Hi all,
Considering renting in a beautiful building sort of between the San Pablo hotel and the Paramount theater. I know it’s near a Main Street (San Pablo), but is it generally safe? How does the neighborhood compare? The rent is 2400 for a 1 bedroom plus loft. I’m in love with the building but just don’t really know the area at all
Any advice would be appreciated!
The social services building is right there so you’d be dealing with a very high concentration of homeless people. Depends on what your tolerance threshold is. I personally would not.
Nope. Not for me. Not enough foot traffic after dark. Transitional block. And as mentioned the proximity to the social services building is challenging.
Noooo
The closer to Broadway the better. Are you able to visit the area before moving?
Yes. My sister in law lives in Berkeley and knows the area pretty well too. When we would visit her, Lake Merritt was always nice to go for walks and have coffee. Which is really what we want- to be close to the lake.
Look into Adam’s point and grand lake- close to the lake, high foot traffic and far less issues.
Awesome thanks!
You generally want to be east of Telegraph downtown, and north of 17th-ish.
Things tend to have limited foot traffic west of Telegraph, though around Old Oakland is ok west of Broadway, but it does get a bit quiet. But not in the same way where homelessness piles up. I have friends west of Broadway around Old Oakland and I am cool walking there alone at night.
You're welcome!
I live in a building in this area, you are welcome to DM me with additional questions.
The 19th St BART/uptown bus stop has a string of characters. They sometimes get in fights but it hasn’t seemed to spill into bystanders and has never bothered me specifically.
Across from Kinfolx there’s an empty lot and an abandoned building that is currently empty but will have small encampments move in and get kicked out. I’ve been worried it’ll turn into a permanent flop house but I think my building’s staff keep calling the city and it doesn’t seem like people get established.
There’s a growing tent city on the corner of Castro and Berkeley/San Pablo. They have fires at night and I’d avoid walking that block at the moment.
The block opposite The Uptown, on Berkeley between Telegraph and San Pablo often has one or two people sleeping in corners, but they don’t bother anyone in my experience. When The Uptown has their big dumpsters out there are a lot of people around dumpster diving.
Oakland Burmese Mission often has people camped on the steps, but they’re harmless.
CK Kitchen on Telegraph and Grand runs a soup kitchen.
There’s a church on 18th and MLK that gives free food on Saturdays— mostly older Asian people in that line.
So, I personally think safety is fine (45F, white) but it might seem too rough for others. There definitely are homeless people around, but generally they’re just trying to live.
One bedroom + loft for $2400 seems cheap for the area, so be careful that the danger isn’t the landlord!
This area is alright in my opinion. You’re extremely close to downtown, the transportation hub, bart, tons of good restaurants, and not only the paramount but the Fox Theater is fairly close as well.
As for it being generally safe….I would say yes and no. Since you’re at the top of San Pablo closer to Downtown it’s ok(ish), but like others said there’s a big homes less population. Once you cross over 27thish and San Pablo, you’re in what once was called Ghost Town. I used to live at 29th and West and in my experience it was pretty awful. Stray bullet went through my upstairs neighbor’s windows. A man came into my house when my house mate left the door unlocked by accident. A meth lab in my upstairs neighbors apartment. I could go on.
Point is, you’re going to be living on the outskirts of that. I wouldn’t do it and I don’t suggest you do either.
There are many buildings similar to what you’re looking at, that are in better/safer neighborhoods.
Edit: grammar
I’d keep looking, that rent seems high for that area.
What do you mean by safe? That’s going to depend on your personal demographics. If you’re man of above average build with good situational awareness who has experience living in urban areas, then yes, it should be fine. If you’re not, then I’d be a little wary.