Merriwood

Merriwood is the neighborhood just south of the Caldecott Tunnel that was largely destroyed in the 1991 Oakland Hills Firestorm. Now the area is largely of wooded space though homes have returned. Skirting Highway 24 from the tunnel is the North Oakland Regional Sports Center, a part of the northern area of Merriwood is basically a park with a soccer and baseball field. Much of the rest of this area, however, remains undeveloped in this northern section. You will also find some excellent hiking trails heading up through this area, many of them excellent for children and pets.

The homes here are all fairly nice, all stacked on the side of hills with great views of the City and the North Bay. The streets are little more than firebreaks for this fire prone area and they curve around mercilessly through the hills. Grizzly Peak is the eastern border of the neighborhood, while Snake Rd. is the southern section where most of the homes are at this point. Many of the homes have parking decks by the road and stairs that lead visitors down into the houses—a very functional set-up here.

Up in the hills you will also find some interesting spots like the Monclair Private Pool, where you get a membership to use the facilities. Overall it is a very nice place to live. If you’re curious what the rent would cost, its actually a complicated questions as prices vary greatly. You can sometimes find a studio for less than a thousand, but there are also three bedroom homes for $4K+. Which means there are deals to be had if you are willing to compromise a bit. Most residents, of course, are owners.