Van Buren Tower Condos for Sale | Oakland
Van Buren Tower, at 320 Lee Street in Oakland's Adams Point neighborhood, is a 13-story, 68-unit mid-century condominium completed in 1965 and designed by Michel Andre Marx and Associates — the same firm that designed Lakeside Regency Plaza. One block from Lake Merritt, with floor-to-ceiling windows delivering panoramic views of the lake, the Oakland Hills, and San Francisco Bay, it is one of Adams Point's most distinctive mid-century residential buildings.
Van Buren Tower
Architecture and Units
The building's design maximizes its hilltop Adams Point setting with floor-to-ceiling windows across all unit types. Parquet hardwood floors, private balconies, and open-concept living areas connect directly to the view in most floor plans. Unit sizes range from one-bedroom condos of approximately 730 square feet to two-bedroom homes of 1,000 to 1,540 square feet and three-bedroom units approaching 1,700 square feet. Many units have been significantly renovated with updated kitchens, baths, and finishes while retaining their mid-century character.
Amenities
The building offers gated underground parking with two levels and assigned spaces, keyed and coded elevators, app-based community laundry facilities, outdoor terraces, locked individual storage units, gated bike storage, and EV charging stations. Van Buren Tower is pet-friendly.
Location
320 Lee Street sits one block from Lake Merritt's Lakeside Park, in the walkable core of Adams Point. The Grand Lake Farmers Market, Grand Lake Theater, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and a concentration of restaurants on Grand Avenue and Lakeshore Avenue are all within walking distance. I-580 is minutes away for freeway commuters. AC Transit and transbay bus routes provide transit access without requiring BART.
Van Buren Tower Compared to Other Adams Point Buildings
Van Buren Tower shares mid-century architectural DNA with Lakeside Regency Plaza, also designed by the Marx firm. It sits one block from the lake rather than directly on the shore, which makes it one of Adams Point's more accessible entry points for mid-century high-rise living. Buyers comparing buildings near Lake Merritt will also want to look at Park Bellevue Tower at 565 Bellevue Avenue and The Essex at 1 Lakeside Drive — both of which sit directly on the lake with full-service amenity packages at higher price points. For a broader view of the market, see the Lake Merritt condos hub and Oakland condos for sale.
Frequently Asked Questions: Van Buren Tower
What is Van Buren Tower in Oakland?
A 13-story, 68-unit mid-century condominium at 320 Lee Street in Adams Point, completed in 1965 and designed by Michel Andre Marx and Associates — the same firm that designed Lakeside Regency Plaza. One block from Lake Merritt, it is one of Adams Point's most distinctive mid-century residential buildings.
What are the units like at Van Buren Tower?
Floor-to-ceiling windows, parquet hardwood floors, private balconies, and Lake Merritt or skyline views throughout. One-bedroom homes from approximately 730 square feet; two-bedrooms from 1,000 to 1,540 square feet; three-bedrooms to approximately 1,700 square feet. Many units have been updated with renovated kitchens and baths while retaining mid-century character.
What amenities does Van Buren Tower offer?
Gated underground parking with two levels and assigned spaces, keyed and coded elevators, app-based laundry, outdoor terraces, locked individual storage, gated bike storage, and EV charging stations. The building is pet-friendly.
Where is Van Buren Tower located?
At 320 Lee Street in Adams Point, one block from Lake Merritt's Lakeside Park. Walkable to the Grand Lake Farmers Market, Grand Lake Theater, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Grand Avenue and Lakeshore Avenue dining. I-580 is accessible within minutes for freeway commuters.
How does Van Buren Tower compare to other Lake Merritt buildings?
Van Buren Tower sits one block from the lake rather than directly on the shore, which typically positions it at more accessible price points than direct lakefront buildings like Park Bellevue Tower and The Essex. The building shares mid-century architectural DNA with Lakeside Regency Plaza, designed by the same firm. Floor-by-floor view variation and a range of unit configurations from one- to three-bedrooms give buyers several options within the building.
Is Van Buren Tower pet-friendly?
Yes. Van Buren Tower is a pet-friendly building. Buyers with pets should confirm current HOA pet policies — including any size or breed restrictions — before removing contingencies, as building rules can be updated by the HOA board.
Work With a Local Adams Point Condo Expert
Bruce Wagg has building-specific knowledge of Van Buren Tower and the surrounding Adams Point and Lake Merritt condo market — including floor-by-floor view orientation, unit configuration performance, HOA history, and recent sale comparables. Whether you are buying your first condo at Van Buren Tower or selling a unit you have owned for years, local knowledge of this building's layout and buyer pool makes a genuine difference.
Browse related pages: Adams Point condos • Lakeside Regency Plaza • Park Bellevue Tower • The Essex • Lake Merritt condos • Oakland condos