Jingletown Live/Work Loft

I loved the apartment! It was comfortable and well-appointed, and the decor was beautiful. The location was excellent (close to Fruitvale BART and to Alameda), and the neighbors were friendly. As in most places in the Bay Area, there was no air conditioning, so there were a few days in September when it was very warm in the apartment. Other than that, it was pretty much perfect. Christine was incredibly nice and accommodating, and made sure I had everything I needed. Highly recommended!

I stayed in Christine’s 2nd floor apartment for half almost half a year and thoroughly recommend it to anyone seeking a reasonably priced place to live while commuting to Berkeley/Oakland. The apartment itself is a cozy 1 bedroom with an open and spacious living/dining/kitchen area – its quite ideal for two people to live here. Christine has provided a very well stocked kitchen with all the equipment you’ll likely need. Washer and dryer are downstairs in the 1st floor unit and you can discuss with Christine when are the best times to use them. The apartment has its own relaxed charm that you will very much appreciate after a day’s work. A bit about the community: the apartment is in a 6-townhouse community that has its own locked gate. You are very safe in this tight-knit community, which is a peaceful and green retreat from everyday life. The neighbors are all very kind and hospitable. This means that you never have to worry about strangers around your apartment. More about the neighborhood: Jingletown is a charming little neighborhood with art studios and a very nice waterfront that you will want to take walks on at any time of day. You’ll often see UC Berkeley’s crew team or the local dragonboat club practicing on the waterfront. Large grocery stores are a 10 minute walk away. I would describe it as a hidden secret — even visiting locals have commented they are surprised to find this little haven. Despite the reputation of Oakland, I would say the neighborhood has always felt safe. The Fruitvale BART station is what we used for our daily commute and is a short 8 minute walk away. One thing no one prepared us for was the lively nature of the Fruitvale area around the BART — it has a vibrant, friendly, and traditional Hispanic culture that hosts large festivities on occasions like Dia de los Muertos. This also means great Mexican eats! And the station itself hosts a small weekly market. There is also a public library and coffee shops nearby. Public buses from/near the BART can also take you to Alameda for shopping and eats, or into Oakland for a more downtown experience. Regarding security, exercise the same caution you would in Berkeley/Oakland, like not walking to/from the BART very late at night. It would be ideal l to have a bicycle to get around — you will feel safe zipping around on the road and everything will be within a few mins reach to you (you can even safely park at the BART). Last, but most important, you will be very lucky to have Christine as your landlady. She is incredibly kind and understanding, as are her friends whom you might come in contact with should you need assistance. I’m glad we got to experience life in Jingletown!