Eastmont Hills

Unlike Eastmont (which may be the most dangerous neighborhood in all of Oakland), Eastmont Hills seems to have largely escaped the worst of the violence of its western neighbors. They rarely have a murder within the confines of the neighborhood. Partly geography helps them out. There is a hilly line of trees skimming the middle of the neighborhood and providing a natural barrier to the homes beyond.

This break is also highlighted demographically, where the average household income to the east of the tree line puts residents firmly in the ranks of the middleclass, while to the west of the treeline residents are largely working class.

At the heart of Eastmont Hills is what I believe is a waste disposal plant. It is well covered so that you can’t quite make out what is past the fence and hedge. On neither of my two occasions in Eastmont have I noticed any particular smell coming from this facility, but I was not right by it on either occasion.

Like a lot of neighborhoods in Oakland, this neighborhood is made up of California Bungalows and older, smaller Ranch style homes.

The main thoroughfare through Eastmont Hills is MacArthur Blvd. on its western end. You will find a flower shop, a Uhaul, and Pharmacy and a check cashing service. Many of the windows here have bars on them and many have been boarded up so that they give the impression of being abandoned.

Parker Elementary is the main elementary for the neighborhood. By objective standards it is not a great school with mediocre test scores. When you take into consideration the area that it is in, mediocrity starts to sound like an outright accomplishment.

Another nice thing about this neighborhood is that it is in a fairly leafy area with the groove of trees seeming to bisect the neighborhood north south. Right in the middle of this woodsy area is Hillmont Drive. Because the hills start to get more steep at this section, you will find a number of homes looking out over Oakland. You will even find some modernist version of Art Deco bungalows here. Rather attractive.

The homes to west of the groove in the area closest to the gang violence, are actually fairly well taken care of. They are mostly California bungalows, with nice, well-kept front lawns.

When you get to the east of the hill where there are few views of Oakland, you start to get a bit of more isolated with lots of older Ranch homes.

I can’t quite recommend this area because of its proximity to Eastmont, but if things were to improve to the west of here, this could become a pretty nice area.