Redwood Heights Homes For Sale
Redwood Heights is a mostly middle- and upper-middle class, family-friendly residential neighborhood in the hills of Oakland. Redwood Heights has the important distinction of being one of Oakland's most ethnically diverse communities. Besides attracting young professional couples starting families, and many LGBT family households, the area is home to white-collar professionals, University educators and scientists, writers and artists. Demographics veer to a friendly melting-pot feeling, with a high number of Cal Alumni choosing to reside here. This is a slightly under-the-radar neighborhood, with prices that are not sky high by East Bay standards. Many of the homes have huge back yards that get lots of sun. The often modest, yet comfortable and luxurious homes in Redwood Heights date mainly from the 1920s through 1950s. Displaying a dizzying variety of historical styles, the architecture mirrors the cultural diversity of the thoroughly modern community that now calls this neighborhood home: craftsman bungalows mingle with "storybook" million dollar properties, or fit in alongside sleek, ranch style homes. The first development in the area was Avenue Terrace, and a large stone obelisk on the corner of 35th Ave and Victor that says "Avenue Terrace" was a marker for the original neighborhood at that time. development. The Redwood Heights Neighborhood Association (established in 1944) is one of Oakland's oldest neighborhood associations. Of interesting historical note: in the 1880s, for "a few heart-stopping days," the area almost had the beginning of its own gold rush, in what is now the Lincoln Square Shopping Center at the top of Redwood Heights. Alas, it proved to be only pyrite, or fool's gold.
Redwood Heights Real Estate
WHERE IS REDWOOD HEIGHTS LOCATED?
The Redwood Heights neighborhood is centered on Redwood Road, which was once a logging road. It includes the area north of where 35th Avenue becomes Redwood Road—running along the Highway 13 corridor that separates the Upper Dimond and Woodminster neighborhoods. Redwood Heights continues south of Redwood Road down to Macarthur Blvd and I-580. The Laurel and Upper Dimond neighborhoods lie to the northwest. Woodminster and Crestmont create the neighborhood distinctions to the northeast. Transportation by car is convenient and quick, with Hwy-13 and I-580 leading easily to San Francisco, Oakland, Walnut Creek and Berkeley destinations, and an off-peak drive into the city from Redwood Heights can take as little as 15-minutes. A commuter bus to Fruitvale BART is only 10-minutes from the neighborhood. And Oakland Airport from Redwood Heights is a breeze, in under 20 minutes. On Sunday mornings, the Montclair farmer's market is 5 minutes away, providing a great shopping option for local, sustainable produce. Redwood Regional Park is close by for beautiful hiking, stunning views, and an easy, fun outing for kids. A sense of the natural world permeates the area, and sightings of wild turkeys, owls, hawks, and woodpeckers in the neighborhood are not uncommon.
THINGS TO DO NEAR REDWOOD HEIGHTS
With fine weather, a great diversity of food and people, the proximity to culture and nature, home owners will find it natural to take walks and regularly find themselves enjoying the outdoors here. Redwood Heights has a wonderful park and playground, where neighborhood kids are often out throwing frisbees and enjoying time outside with friends. Gardens are well-tended, and the mostly flat streets with sidewalks are pleasant and serene. With an active neighborhood organization that has its own softball team, a baby-to-toddler mom's group, block emergency captains, and more, this is a friendly, involved community that thrives on its diversity and freshness. The first weekend in June welcomes a great annual block sale near the park, where people sell their "yard sale" items, but also homemade tamales and sausages, with kids selling lemonade, cookies, and other treats. Everyone in the neighborhood is out saying hello, with a sweet, neighborhood vibe. For Halloween, Redwood Heights is flat and easy to walk around, and many neighbors go "all out," with fantastic yard decorations, treats for the kids, and drinks for the grownups. There is a strong sense of community here. The Rec Center is beloved by locals, offering ballet for children, ballroom dancing, and yoga. The flat terrain invites walking, bike rides, scootering for kids, and general sense of peace and well-being.
REDWOOD HEIGHTS SCHOOLS
Families who buy houses in Redwood Heights enjoy a great elementary school (Redwood Heights Elementary) with a very progressive and involved-parent community. Many families walk to school, and there is a well-used Rec Center with lots of interesting programs for both children and adults. In addition to the two public OUSD options for grades K-5, this area is also served by two highly-rated charter schools: American Indian Public Charter School and AIP High School serve K-5 and grades 9-12. The private St. Lawrence O'Toole Elementary offers an intimate student-teacher ratio and serves under 200 students, grades K-8.