Private Cottage with Huge Sunny Deck near UC Berkeley

Description

Welcome to Albany, a small town on San Francisco Bay adjacent to Berkeley. This stand-alone cottage is on a larger property, designed and built new. Downhill, in front of the main house, it gives you unique privacy and convenience. It has triple pane glass with enclosed blinds (guaranteeing quiet, total light control, and no curtains to deal with), a vented gas fireplace, as well as zoned radiant heat, a flat screen TV with an Amazon firestick, on-demand water system (for endless hot water), vaulted ceilings with operable skylights in the main room and bath, a generous sized furnished deck with grill, as well as access to your own washer and dryer. It comes fully furnished including kitchen ware and linens. It is made up of a general living space, one bedroom (queen bed) with two closets and built-in drawers, one bath with shower, a light-filled office space with a daybed, and plenty of storage. The deck is accessible off the main space and it is exclusive to the renter. Easy parking is on the street directly in front of the cottage. There are no permits required. It is fully up-to-date on seismic and green systems. Just bring your clothes and a toothbrush. This home is two blocks from Berkeley, a little under 2 miles to Cal (about 5-6 min), and a short ride to San Francisco by BART or by car. Solano Avenue is a block away. It is a thriving business district, where you have everything you need: groceries, post office, banks, restaurants, bars, health clubs (including the Y), and shops of all kinds. There are numerous parks, and two public libraries. Go uphill and you enter Tilden Regional Park, that includes the little farm, the carousel, the steam trains, Lawrence Hall of Science, a swimming beach, and miles of nature trails. This city is renown for its public schools, as well as things like community events and farmers markets. El Cerrito Plaza is a shopping center within walking distance, and includes a Trader Joes. Buses run within one block, and 2 BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) stations are within walking distance. Bike lanes run right in front of the house. Access to the San Francisco Bay is located at the end of the street next to Albany Beach and East Bay Park. The Bay Trail (a cycling trail that rings the bay) runs right through it. I-80 is a five minute drive and links to all major highways and bridges. Obviously a very high walk score. Cars are a choice. This is a coveted pocket of the East Bay for good reason. The major part of the town is about a mile square...only around 20,000 people....people from all over the world. Living here makes day to day easy and fun. Since our climate is very mild...never really hot or cold...there is no reason for air conditioning. The cottage faces north, so you get light all day without the heat. The many windows and operable skylights provide a lot of ventilation as well. My husband and I live in a separate house up the stairs and are available at all times for help and advice. We have enjoyed hosting many academics and their families, and look forward to seeing people from all over the world. We welcome any questions about the home or our community that will provide more information and help with your decisions. We always respond promptly. Because we want our home to be in top condition, we are available at all times for troubleshooting, and will fix it ASAP.