620 The Alameda
Berkeley, CA 94707
$1,950,000 | Sold $2,900,000
620 The Alameda, Berkeley, CA 94707
5 BD
4 BA
2,672 SF
1926
8,174 SF Lot
About 620 The Alameda
Welcome Home
Why does this unique architectural gem seem so familiar? Yes, it feels like home, but you saw it long before you ever walked in the door. It's been photographed for books and magazines and featured on the Berkeley Architectural Heritage tour. This classic Mediterranean has all the creature comforts of modern living, but with a sense of history. Designed by Noble Newsom, it features a spacious, elegant entry, vaulted ceilings, and beautifully proportioned rooms with wonderful indoor / outdoor flow. Walk through the French Doors and you can hear the ice tinkling in their glasses as friends and family chat in front of the fireplace, overlooking the Bay. Listen for the voices of your dinner guests, solving all the worlds problems as they enjoy the dinner you created in the updated, chef's kitchen. They look like they're staying awhile. They want to walk through and take one more look at the wrought iron balustrade, the period chandeliers, and the hand crafted wooden doors. Maybe you should check the wine cellar just in case.
The kids have long gone to bed. Even the dog is tired. They're exhausted after climbing on the rocks in the garden, playing hide and seek in the secret outdoor places, splashing each other with the fountain when they think you're not looking, inventing games on the back patio, and walking to Solano Ave. for ice cream. They ate all their dinner anyway, cozy in the breakfast nook in the kitchen.
Still, probably best to lower your voices as you step out on the patio after dinner. You don't want to wake them up. Stop for a long look at the Bay and the twinkling city lights as you say your good nights. Once everyone has gone, maybe you'll sit for just a few more minutes, chat about your day, and revel in the view.
You could check on one or two things in the office, but don't. It can wait. That book you've been wanting to read is sitting right there on the shelf, waiting for you. Take it upstairs with you and relax in the spacious primary bedroom. What a lovely day. What a lovely place. Views, history, artisan craftsmanship, family, neighbors, and friends. This feels like home - a truly unique and special home.
Status: Sold
Features & Updates
- Classic Mediterranean architecture
- Views! Oakland, the Bay, and San Francisco
- Private, wooded setting
- Cascading fountain
- Welcoming, elegant entry
- Wonderful indoor / outdoor flow, designed for entertaining
- Exquisite detail – original, handcrafted fixtures
- Soaring ceilings
- Gleaming hardwood floors throughout
- Two balconies
- Updated kitchen with bar
- Quiet office with storage
- 5th bed / 4th bath with separate entrance
- Wine cellar
- Interior garage access
- Oversized garage
- 2020 furnace
- 2018 tankless water heater
- Seismic upgrades
- Minutes to Solano Ave. amenities
- Neighborhood rich in history and architecture
Take a Tour of 620 The Alameda
Location Details
The tree lined paths and walkways give Thousand Oaks a tranquil feel in the middle of a world class city. Say hello to the neighbors as you roll or stroll by some of Berkeley’s most beautiful architecture, set among mature trees and parklets. Try to set the “Just one before dinner” example for the kids when you stop by Cookie Wednesday, a casual neighborhood tradition. Don’t worry, they won’t notice if you have a second one. They’re too busy climbing on the boulders or learning about the Thousand Oaks Urns from our local expert.
This serene neighborhood is just a quick roll or stroll from Solano Avenue, the neighborhood shopping district. The kids will want Zachary’s pizza but you might opt for the Bay Areas best Indian food at Ajanta. Maybe you should compromise on Thai or Mexican. Groceries, books, crafts, jewelers? Browse away. It’s all here.
Shop for dinner in nearby Northbrae along side world famous chefs (yes, chefs, plural). Add a little color to the garden with a great find at Berkeley Horticultural Nursery. Take the dog to storytime at the North Branch Library. Maybe he’ll finally sit still while your child reads to him during Paws to Read.
The pup won’t be the only one ready for a walk on the UC Berkeley campus. Hopefully it won’t be be long before we can attend a lecture or see Yo-Yo Ma at the Greek Theatre. The Berkeley Arts District, including the new Berkeley Art Museum and Film Archive, the Berkeley Repertory and Aurora theaters, Freight and Salvage, the movies, dining, and several music venues, round out our vibrant downtown.
Afterwards, the pleasures of the Gourmet Ghetto await you. Gregoire, whose poetry inspiring potato puffs draw a crowd, had take out down long before it became an art form and our way of life. Walk them off as you lose yourself in the scents and sights of the Berkeley Rose Garden or among the trees in John Hinkel Park. End the afternoon with a latte at the original Peets or a tasting at Solano Cellars. Then head home to prepare your own locavore masterpiece with organic produce, meats and cheeses, freshly made pasta, and hand crafted delectables – all from the North Berkeley Farmers Market. But leave a little time in your culinary schedule. The neighbors want to stop by, visit for awhile on the patio, and watch the sun set over the city.
SCHOOLS
Do you want your child to change the world, win a literary award or an Oscar, invent the modem or the internet, teach Physics at MIT, or go to college on a basketball scholarship? Yes? Then send your child to Berkeley High School.
Whatever your child’s interests, they will thrive in the Berkeley schools. Language immersion, cooking and gardening, the renowned Berkeley High Jazz Program, theater, STEM programs, and more are available in the Berkeley public schools.
Check out your child’s fellow Berkeley High School Alums – Lifestyles of the Smart and Famous