With its tree-lined streets, gourmet restaurants, charming homes, and great public transit, Rockridge remains one of Oakland’s most sought-after neighborhoods.
Located in the north part of the city, Rockridge welcomes locals and visitors alike to its vibrant commercial district along College Avenue.
Neighborhood anchors include the always-packed Zachary’s Chicago Pizza, Diesel bookstore, See Jane Run, and Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream Parlor & Cafe. The area also has attracted a number of gourmet restaurants, such as Wood Tavern, Ramen Shop, and Oliveto Restaurant and Cafe.
Rockridge boasts its own BART station, making commutes to San Francisco and other parts of the East Bay a snap. Residents also enjoy easy freeway access.
Rockridge homes for sale range in style from historic cottages and bungalows to classic East Bay brown-shingled affairs. Average prices for single-family homes in the 94618 zip code — which includes Rockridge — jumped 63 percent to $1.06 million in April, up from $653,000 a year earlier, according to MLS data.
Home to several award-winning schools, Rockridge attracts many young families. In 2012 the neighborhood’s Chabot Elementary School earned a state Academic Performance Index, or API, score of 952 out of 1,000. There are also several top private-education options nearby, including the Bentley School (K-12), Park Day School (K-8), and The College Preparatory School (high school).
“Rockridge is a lovely neighborhood with charming homes and friendly neighbors,” BayAreaDesigner wrote on Pacific Union’s Rockridge neighborhood reviews page. “There is a stroller on every block cruising at most any hour of the day. It has good boutique shopping (and) food fit for foodies and families alike.”
Read more about Oakland’s Rockridge neighborhood here.
(Photo of College Avenue by www.bluewaikiki.com, via Flickr.)