Kensington, CA: Small-Town Charm, Big-Town Convenience
Situated just inside Contra Costa County, north of Berkeley, is the area known as Kensington.
The area’s quiet charm has been known for some time. Real estate agent Barbara Hendrickson says that, “Kensington developed as a summer community, beginning around the 1920s. You see a number of former summer cabins and log cabins which are now homes,” she explains. “This was a result of the Key System,” Hendrickson explains, referring to the public transportation system which crossed the Bay Bridge in the early and mid-20th century. “Berkeley was seen as the city, as a core, so Kensington developed as a kind of quiet summer retreat.”
As Kensington slowly changed from a summer hideaway to a town in its own right, housing was added. “About 80% of the housing stock available in Kensington is from the 1950s and later,” Hendrickson explains. “There’s about 20% of the housing stock which is from the era beginning in the 1920s and ending around the beginning of US involvement in World War II.”
In the later part of the 20th century, home buyers flocked to the quiet, neighborly area. The combination of proximity to Berkeley and major freeways, along with cheaper home prices, made the area attractive.
While the charm that made it a summer hideaway remains, home prices have risen to a level comparable with its oft-compared neighbor, the city of Berkeley. “Kensington used to be cheaper than Berkeley,” Hendrickson explains, “but it isn’t any more.” Homes begin around $600,000, and Hendrickson says, for that price, expect to do a lot of work. “You’re going to have foundation problems, or maybe a roof replacement. There’s going to be some major work to the home.”
A modest two-bedroom, one-bathroom home with little to no work required will run for about $650,000. “As you go up the hill, the home prices go up, too,” Hendrickson explains.Regardless of the home prices, however, the area remains popular with home buyers. The small-town feel of Kensington remains, with two major shopping districts, Colusa Avenue (closer to the Bay) and Arlington Avenue (ascending the hills). Interstate I-80 provides quick freeway access to other Bay Area cities, while a quick jaunt to either Berkeley or El Cerrito provides access to BART.
Although the area is not technically a city, as it remains unincorporated, Kensington does have police and fire services, as well as a Municipal Advisory Council. Other services are provided by Contra Costa County, and state and/or federal government.
The small-town feel, however, may draw buyers to the area more than anything else. Damon Jordan and his wife, Mary, were still unpacking boxes as they moved into their new home in Kensington. But while the china may not have been in cupboards, Jordan says he has already met all of his neighbors. “This is really a tight-knit community,” he says, pleasantly startled. “We have met all of our neighbors in less than a week.”
In fact, part of their decision to buy in Kensington was based on good referrals from others. “People we knew told us it was a good place to live. We heard good things about the schools.”
The Jordans were also drawn by the area’s location. “We liked the fact that it is kind of a small town, but it is close to Berkeley and Solano Avenue. It’s not far to San Francisco, where we work. It’s really the best of both worlds.”
That sentiment is also expressed by Vida Dorroh, who has lived in Kensington since 1973. “At first, I had no idea what Kensington was,” she says, half-laughing. “I was just upset that it wasn’t Berkeley’. But that quickly changed,” she explains, “and I just love the small town feeling. I go to the shops on Arlington, and when I do, it’s impossible for me not to run into a neighbor. It’s one of the nicest little communities on the hillside.”
The area’s quiet charm has been known for some time. Real estate agent Barbara Hendrickson says that, “Kensington developed as a summer community, beginning around the 1920s. You see a number of former summer cabins and log cabins which are now homes,” she explains. “This was a result of the Key System,” Hendrickson explains, referring to the public transportation system which crossed the Bay Bridge in the early and mid-20th century. “Berkeley was seen as the city, as a core, so Kensington developed as a kind of quiet summer retreat.”
As Kensington slowly changed from a summer hideaway to a town in its own right, housing was added. “About 80% of the housing stock available in Kensington is from the 1950s and later,” Hendrickson explains. “There’s about 20% of the housing stock which is from the era beginning in the 1920s and ending around the beginning of US involvement in World War II.”
In the later part of the 20th century, home buyers flocked to the quiet, neighborly area. The combination of proximity to Berkeley and major freeways, along with cheaper home prices, made the area attractive.
While the charm that made it a summer hideaway remains, home prices have risen to a level comparable with its oft-compared neighbor, the city of Berkeley. “Kensington used to be cheaper than Berkeley,” Hendrickson explains, “but it isn’t any more.” Homes begin around $600,000, and Hendrickson says, for that price, expect to do a lot of work. “You’re going to have foundation problems, or maybe a roof replacement. There’s going to be some major work to the home.”
A modest two-bedroom, one-bathroom home with little to no work required will run for about $650,000. “As you go up the hill, the home prices go up, too,” Hendrickson explains.Regardless of the home prices, however, the area remains popular with home buyers. The small-town feel of Kensington remains, with two major shopping districts, Colusa Avenue (closer to the Bay) and Arlington Avenue (ascending the hills). Interstate I-80 provides quick freeway access to other Bay Area cities, while a quick jaunt to either Berkeley or El Cerrito provides access to BART.
Although the area is not technically a city, as it remains unincorporated, Kensington does have police and fire services, as well as a Municipal Advisory Council. Other services are provided by Contra Costa County, and state and/or federal government.
The small-town feel, however, may draw buyers to the area more than anything else. Damon Jordan and his wife, Mary, were still unpacking boxes as they moved into their new home in Kensington. But while the china may not have been in cupboards, Jordan says he has already met all of his neighbors. “This is really a tight-knit community,” he says, pleasantly startled. “We have met all of our neighbors in less than a week.”
In fact, part of their decision to buy in Kensington was based on good referrals from others. “People we knew told us it was a good place to live. We heard good things about the schools.”
The Jordans were also drawn by the area’s location. “We liked the fact that it is kind of a small town, but it is close to Berkeley and Solano Avenue. It’s not far to San Francisco, where we work. It’s really the best of both worlds.”
That sentiment is also expressed by Vida Dorroh, who has lived in Kensington since 1973. “At first, I had no idea what Kensington was,” she says, half-laughing. “I was just upset that it wasn’t Berkeley’. But that quickly changed,” she explains, “and I just love the small town feeling. I go to the shops on Arlington, and when I do, it’s impossible for me not to run into a neighbor. It’s one of the nicest little communities on the hillside.”
