The Bellevue-Staten Condos for Sale | Oakland
The Bellevue-Staten, at 492 Staten Avenue on the shore of Lake Merritt, is Oakland’s most architecturally distinctive residential address — a 15-story, 36-unit landmark building designed in 1929 in the Spanish Baroque and Art Deco style by architect Herman Carl Baumann. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, it is recognizable from across Lake Merritt and stands apart from every other Oakland condominium building by virtue of its age, its historic status, and the care with which its original details have been preserved.
Bellevue Staten
The Building
The Bellevue-Staten was completed in 1929, when Lake Merritt was already one of Oakland’s most desirable residential settings. The building’s Spanish Baroque facade — decorative tilework, arched entries, and ornamental detailing across all 15 stories — reflects a period in Oakland architecture before the Depression ended large-scale residential ambition in the city. The two-story Art Deco lobby is a double-height interior set piece that remains intact and well-maintained, giving the building an arrival experience unlike anything else in the East Bay.
The Units
With only 36 homes across 15 floors, The Bellevue-Staten offers genuine scarcity. Units include one- and two-bedroom configurations with 9-foot ceilings, parquet hardwood floors, formal dining rooms, and fireplaces — period features rarely found in buildings of any era. Several units have private terraces. Many deliver direct Lake Merritt views; others look out over Oakland city lights. Because turnover is extremely low, buyers waiting for availability at The Bellevue-Staten may wait years between opportunities.
Amenities and Services
A 24-hour doorman staffs the lobby. Valet parking and gated underground parking with additional storage are included. The building also has a pool, exercise room, and sauna. HOA dues are at the higher end of the Oakland condo market and directly fund the meticulous maintenance that has kept the building in exceptional condition across nearly a century of continuous residential use.
Location
492 Staten Avenue sits at the Adams Point and Grand Lake boundary, directly adjacent to Lake Merritt’s western shore. The Grand Lake Farmers Market, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s are all within walking distance. Grand Lake and Adams Point neighborhood amenities — the Grand Lake Theater, Lakeshore Avenue dining, and Lakeside Park — are immediately accessible. Lake Merritt BART is approximately 10 minutes on foot. Lake Merritt area homes surround the building on all sides.
Pricing
Recent sales at The Bellevue-Staten have ranged from approximately $700,000 to over $1,000,000, depending on floor, view, unit size, and condition. Because the building has only 36 units and very low turnover, comparable sales are limited and each available unit is effectively its own micro-market. Individual unit condition, view quality, and floor position are the primary pricing drivers.
Frequently Asked Questions: The Bellevue-Staten
What is The Bellevue-Staten in Oakland?
A 15-story, 36-unit landmark at 492 Staten Avenue built in 1929 in Spanish Baroque and Art Deco style by Herman Carl Baumann. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, it is Oakland’s most architecturally distinguished residential building.
What are the units like at The Bellevue-Staten?
One- and two-bedroom homes with 9-foot ceilings, parquet floors, formal dining rooms, and fireplaces. Several units have private terraces. Many have Lake Merritt or city light views. Turnover is extremely low and homes rarely come to market.
What amenities does The Bellevue-Staten offer?
24-hour doorman, valet parking, gated underground parking with storage, pool, exercise room, and sauna. A two-story Art Deco lobby serves as the building’s signature common space.
Where is The Bellevue-Staten located?
At 492 Staten Avenue on Lake Merritt’s western shore, at the Adams Point and Grand Lake boundary. Walking distance to Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and the Grand Lake Farmers Market. Approximately 10 minutes on foot to Lake Merritt BART.
What are prices like at The Bellevue-Staten?
Recent sales have ranged from approximately $700,000 to over $1,000,000. With only 36 units and very low turnover, individual unit condition, view, and floor position are the primary pricing variables.
How does The Bellevue-Staten compare to other Oakland landmark buildings?
No other Oakland residential building combines 1929 vintage, National Register status, Spanish Baroque Art Deco architecture, and a Lake Merritt address. Other Oakland condominiums near the lake include Park Bellevue Tower and The Essex, both at significantly higher unit counts and without the historic pedigree.
Work With a Local Oakland Real Estate Expert
Buying or selling at The Bellevue-Staten requires specific knowledge of a building that rarely transacts — understanding how to value individual units with limited comparables, and how to position a listing in a market where buyers may have been waiting for years. Bruce Wagg works throughout Oakland’s Lake Merritt condo market. Learn more about Bruce Wagg.
Browse related pages: Lake Merritt area homes • Adams Point • Grand Lake • Oakland condos