Allendale

Allendale is a fairly typical residential neighborhood for this section of Oakland. It is a densely packed bungalow and apartment city with about twice the density of Oakland’s average. The majority of the homes in the neighborhood are pre-WWII bungalows of varying degrees of maintenance. There are also a number of old wood apartment buildings and converted multiple occupant living arrangements. This is one of the areas of Oakland that is old enough where it is likely to have difficulties if a major earthquake occurred here.

The neighborhood has the typical features of a poorer neighborhoods: a liquor store, a Laundromat, a check cashing service, and a few churches. There is also a community health center, a Wallgreens and a barbershop.

Vientien Café is one of the few draws for strangers to the neighborhood despite bordering highway 580. Although it doesn’t look like much from the outside and the inside just features a few tiny tables, the food here is outstanding (try the Angel Wings—yummmmm!). Well worth braving the dangers of the area.

Allendale Elementary is not a great school, though my understanding is that it is a big improvement from nearby Jefferson which is simply unable to keep up with the needs of a diverse racial and ethnic community. Allendale has some more extra-curricular activities and a generally more positive attitude, but nothing to write home about. Allendale Recreation Center—basically a baseball field—doubled as Allendale Elementary’s play area and is also a community resource. (Brookdale Park also borders Allendale on the western edge.)

As to crime, the area is sadly, fairly typical for the Fruitvale District, known for its gang violence. Allendale’s 5,000+ residents experience one to two murders every year. This would be pretty bad for most areas, but is just middle of the road for the Laurel District.