Questions about Emeryville/Berkeley--Need help fast!! (Oakland, Pasadena: lofts, condo, neighborhoods)

[MrPointy]

I got all my places through that, including the aforementioned 3 bedroom condo in Richmond hills (for $1500 back in 2000)

Man, El Cerrito/Richmond hills was nice, I felt like a millionaire when I came to the house

[tennis368fan]

Originally Posted by MrPointy

I'm not sure Emeryville has anything special to offer if she is working at UCB.
If she is OK with a suburban area, El Cerrito/Richmond hills (around arlington road) is
an AWESOME area. Very nice environment, and above arlington there is the wildcat canyon park;
I used to live there, and used to see deer wandering about. Also ultra safe and no pollution.
I loved it when I was there. Great for nature lovers.

Quick commute to Berkeley ~10-15 mins.

Very nice houses, and decent rent too.

Piedmont is another option if she wants to be closer to shops.

Also, its not like there are students everywhere in Berkeley. Typically students live in downtown or close to the
university. If she goes to Berkeley hills, there will not be that many students around.

On a scale of 1-10 for safety I'd say El Cerrito Richmond hills rates as a 10, piedmont an 8,
Berkeley Hills 8.5, Albany 6.5, Emeryville 5, Oakland around adeline street 3

There is also Oakalnd hills (hills are generally safer as they have a suburban environment)

Really? Albany is more dangerous? I find that hard to believe.





According to Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed, and assuming violent crime is worse than property crime, the order from safest to most sketchy should be:

1. Kensington - Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed
2. Piedmont -Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed
3. Albany -Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed
4. East Richmond Heights - Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed
5. El Cerrito -Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed
6. Berkeley Hills (94708, 94707) - Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed ,
7. Emeryville proper (94522) - Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed
8. Emeryville/Oakland - San Pablo/Adeline (94608) - Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed

I have always heard that Albany was very much sought after, with its highly rated schools, proximity to San Francisco, and its expensive real estate.

Honestly, I have been to Emeryville proper many times and it looks very safe and well populated. I am sure that it can't be that bad at night as long as one does not stay out late.

Living in Berkeley probably would not be bad either. There would be no driving necessary. I don't see why your girlfriend shouldn't live within Berkeley. I feel that Sperlings is too strict on ranking cities by crime. They made Alameda sound more dangerous than in reality.

[MrPointy]

I guess it would depend on the area. I lived in Albny a few blocks form san pablo av, that may have affected my rating.

But I would still rate East Richmond Heights safety on par with Kensington.

OP: Kensington is also a very nice area.

Originally Posted by tennis368fan

Really? Albany is more dangerous? I find that hard to believe.







According to Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed, and assuming violent crime is worse than property crime, the order from safest to most sketchy should be:

1. Kensington - Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed
2. Piedmont -Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed
3. Albany -Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed
4. East Richmond Heights - Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed
5. El Cerrito -Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed
6. Berkeley Hills (94708, 94707) - Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed ,
7. Emeryville proper (94522) - Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed
8. Emeryville/Oakland - San Pablo/Adeline (94608) - Moderator cut: linking to competitors sites is not allowed, link removed

I have always heard that Albany was very much sought after, with its highly rated schools, proximity to San Francisco, and its expensive real estate.
[/list]I have always heard that Albany was very much sought after, with its highly rated schools, proximity to San Francisco, and its expensive real estate.

Honestly, I have been to Emeryville proper many times and it looks very safe and well populated. I am sure that it can't be that bad at night as long as one does not stay out late.

Living in Berkeley probably would not be bad either. There would be no driving necessary. I don't see why your girlfriend shouldn't live within Berkeley. I feel that Sperlings is too strict on ranking cities by crime. They made Alameda sound more dangerous than in reality.

[Nella925]

Emeryville in fine in my opinion.
there are a lot of nice and new apartments/condos/ townhomes in the area. It also has great views and a nice little downtown shopping area (bay street). It is pretty safe from what I have observed.

[jaynetarzana]

Originally Posted by MrPointy

I'm not sure Emeryville has anything special to offer if she is working at UCB.
If she is OK with a suburban area, El Cerrito/Richmond hills (around arlington road) is
an AWESOME area. Very nice environment, and above arlington there is the wildcat canyon park;
I used to live there, and used to see deer wandering about. Also ultra safe and no pollution.
I loved it when I was there. Great for nature lovers.

Quick commute to Berkeley ~10-15 mins.

Very nice houses, and decent rent too.

Piedmont is another option if she wants to be closer to shops.

Also, its not like there are students everywhere in Berkeley. Typically students live in downtown or close to the
university. If she goes to Berkeley hills, there will not be that many students around.

On a scale of 1-10 for safety I'd say El Cerrito Richmond hills rates as a 10, piedmont an 8,
Berkeley Hills 8.5, Albany 6.5, Emeryville 5, Oakland around adeline street 3

There is also Oakalnd hills (hills are generally safer as they have a suburban environment)

You'd only rate the safety of Albany a 6.5? Can anyone else ring in on this opinion? We are considering this area and safety is a big concern. Thanks!

[worktolive]

The poster who rated Albany lower specifically said that he was basing that on having lived near San Pablo Ave. Because San Pablo Ave. is more gritty and industrial (although there are parts that have been gentrified), the neighborhoods closer to it all along its length from Oakland up through Richmond can be a bit "sketchier" compared to the areas that are in or closer to the hills.

Don't worry, in general, Albany is a very nice town, very safe and very livable. Even the San Pablo area there is not bad.

[jaynetarzana]

Thanks for the clarification worktolive. I appreciate you taking the time to reply. I love this forum. It has been the most useful tool I can imagine for relocating.

[bellalunatic]

see also:

Berkeley Parents Network: How to Find Housing in the Bay Area

Ther Archstone company usually has nice units...we rented one in Pasadena. They are overpriced generally and Emeryville really isn't all that interesting, and does border on the gritty Adeline area, so I'd recommend North Berkeley, Albany or El Cerrito.

[jaynetarzana]

Thanks Bella!

[tstieber]

I also wouldn't rate El Cerrito a 10 vs. Piedmont being an 8 for safety. If you're thinking Piedmont Avenue, that's one thing, but the City of Piedmont is like Bel-Air. The cheapest homes there go for about $1 million and up to $20 or $30 million for the massive gated estates. It's so secluded and quiet, I've never seen anything remotely resembling sketchiness there. Piedmont Ave does have a bit more funkiness to it though.