Marina Village Offers Simple, Elegant Waterfront Living
Imagine living in an orderly, quiet oasis on the water. Meandering bike and walking paths lead to burbling fountains, tranquil open space, and stunning waterfront views.
Now imagine that that same oasis is less than five minutes away from BART, I-880, and downtown Oakland.
Sound impossible? It isn’t.
In fact, the residents of Marina Village will be the first to tell you such a place exists — residents like Teresa Pappas. “I’m on a lagoon, I look out on boats. It feels like I’m on vacation every day,” she says. “I know that sounds corny, but it’s true.”
And Pappas thoroughly enjoys the bike and walking paths as she views the Oakland Estuary and nearby marinas. “I’m not even a boat person,” she acknowledges laughingly, “but I love walking around, looking out on the water.”
Equally attractive to Pappas was the proximity to major modes of transportation. “In less than five minutes, I’m at the West Oakland BART station, or in downtown Oakland,” she says, adding, “and the weather is perfect.”
In addition to the proximity of freeways, bus service and the Marina Village Shopping Center are within walking distance. Marina Village also includes an office park, so residents might find themselves with a peaceful, short walk to work as well.
All of this sounds familiar to realtor Wendy Sanda, who has been selling the condominiums of Marina Village since the project’s inception in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“People really are buying a lifestyle, not just another condominium here,” she explains. “They’re close to the water — in fact 30% of residents are boaters. It’s a place they can close up easily, and there’s no maintenance, but it’s a beautiful, attractive area with many amenities.”
And the amenities attract plenty of people, particularly single professionals and retired people looking for a carefree, but enjoyable, way to live.
Sanda says that there are 178 townhomes, all built as duets (or duplexes), some up and down, some side by side, in eight different floor plans.
Ranging in price from about $650,000 and up, Sanda estimates that perhaps a dozen come on the market each year – and sell very quickly. “Many of the units sell in less than a month,” she notes. All homeowners belong to a Homeowners Association (HOA), and pay dues which currently run $300-$400 per month.
Such a development — with views, waterfront, transit options, and an easy lifestyle — would seem to need no additional selling points. Yet the positive attributes do not end there. In 1991, shortly after it was built, the Urban Land Institute awarded Marina Village one of its eight ULI Awards for Excellence for the positive impact the development made on the community.
Sanda is quick to point out, however, that Marina Village is much more than a development’: “It’s a community. There are book clubs and other groups.” Pappas says that, although she has lived there a short time, she has already made many friends. “I feel like I made the perfect move. Everyone has been very friendly,” she says.
The development might also boost one’s efficiency. “Looking out on to the bay is a wonderful way to start the morning,” Pappas says. “It makes getting up in the early morning absolutely wonderful, just to be able to watch the water.”
“If you are going to have to pay a mortgage,” Pappas says, summing up, “living here is a nice trade-off.”
For more information about Marina Village, visit www.marinavillagealameda.com.
Now imagine that that same oasis is less than five minutes away from BART, I-880, and downtown Oakland.
Sound impossible? It isn’t.
In fact, the residents of Marina Village will be the first to tell you such a place exists — residents like Teresa Pappas. “I’m on a lagoon, I look out on boats. It feels like I’m on vacation every day,” she says. “I know that sounds corny, but it’s true.”
And Pappas thoroughly enjoys the bike and walking paths as she views the Oakland Estuary and nearby marinas. “I’m not even a boat person,” she acknowledges laughingly, “but I love walking around, looking out on the water.”
Equally attractive to Pappas was the proximity to major modes of transportation. “In less than five minutes, I’m at the West Oakland BART station, or in downtown Oakland,” she says, adding, “and the weather is perfect.”
In addition to the proximity of freeways, bus service and the Marina Village Shopping Center are within walking distance. Marina Village also includes an office park, so residents might find themselves with a peaceful, short walk to work as well.
All of this sounds familiar to realtor Wendy Sanda, who has been selling the condominiums of Marina Village since the project’s inception in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
“People really are buying a lifestyle, not just another condominium here,” she explains. “They’re close to the water — in fact 30% of residents are boaters. It’s a place they can close up easily, and there’s no maintenance, but it’s a beautiful, attractive area with many amenities.”
And the amenities attract plenty of people, particularly single professionals and retired people looking for a carefree, but enjoyable, way to live.
Sanda says that there are 178 townhomes, all built as duets (or duplexes), some up and down, some side by side, in eight different floor plans.
Ranging in price from about $650,000 and up, Sanda estimates that perhaps a dozen come on the market each year – and sell very quickly. “Many of the units sell in less than a month,” she notes. All homeowners belong to a Homeowners Association (HOA), and pay dues which currently run $300-$400 per month.
Such a development — with views, waterfront, transit options, and an easy lifestyle — would seem to need no additional selling points. Yet the positive attributes do not end there. In 1991, shortly after it was built, the Urban Land Institute awarded Marina Village one of its eight ULI Awards for Excellence for the positive impact the development made on the community.
Sanda is quick to point out, however, that Marina Village is much more than a development’: “It’s a community. There are book clubs and other groups.” Pappas says that, although she has lived there a short time, she has already made many friends. “I feel like I made the perfect move. Everyone has been very friendly,” she says.
The development might also boost one’s efficiency. “Looking out on to the bay is a wonderful way to start the morning,” Pappas says. “It makes getting up in the early morning absolutely wonderful, just to be able to watch the water.”
“If you are going to have to pay a mortgage,” Pappas says, summing up, “living here is a nice trade-off.”
For more information about Marina Village, visit www.marinavillagealameda.com.
