Jeffrey Neidleman and Patricia Bennett present

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Alameda Mid-century Home on Bay Farm Island 1076 Camellia Drive  $985,000

Alameda began as a peninsula just south of Oakland and is now an East Bay island with a laid-back feeling all its own. You will find a variety of homes and condos for sale in Alameda including cozy apartments, spacious single family homes that have been fully renovated, and gorgeous luxury mansions where no expense was spared. With more than 10,000 buildings constructed before 1930, there is a rich and varied architectural heritage in the area playing a role in Alameda's real estate market conditions.

Historic Queen Anne's, more than 1,500 ornately decorated Victorians, and California Craftsmans are some of the most desirable homes here along its tree-lined streets.

Although Alameda is a little off the beaten path, the city has a laid-back vibe all its own. One of the unique elements of Alameda is its population: with only 80,000 residents, the population density is less than half of San Francisco, and similar to the density found in Oakland. Alameda is incredibly walkable. When locals want to explore the various shopping, landmarks, museums, and dining, they usually head to Park Street. Start your day with a visit to the Alameda Museum. Since 1948, the museum has preserved the rich history of this unique island city and offers both locals and tourists an opportunity to learn more about the great island of Alameda.

After a day at the museum, there are plenty of great restaurants to choose from, including: Monkey King Pub and Grub: Featuring a unique mix of Asian-fusion cuisine, crafty cocktails, and delicious draft beer, this is also a great happy hour hangout. La Penca Azul: A family-owned favorite for over 25 years, they are also well- known for their taco truck. Original Red Onion: If you love great, locally-sourced food in a family-friendly atmosphere, you will absolutely love this restaurant.

Civic pride runs high in Alameda, and many of the city’s older buildings have been fully restored or repurposed. The Alameda Theater on Park Street was restored to its art deco glory, while the Alameda Free Library was transformed from the Carnegie Library into a multimillion-dollar showplace that earned a Silver LEED certification. Alameda is also a great place for outdoor activities. Robert W Crown Memorial State Beach is the perfect place for wind-surfing and taking a morning run near the beach.

Alameda is a great place to live if you love a vibrant atmosphere with plenty of festivals and activities to enjoy. One of the trademark events in Alameda is the 4th of July Parade, which features horse-drawn carriages and truly embodies the small-town feel of Alameda. Other popular events and festivals in Downtown include a Spring Festival in May and a Classic Car Show in October. No matter the time of year, there is always something fun happening in Alameda.

Bay Farm Island is mostly residential, but it is also home to the headquarters of the Oakland Raiders, the 36-hole Chuck Corica Golf Complex, a ferry terminal, and office and retail complexes.

Bay Farm Island is a district of the city of Alameda and is a separate entity, connected to the main island by the San Leandro Bridge, better known as the Bay Farm Island Bridge. Bay Farm Island was officially settled by 1852; some of the original farms remained until the late 60s. You can read more about its history in this The Alamedan article. 

Bay Farm is the older part of the island - featuring townhomes from the 70’s, Mid-century homes, and even some Craftsman homes, while Harbor Bay is the newer area, with man-made lagoons and newer homes. Harbor Bay was developed in the 1980's by Ron Cowan. The Community of Harbor Bay Isle Owners’ Association is a 917-acre planned community. On top of being the developer of the Harbor Bay Business Park, Cowan helped spearhead the creation of the Water Emergency Transportation Authority, which runs the ferry service on San Francisco Bay.(source)

Technically, Bay Farm is a peninsula, connected to Oakland and Oakland International Airport. A separate bike/pedestrian bridge runs along the Bay Farm Island Bridge, and lets out on the Bay Farm Island Shoreline Trail at its northern end. Not only does the trail follow the shore, but it actually is a 6-mile walking and biking trail that loops around the island if you feel so inspired to do the entire circle. 

Along the western edge, the trail offers a beautiful view of San Francisco, and, if you’re lucky, you may even catch sight of a seal or two.

Harbor Bay Club, a large health club and spa, is located along the NW side of the island and lies along the Bay Farm Island Shoreline trail. It sits on 10 acres and features tennis courts, a swimming pool, a fitness center, a full-service spa, and a children’s center. 

On the northern edge of Bay Farm, less than 5 minutes from the Oakland Airport, Corica Golf Course has provided Alameda and Bay Farm a place to hit the ball since 1927. Corica Course includes a sports bar and grill called Jim’s On the Course, a sister eatery to Jim’s Coffee Shop from the main island of Alameda. They serve breakfast and lunch.

In the middle of Bay Farm you will find the Harbor Bay Landing Shopping Center, home to a myriad of businesses, including Safeway, CVS, Subway, and Anytime Fitness. Restaurants here, and nearby, include La Val’s Pizza, La Penca Azul, Angel Fish Japanese, and China Villa Restaurant. 

The Harbor Bay Ferry Terminal sits on the south east tip of Bay Farm, and offers regular ferry rides to the SF Ferry Building and South San Francisco. A commute to downtown San Francisco takes approximately 25-30 minutes. 

On the SW side of Bay Farm, along Harbor Bay Parkway, lies the Harbor Bay Business Park, home to over 100 companies, including technology research, software and hardware, business services, engineering, telecommunications and biotechnology. The Oakland Raiders’ Headquarters is found here. The Business Park also includes several hotels and restaurants.

Main parks in Bay Farm include Godfrey Park, Shoreline Park, and Tillmark Park. Two elementary schools serve the island -  Bay Farm Elementary and Amelia Earhart Elementary. 

Living on Bay Farm Island encompasses the best of all worlds - residential neighborhoods, parks, a 6-mile walking and biking trail, and easy access to Oakland, the main island of Alameda and South Shore Center, San Leandro, the Oakland International Airport and San Francisco via ferry and a Transbay bus.