Claremont Remains a Luxurious Escape in the East Bay
What many may not know is that the hotel came about a year after home developments began in the area. The neighborhood — mostly east of Claremont Avenue, between Alcatraz Avenue to the south and Derby Street to the north — was developed in the early 1900s by developer Duncan McDuffie.
Environmentally conscious, McDuffie chose a way of development to ensure the estates maintained their pastoral appeal. “He made sure the development had creeks, meandering roads, and a sense of greenery throughout,” explains Bebe McRae of The Grubb Company. Although it has been almost 100 years since McDuffie first developed the area, the neighborhood has kept much of its tranquility and natural beauty. “These homes were built when Berkeley was still a quiet escape from San Francisco,” McRae explains. “The wealthy wanted these quiet retreats from the hectic pace of the City.”
The area’s low turnover, as well as its almost total lack of new construction, has also kept the area intact. Most construction of homes was completed by the early 1920s. In addition, McRae says the area, “has low turnover. The typical seller in this area has been in their home for 30 to 50 years, and the home has often been handed down for several generations.” McRae says she recently sold a home in the area which had never been on the market before — unheard of elsewhere, perhaps, but not unusual in the Claremont neighborhood.
McDuffie developed homes in many different styles, however, so the cookie-cutter look of modern developments does not exist. “The architecture is diverse, but elegant. Even today, you have amazing privacy, yet get to Peet’s coffee quickly, or be in the City within 15 minutes or so. Traveling to Contra Costa is easy, too.”
That ease of travel has merely added to an already desirable neighborhood. With good schools, carefully designed homes, great views, and natural beauty, home prices in the area are not for those with thin wallets.
Home prices start around $1 million and go up, up, and up. Homes at $2 million, $3 million, and beyond are not unusual. Nor is the area for those unable to bid upwards. “Almost all of the homes I have listed here recently have gone for well over the asking price,” McRae says.
Even in this range, however, deals can be had. One home currently listed, a steal below $850,000, McRae refers to as a “fixer upper”, and notes that the house was subdivided from an original estate, essentially being built in what was the older home’s garden. Another home, listing at around $660,000, is on the west side of Claremont Avenue, and technically outside of the Claremont neighborhood boundaries.
Within this desirable neighborhood, however, there are even more desirable areas, and that desirability is clearly reflected in the price. In a part of the Claremont known as “The Uplands” (after the name of the road), there is a house at 41 Plaza Drive, which is believed to be the first house in the area. The entry to The Uplands is marked with pillars, setting it distinctively apart from its neighbors — and often costing more. Likewise, McDuffie’s own home is now on the market, at an asking price of almost $3.5 million. “The home still has the gardens, old stone work — there is just this beautiful integration of the home with the landscaping,” McRae says
.
Another “pillar” community is Claremont Court, just off of Claremont Boulevard within the streets of Tanglewood, Stonewall, and other nearby streets. “Even a home that is just within the Claremont Court pillars will have a much higher home value than a home that is right next door, but outside of the pillars,” McRae explains.
Above Claremont Court is the Claremont Hills area. “Legally, this part of Claremont is in Oakland, but they have Berkeley mailing addresses.” The area is also quite desirable, as the altitude, the views, and the greenery all increase.
