Safe neighborhoos in Oakland (Berkeley, Piedmont: apartment complexes, violent crime, houses)

[John F McF]

My daughter will be going to Mills College in Oakland. She is not familar with the area but has heard that Lake Merritt and Temescal are close to the school and safe. Are these areas safe? What specific areas in lake Merritt and Temescal are considerd safe? Any problems getting from Mills to these areas? Thanks, john

[Mr. Fantastic]

Oakland is a hodge-podge of extremely violent areas, and somewhat okay areas. Overall, the city is the most dangerous large city in the state, so keep that in mind. Some areas of Lake Merritt are okay. The area near West Grand and Lee Street are okay, I would still tell your daughter to stay in at night.

Temescal has been turning around in the past 10 years but I would still check the crime report online:
Oakland Crimespotting

I do remember Temescal having a lot of auto theft when I used to live in the area.

If you see a lot of violent crime near any area, just avoid it. Better to be safe than sorry.

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by Mr. Fantastic

Oakland is a hodge-podge of extremely violent areas, and somewhat okay areas. Overall, the city is the most dangerous large city in the state, so keep that in mind. Some areas of Lake Merritt are okay. The area near West Grand and Lee Street are okay, I would still tell your daughter to stay in at night.

Temescal has been turning around in the past 10 years but I would still check the crime report online:
Oakland Crimespotting

I do remember Temescal having a lot of auto theft when I used to live in the area.

If you see a lot of violent crime near any area, just avoid it. Better to be safe than sorry.

So now you lived in the area? rofl... you lived in Berkeley.




Anyway, Lake Meritt is not particularly close to Mills College. Mills is next to Seminary Ave in Deep East Oakland. If she's not familiar with that type of area, then as a rule of thumb she should avoid anywhere past High St. Laurel is a fairly safe neighborhood that's a lot closer to Mills than Lake Meritt, and also a lot cheaper. It also has a robust strip on MacArthur Blvd.

[Mr. Fantastic]

Originally Posted by Nineties Flava

So now you lived in the area? rofl... you lived in Berkeley.

First off, Berkeley and Temescal are only 3 miles apart.

Secondly, I know it's hard for you, but try not to troll this thread just because you want to follow me around. The OP needs information on where to house his DAUGHTER.

I know you haven't gotten to the point in your life where you can raise kids, so trust me when I say, this is very important for the OP.

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by Mr. Fantastic

First off, Berkeley and Temescal are only 3 miles apart.

Secondly, I know it's hard for you, but try not to troll this thread just because you want to follow me around. The OP needs information on where to house his DAUGHTER.

I know you haven't gotten to the point in your life where you can raise kids, so trust me when I say, this is very important for the OP.

The difference is, I actually live in Oakland right now... Oakland was a very different city even 10 years ago.


And I would advise the OP to say what her budget is... if he's hell bent on her living in the lake meritt area then he should be ready to spend upwards of $2,000 a month.

[Mr. Fantastic]

Umm you can find one bedroom apartments on Craigslist right now near the Lake for around $1500.

[Nineties Flava]

Originally Posted by Mr. Fantastic

Umm you can find one bedroom apartments on Craigslist right now near the Lake for around $1500.

$1500 for a studio is rediculous. We're paying less than that for a 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bathroom in Dimond.

[Mr. Fantastic]

There is a big difference in "desirability" between Dimon and Lake Merritt, for good reason.

[rbehs]

Temescal has a lot going on in terms of new restaurants and bars, but it's pretty far from Mills and it is pretty close to some of the worse areas of West and North Oakland; it would be okay for someone who is familiar with an urban environment and wants a lot going on. Same would be true for Uptown. Rockridge and Piedmont Ave. are also good neighborhoods with lots of post-college people around, but much more yuppified. Lake Merritt varies -- on the east side closer to 880 is more of a lower income, Asian neighborhood. As you get closer to 580, it gets to be young professional, with a stable neighborhood of nice houses just east of the apartments along the lake. On the west side, there are lots of large apartment complexes close to downtown that I'd avoid, and then it gets more residential along Grand up to 580, although I personally prefer the area above 580, which is comprised of the Grand/Lake and Lakeshore neighborhoods. That area has a great farmer's market, a Trader Joes, Arizmendi bakery, coffee shops, etc. Also very convenient to Mills.

Dimond, discussed above, has changed a lot even in the last couple years, with the opening of the Farmer Joes grocery store. I always feel safe there, but it's not as established as some of the other neighborhoods. I actually live right next to Mills in Maxwell Park, but it's a sleepy, quiet neighborhoood, not the best fit for a college student.

[Pretzelogik]

I thought Jerry (moon beam) Brown fixed all that while he was mayor?