BayAreaDesigner

Rockridge is a lovely neighborhood with charming homes and friendly neighbors. There is a stroller on every block cruising at most any hour of the day. It has good boutique shopping, food fit for foodies and families alike. Public transport is easy from RR Bart or by bus or casual carpool.

The only drawback of Rockridge is that it has become so astronomically expensive for new families, students and singles to rent or purchase. If you want to send your kids to award winning Chabot Elementary best best is to find a rental in the area (and lower your expectations because it might be rundown...).

Good luck!

The centerpiece of Bushrod is the 10+ acre park that is at it's center. The park has great playing fields, tennis courts, climbing structure and clean sand play area for kids and community rec center. The Sankofa Academy boarders it on the north side. Peralta Elementary School is a designated arts anchor school. It is one of the top ranked Elementary schools in the Oakland and Berkeley neighborhoods.

From here it is easy to walk to either Ashby Bart or Rockridge Bart. Casual carpool pick-ups (2 options) are about 10-15 mins walking. There are lots of families in these neighborhoods. The playing fields are filled with soccer teams and the courts have tennis players. It is a ten minute walk to trendy College Avenue and the center of Rockridge shopping. Closer by there are local coffee shops, like Nomad Cafe, gourmet pizza at Nick's and great antique shops on the corner of Alcatraz and Telegraph.

Contrary to what other writers suggest, there is NOT a lot of crime in this neighborhood. There is a lot of money pouring into this area. Houses are getting snapped up and resold for excellent profits. It sits right next to Rockridge and is absorbing all the middle class families who have been priced out of this district or out of skyrocketing SF.

Bottom line, if you want to be walking distance to Elmwood and Rockridge but not pay the astronomical prices, grab something in North Oakland. The best streets right now are 63rd, 62nd & 61st which are right at the edge. Good luck!