San Leandro/Hayward (Oakland, Berkeley, Alameda: apartment complexes, condos, crime)

[PeixeGato]

I am looking for a city in the Bay Area that has a nice "neighborhoody" feel to it. Somewhere we can walk to small restaurants and other mom and pop stores. Someplace that has parks and playgrounds for the kids. We love parts of Berkeley, but even in the recent housing slump, the prices remain well out of reach. Will we find anything similar in San Leandro or Hayward? And if not, are there other nearby cities where we can find an environment similar to Berkeley at a (slightly) lower cost?

Thanks.

[sonarrat]

San Leandro and Hayward are not what you're looking for. Alameda might strike closer to your ideal.

[Taboo2]

Originally Posted by PeixeGato

I am looking for a city in the Bay Area that has a nice "neighborhoody" feel to it. Somewhere we can walk to small restaurants and other mom and pop stores. Someplace that has parks and playgrounds for the kids. We love parts of Berkeley, but even in the recent housing slump, the prices remain well out of reach. Will we find anything similar in San Leandro or Hayward? And if not, are there other nearby cities where we can find an environment similar to Berkeley at a (slightly) lower cost?

Thanks.

Alameda, Lafayette, Orinda, Walnut Creek, Pleasanton, Danville, Castro Valley, Parts of Oakland.

[City Boy]

I'd recommend, Alameda, Oakland, El Cerrito,. All the inner East bay cities like Orinda etc are very suburban and nothing like Berkeley at all.

[PeixeGato]

Originally Posted by City Boy

I'd recommend, Alameda, Oakland, El Cerrito,. All the inner East bay cities like Orinda etc are very suburban and nothing like Berkeley at all.

Thanks. That's what I had figured about the inner east bay places like Walnut Creek. Besides, many of those areas are just as expensive as Berkeley and are MUCH further from the City.

I'll have to check out Alameda and El Cerrito. I know about Solano Ave, but haven't spent much time in El Cerrito otherwise. And I've never been to Alameda, so we'll definitely have to take a look around.

[PeixeGato]

Are there any areas of Alameda I should steer clear of? Or on the flip side, any areas that I should concentrate on?

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by PeixeGato

Are there any areas of Alameda I should steer clear of? Or on the flip side, any areas that I should concentrate on?

I'm not aware of any bad parts of Alameda. Some bad apartment complexes maybe, but if you're looking to a buy a property it would be hard to go wrong with all the lovely victorians and bayfront condos. Some areas are more desirable than others, and even the simplest curbside examination should tell you which ones those are.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

I'm not aware of any bad parts of Alameda. Some bad apartment complexes maybe, but if you're looking to a buy a property it would be hard to go wrong with all the lovely victorians and bayfront condos. Some areas are more desirable than others, and even the simplest curbside examination should tell you which ones those are.

Though it's not a bad area crime wise Alameda's Bay Farm Island ( I think that's what it's called) is awful. Very industrial 70's housing, they all look alike and they all seem to be painted that gawd-awful grey dead color... at least the part I always seem to find myself in...

[bellalunatic]

I recommend Alameda too... El Cerrito is kinda just icky...Albany seems like a better fit for you (and it shares Solano Ave) and the schools are WAY better than El Cerrito.

[Taboo2]

Originally Posted by PeixeGato

Thanks. That's what I had figured about the inner east bay places like Walnut Creek. Besides, many of those areas are just as expensive as Berkeley and are MUCH further from the City.

I'll have to check out Alameda and El Cerrito. I know about Solano Ave, but haven't spent much time in El Cerrito otherwise. And I've never been to Alameda, so we'll definitely have to take a look around.

All cities i mentioned have downtowns that you can walk to that are worth walking to. They are safe but not as eclectic as Berkeley. Depends on what part of Berkeley you like?
Elmwood?
MLK?
Just depends.