What's life in San Leandro like? (Oakland, Hayward: subletting, 2015, apartments)

[MisterCali]

So, what's life like in San Leandro? I'm checking out a few apartments there this week. I recently moved to the Bay Area from SoCal. I'm subletting in Oakland and will be looking for perm housing in April. I work in SF -- kind of in SoMa. If Google maps are to be trusted, it looks like the commute from San Leandro is actually faster than the commute from Oakland. Currently, my door-to-door commute from Lake Merritt area to SoMa is just over an hour.

So, do you live in San Leandro or know the area? I've heard from some coworkers that a lot of people in their social circles are moving there - presumably because it's a touch more affordable than Oakland while still having a very reasonable commute into Oakland and SF.

• So, can you get by without a car?
• Are there certain neighborhoods/districts that tend to be more walkable?
• Areas to avoid?
• Is it boring and suburban?
• How is it changing with this influx of new people?

For reference, I'm single, in my early 30s, gay, no kids, not a partier, but certainly enjoy a night out at good restaurant with friends or going out to a movie, play, museum etc. But with all that culture easily accessible via public transport, on a day-to-day basis I'm more concerned with having relatively walkable (or fairly easily accessible) access to the basics: grocery stores, restaurants, dry cleaners etc.

[boulder2015]

Originally Posted by MisterCali

So, what's life like in San Leandro? I'm checking out a few apartments there this week. I recently moved to the Bay Area from SoCal. I'm subletting in Oakland and will be looking for perm housing in April. I work in SF -- kind of in SoMa. If Google maps are to be trusted, it looks like the commute from San Leandro is actually faster than the commute from Oakland. Currently, my door-to-door commute from Lake Merritt area to SoMa is just over an hour.

So, do you live in San Leandro or know the area? I've heard from some coworkers that a lot of people in their social circles are moving there - presumably because it's a touch more affordable than Oakland while still having a very reasonable commute into Oakland and SF.

• So, can you get by without a car?
• Are there certain neighborhoods/districts that tend to be more walkable?
• Areas to avoid?
• Is it boring and suburban?
• How is it changing with this influx of new people?

For reference, I'm single, in my early 30s, gay, no kids, not a partier, but certainly enjoy a night out at good restaurant with friends or going out to a movie, play, museum etc. But with all that culture easily accessible via public transport, on a day-to-day basis I'm more concerned with having relatively walkable (or fairly easily accessible) access to the basics: grocery stores, restaurants, dry cleaners etc.

Not boring...

Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

49% higher crime rate than us average... gentrifying but still a little sketch.

[MisterCali]

Originally Posted by boulder2015

Not boring...

Moderator cut: link removed, linking to competitor sites is not allowed

49% higher crime rate than us average... gentrifying but still a little sketch.

Translation... get in now while you can?

[NextStage]

My area borders San Leandro. I do some shopping there since we're pretty much a wasteland. I'm not sure San Leandro is the place for you.

Commute: Not sure what google maps is doing but SL will definitely be a bit longer than Oakland. BART will be about 10 minutes more. By car, anywhere from 15 minutes to ??? more - depending on traffic.

The area around Estudillo seems nice but sleepy. Anywhere within walking distance of BayFair mall would be a no IMO. There are probably newer areas that I haven't ventured into that may be good on safety and price but I don't think they're too walkable.

My sense of the area when I'm there is that the good parts are suburban/sleepy and the walkable areas aren't safe.

If you're going to be increasing your commute a bit, I'd head more toward Concord/Walnut Creek.

[jade408]

You aren't going to find much legit walkability outside of Oakland and Berkeley. While some places may be walkable to Bart - groceries and day to day stuff will be missing.

Transit isn't very frequent or expansive. Figure out where you can compromise.

My door to door from north oakland to Soma is about 30-35 minutes via transbay bus, 45-50 via bus and Bart, 35-45 via bike and Bart.

[silverkris]

San Leandro once was one of the most racist suburbs that explicitly went out of its way to exclude African Americans until it took court orders to break that up. Brian Copeland, a radio personality, wrote about and acted a one-man show about his experience of being one of the first black families to move to SL - in his book and show, Not a Genuine Black Man. He still lives there today.

[Chuck5000]

There are some very, very nice streets and neighborhoods in San Leandro. Bay O Vista has views and relative deals on mid century houses with views. Long, long term - 10 to 20 years, I think it's very likely it will gentrify. I think its schools will get better much faster than Oakland's. However, not having a true downtown will dampen that. If it had one, gentrification would happen far more quickly.

[artemis78]

On a side note, OP, how are you going to SOMA from the lake that it takes you over an hour? There may be some better ways to get there depending on where you are--that is on the long end for that commute. Google Maps doesn't always suggest the fastest ways for transit.

[WizardOfRadical]

San Leandro and Hayward are probably the two of the most depressing suburbs in the world.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by MisterCali

So, what's life like in San Leandro? I'm checking out a few apartments there this week. I recently moved to the Bay Area from SoCal. I'm subletting in Oakland and will be looking for perm housing in April. I work in SF -- kind of in SoMa. If Google maps are to be trusted, it looks like the commute from San Leandro is actually faster than the commute from Oakland. Currently, my door-to-door commute from Lake Merritt area to SoMa is just over an hour.

So, do you live in San Leandro or know the area? I've heard from some coworkers that a lot of people in their social circles are moving there - presumably because it's a touch more affordable than Oakland while still having a very reasonable commute into Oakland and SF.

• So, can you get by without a car?
• Are there certain neighborhoods/districts that tend to be more walkable?
• Areas to avoid?
• Is it boring and suburban?
• How is it changing with this influx of new people?

For reference, I'm single, in my early 30s, gay, no kids, not a partier, but certainly enjoy a night out at good restaurant with friends or going out to a movie, play, museum etc. But with all that culture easily accessible via public transport, on a day-to-day basis I'm more concerned with having relatively walkable (or fairly easily accessible) access to the basics: grocery stores, restaurants, dry cleaners etc.

I work in San Leandro and live next to it. What is considered the neighborhood of Downtown San Leandro is easily walkable to BART, grocery stores, drug stores, some decent restaurants and a dry cleaner. Can you get by without a car? Yes, but I think a car will make your life better. I can't imagine not having a car.

The only thing DSL doesn't have is movies, unless the local library is running something. That you have to hit BART and head to Bayfair. Not the safest walking area in my opinion.

I think San Leandro is boring. Very family oriented. But lots of weekend activities, like book sales, festivals, farmers markets.

The influx of new people are actually Chinese. Downtown San Leandro is actually 70% Asian.

Other than the Bayfair area and I think it's called Cherryland, in unincorporated SL...it's pretty safe, but be aware. Keep your phone in your pocket, and your purse secure. There's an uptick in muggings. There's a lot of car break ins. Don't ever leave stuff in your car, even if you park in what seems to be a secured garage. It's very easy to walk into a secure garage, people are not careful and miscreants will follow someone in.

As far as closer to SF...it's farther out.