Living in West Berkeley
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Parent Q&A
Come on down to south-west Berkeley! The neighborhoods between San Pablo Park and Strawberry Creek park are great. Very walkable, bike friendly, quiet streets that take you to the Greenway, many parks small and large, close to freeway onramps, and lots of convenient services like coffee shops, restaurants, library, pool, Berkeley Bowl, small Target, Mi Tierra, and much more. You can get places fast by car taking Sacramento, 6th, or San Pablo.
We had been looking for a house for over two years and had almost all the same questions/wants as you. We absolutely loved Fairfax and found the culture to be super outdoorsy and very progressive. The houses closer to SFD are walkable to town and the schools are amazing. The issue was that a lot of the houses are super old and funky. There was almost always a concession we were having to make or the house needed lots of hidden work. That being said, the prices are the most reasonable outside of Novato (for Marin). Novato was cute, has tons of open space, and is walkable as well in certain neighborhoods. Plus and the houses are newer. It's much more conservative though. The schools are also pretty conservative from what I've heard from a few co workers who live there.
Ultimately, we ended up finding a great house in West Berkeley that we just recently moved into. The vibe here seems to be progressive with lots of young families. There are tons of kids around all the time. The houses seemed to range in work needed, but there were definitly lots with upgrades, nice finishes, and all that we looked at had yards and garages.
Archived Q&A and Reviews
| Questions |
San Pablo Park area of Berkeley
Feb 2012
Hi folks. What do you know of the neighborhood around San Pablo park in terms of safety and friendliness? I'm looking to buy and it's the only nice looking neighborhood I can afford in Berkeley. I'm single with a 5 year old so safety is a priority but we are used to city living so don't expect perfection either. Thanks! House hunting
We've lived in the San Pablo park area for over three years and love it. It's very diverse, both ethnically and economically, which does lead to more police activity - we personally haven't had any problems, but there have been a recent rash of burglaries in the area, and crime from San Pablo or Sacramento sometimes finds its way into the neighborhood. We still love it. Within a mile there's everything you can imagine - playgrounds, markets, Bart, library, great restaurants and cafes, nurseries, even a post office. It's a quick walk to the 4th street area, and of course Berkeley Bowl is very close and wonderful. When it's time for us to get a bigger house we hope to find something in this same neighborhood.
Make sure to take a close look at your neighbors when looking at a specific house. There are some 'problem homes', so to speak (mostly the kids or grandkids of folks who have lived here for 20+ years causing the problems) and it sure would be annoying to be right next door to one of those, and there are some apartment buildings tucked here and there that I wouldn't want to be right next to, but as a whole neighborhood it's really great! l.
Interested in a home in West Berkeley
May 2011
We will be relocating to Berkeley this summer and are interested in a home in West Berkeley. What insight can you share about this neighborhood? Is it a good place to raise a family? My husband and I have two boys ages 5 and 7. It seems like there are a lot of family-friendly amenities within walking distance. On the other hand, some blocks and homes seem a bit run down and it is right along the freeway and the train tracks. Any thoughts would be very appreciated! living in West Berkeley?
'West Berkeley' is a large demographic area and you don't say whether you would be in southwest or northwest Berkeley. We've lived in southwest Berkeley, the San Pablo Park neighborhood, since 2003. We really like it here. More and more families with young children are moving here because it's one of the more affordable areas in Berkeley. We're a few blocks away from Berkeley Bowl West, a few blocks from San Pablo Park, the largest park in Berkeley (I think), close to freeway access, and close to the shops along San Pablo Ave near Dwight Way.
That said, we do have crime here but from what I understand, crime is not only found in the flats -- we get burglaries and car break-ins just like anywhere else in Berkeley. We have young dudes smoking pot and/or drinking at the park and prostitutes on San Pablo. It's not Lafayette. It is definitely gritty and sometimes it bums me out, to be honest. But it is affordable and we love our neighbors.
Our street has a disaster cache, an active neighborhood email list, block parties twice a year, and lots of kids. Everyone here looks out for each other. I love going to the grocery store and bumping into a neighbor -- I feel like a definite part of the community! SW Berkeley Fan
Kid-Friendly Neighborhoods
Feb 2003
Re: Seeking a friendly neighborhood w/kids
Hi, We live in the San Pablo Park area of Berkeley on Carleton Street (the 1200 block). We find the neighborhood to be very kid friendly and in the 3 years that we have lived here we have gotten to know pretty much all the families with kids around the ages of ours (2 and 4). The neighborhood is no paradise mind you, but it has a lot of very nice qualities. There is a very nice and active park near by (San Pablo Park). The area is pretty diverse ethnically (primarily a mix of African-American and Caucasion families). And it is very centrally located (perhaps too much so) close to freeways and major streets. There are a number of rentals in the area, though our street (which I am most familiar with) is mostly owner occupied. One more note, neighborhoods in this area are really different, street by street, so check them out pretty thoroughly. Good luck, Cherene
My 5 year old and I live near Longfellow, and I love the neighborhood. As long as you're not right near Sacramento, where things can get interesting on weekend nights, it's quiet and relatively safe. Lots of families, plus retirees who have been here for decades. There are three playgrounds within walking distance. Grove Park is the closest (and small). San Pablo park, on the other side of Sacramento, with its huge new playground, basketball courts, new tennis courts, and lots of grassy field. And the playground at Malcolm X elementary (on the other side of Ashby) is nice too, open on weekends to the public, though it's not a tot park obviously. Berkeley has so many playgrounds.
I live a few blocks away from Longfellow (with my toddler) and it's great! We are super close to San Pablo Park and Becky Temko Tot Parks. San Pablo Park is host to a few toddler music classes. Easy access to Totland, a park specifically designed for the 1.5 - 2.5 (ish) age range. It's pretty safe, Bob's Liquors is sketchy though and there has been some gun violence at that corner.
We live a few blocks away from Longfellow and have lived in our house for 8 years. We currently have a 3-year-old and an 8-year-old. This is one of the BEST neighborhoods with small children. There are probably 5 parks within walking distance (i.e., Grove, Becky Temko tot park, San Pablo, etc.) and the South Branch library is within walking distance too. When I was on maternity leave with my second child I would walk everywhere with him. Berkeley Bowl, Trader Joe's, farmer's market, a slew of restaurants/cafes, and downtown Berkeley are a 10-20 minutes walk. Also prior to the pandemic, I would walk to Ashby BART to SF. There are so many children in this area. On the street we live on the neighbors have several email groups and the moms have done happy hours. We look after each other and borrow sugar, spices and drop off cookies. There is also an active Buy Nothing Group where I have donated toys and clothes and also received toys and clothes in return. Halloween is really active around here. I think your family will be pleasantly surprised and welcomed :-)