by without one--there are carsharing services you can join so that you have access to a car if you need one for the odd grocery trip, buying big items, visiting non-transit-accessible friends, etc. It is nice to have one available, though, provided you have a place to keep it that isn't costing you an arm and a leg.

Does your fiancee know where she'll be teaching? If not, you might want to consider getting a sublet for 6 months or so--then you can get to know Oakland and the other nearby cities, and choose a place once you know what her commute will be like and which neighborhoods you like the vibe of. If she's commuting farther afield, for instance, you'll want to live somewhere that's close to the right freeway to avoid spending half your life in traffic (or close to the right BART line, etc.).

For neighborhoods, you might check out the Grand/Lake area (no BART but lots of buses, including one to SF), Uptown, Temescal, and Piedmont Avenue (also no BART but buses, and a commute-hour one to SF), which are all nice, relatively safe areas that are easy (under 15 min on transit) commutes to downtown. Old Oakland is another option--lots of nightlife though still an emerging neighborhood. There are also newer apartment buildings along Lake Merritt on the downtown side.

Good luck!

[keen cat]

I would highly suggest the Lake Merritt area around Grand Ave. There are many nice apartments around the cross streets Grand and Perkins. I believe you would have a 30 min more or less walk to work or a very short bus ride. Everything is in walking distance. Very convinient and safe location.

If you don't have a parking garage, it can be very difficult to find parking on the street if you come home in the evening. Plus there has been an on going petty crime of car window bashing.

I found my apt on craigslist. After a few times of my car window getting bashed and paying over $300 worth of parking tickets on street cleaning days, I got so sick of it. I signed up to get a parking space in the garage. Its $50 a month. The management pays for gas and water. I only pay electricity. My 1 bedroom is $871 including the $50 parking fee. If you have other questions, I will try to answer them to the best of my ability.

[18Montclair]

Obviously you can get around without a car, transit in Oakland is better than decent, but a car works in Oakland where it doesnt in SF, where having a car can get in the way.

The Lake Merritt Area around Grand Avenue is a nice area. I'd also look at the Dimond District and Laurel District.

[Joe_Ryder]

Lake Merritt

Don't sell the car just yet.

[ZAHIDA]

That sounds like a nice area but Oakland might be a little different from Loui. There is lots of crime in different parts of Oakland so always be safe and alert

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by ZAHIDA

That sounds like a nice area but Oakland might be a little different from Loui. There is lots of crime in different parts of Oakland so always be safe and alert

Many Cities in Louisiana are much worse than Oakland in terms of crime Especially New Orleans, Shreveport etc

[fizbin]

Originally Posted by Joe_Ryder

Lake Merritt

Don't sell the car just yet.

I agree with both of these comments.

[rachelzeesee]

I agree with Zahida's comment. Some places are really rough. Stay alert. Stay safe. I also agree that there are hard places in Louisiana too. But just try and stay safe.

[emcee187]

do not sell your car i repeat do not sell your car. oakland and the whole east bay have bad transportion. and the lake merrit area above lake park is really nice but below becomes kinda shady but is nothing compared to like bushrod park or deep east oakland