Archive for Oakwalk
OakWalk is “Clean and Green”
Posted by: | CommentsHave you ever seen this?
I know it might look like a few rocks and bamboo in a planter box, but looks can be deceiving. This is actually a “save the bay” water cleansing system in disguise. At OakWalk, which is a hop, skip and a two mile jump to San Francisco Bay, we felt the need to do our part to keep the Bay clean. So we incorporated cutting edge water cleansing systems throughout the OakWalk housing community. These disguised water filters catch the rainwater from the drain pipes and cleanse it before it gets to the storm drains and heads to the Bay.
It’s our own state of the art storm water cleansing, storage and run off system. Now if we can only get every city around the Bay to do the same!
We’ve also incorporated lots of other “green” features at OakWalk, all in an effort to help lead the way for environmental change with home building. We carefully preserved the beautiful heritage trees in the area, used recycled old building materials, and low VOC paint. For water conservation, we installed low-flow toilets, satellite weather stations, and tankless water heaters.
But for one of our most prized “green” features, I have a quiz for you. Who can tell me what this is?
I’ll give you a hint. You’ll find it in our parking garage.
Article by Stuart Gruendl. Stuart is the developer of OakWalk, and an Oakland native.
The TerraceWalk at OakWalk is a Sight to be Seen!
Posted by: | CommentsIf you are impressed with architecture, upscale design, and cool places to hang out with your friends, you’re in for quite a treat when you see the new TerraceWalk at OakWalk. This beautiful common area (which is our private recreation and quiet area sitting high above street level) has so many unique features thanks to the architects that designed it. Many of our homes overlook TerraceWalk, or have patios directly connected to it, so it feels like your own (very nice) backyard.
With beautiful plants all around, a stainless steel gas barbecue, a life-size chess game, a fountain, and tons of seating, this place beckons a big barbecue and a fun gathering with friends or family. You also have great views of the East Bay Hills, and the Campaniler Tower on the UC Berkeley campus is off in the distance. TerraceWalk is a fun place to hang out with a few friends, or just sit outside and enjoy a good book. Many people coming through here have made comments that it feels a little like something you’d see at a resort, not a housing community.
Even my family loves to head to TerraceWalk to challenge me to a chess game (and they continue to beat me). The courtyard is beautiful, and it adds a “hip” feel to the community here. You have to come see it to really appreciate it!
How is OakWalk Different than Other Housing Options in the East Bay?
Posted by: | CommentsI think you’ll see the most obvious difference when you get here. It is not the cookie cutter design that you see in so many other housing communities. The architecture here reminds you of the warm classical neighborhood of yesteryear, similar to what I remember growing up in the area, but with a modern twist. It’s just refreshing to be here.
That’s just the outside, once you walk in you’ll be surprised by the amount of space that these homes have. Many of the urban communities lately feel really cramped, but OakWalk has a totally different design. Not only do you get more space, but the architects created this kind of “timeless” space with rooms that flow together nicely and windows that bring in a lot of natural light. Generally, there’s this warm and cozy feel throughout the home.
Now if you want to talk money (because who doesn’t), let’s compare OakWalk to San Francisco for fun. San Francisco tends to be about 50-75% higher for the same amount of space! There are also parking issues in San Francisco like having to pay for parking spots and the lack of street parking, high homeowners dues, and a lot more cost involved. The great thing about Emeryville is for those who want to be close to the action in San Francisco, it is only 10 miles away (or about a 20 minute drive or a quick ride on BART). As I mentioned in some of the other articles I wrote about the expanding employer base in Emeryville, the location is key, and the convenience and access to the rest of the Bay Area is unbeatable.
Emeryville, a new residential hot spot?
Posted by: | CommentsI know, this might sound strange to some of you, but Emeryville has been going through a lot of changes in the past few years, which was a big reason we decided on this location for OakWalk. I’ve seen a ton of revitalization going on, and this is creating an influx of new residents that are really transforming the city. The new residents are great because they’re bringing a new spirit to the neighborhood.
Emeryville is attracting a lot of young, urban professionals that are highly educated and want to live in a central Bay Area location. This is mostly because of the expanding employer base with companies like Pixar and Leapfrog setting up shop right down the street from OakWalk. I think Emeryville is finally answering the call to a lot of the people that work in the area, especially those who prefer not to deal with a difficult commute.
So, now to address the housing situation a bit more, let me tell you about OakWalk. It’s the latest in upscale, walkable community designs in Emeryville. OakWalk brings a whole new feel to Emeryville with its unique take on classical architecture, which stands out from everything else around. The design really reminds me of the classic homes that were the character of the traditional East Bay housing when I was growing up in the area. In fact just this week, the prominent Pacific Coast Builders Conference awarded us four Awards of Merit for outstanding design. Emeryville and OakWalk is a very cool place to call home (yes I know I’m a little biased, but it’s the truth!).
The other thing that really attracts people to the area is the accessibility to weekend getaways. You have the fun and crazy Berkeley life a few miles away, San Francisco across the bridge, and you can drive up to Napa in about 30 minutes, even Lake Tahoe can be a day trip. For most cities in the Bay Area, having this type of flexibility in planning weekend activities is simply not an option. The fact that I can take my son to go see the A’s play at The Coliseum, and then easily drop him off at the house if I need to head into the city afterwards gives the spot an A+ in my book in terms of convenience.
So is Emeryville an emerging residential hot spot? I’d say yes.
Best Restaurants in Berkeley; Best Restaurants in Oakland
Posted by: | CommentsBest Restaurants within a short drive of OakWalk in Emeryville
It seems my last blog about some of my favorite restaurants in Emeryville was a hit, so I’ve decided to pass along some of my other favorites in the Berkeley and Oakland area since they are so close to OakWalk. This area is abundant with fantastic restaurants, but here are my personal picks.
If you’ve got a craving for a slice of the best deep dish outside of Chicago, you need to go to Zachary’s Chicago Pizza. Zachary’s is a household name in this neck of the woods, so be prepared for a little wait. But I think you’ll agree (with me and everyone else) that it’s totally worth it. This is the really thick Chicago style, with tons of toppings and cheese layered in the middle, and chunky tomatoes on top. Just talking about it makes me want to go right now. Luckily there are two to choose from, one in North Oakland and one in North Berkeley.
My favorite gourmet restaurant is Sea Salt which is a little over a mile from OakWalk. The menu is unbelievable, with things like Ahi Tuna Sliders, Devilled Duck Eggs and Bacon, Lettuce and Trout Sandwiches. I keep coming back for the Mushroom Risotto and Grilled Flatiron Steak, and enjoy seeing what new creations show up on the menu.
Another nice “upscale” treat is Citron (it’s located in the Rockridge District of Oakland). It kind of has that “Paris Bistro” atmosphere, with authentic French and Mediterranean dishes. If you are planning for a good date night, I think you’ll like this place.
For a good Italian choice, try Oliveto Café and Restaurant on College Ave in Oakland. You can either sit on the ground floor at the Cafe for a casual meal (the traditional wood fired pizzas are excellent), or enjoy more of a fine dining experience in the Restaurant upstairs. Both experiences are worth trying.
Back in Emeryville, you can get a taste of just about everything at the Emeryville Public Market. For some Southeast Asian cuisine, try Phnom Penh House which is without a doubt one of the best Cambodian restaurants in the entire East Bay. There is also Pamir Afghan Cuisine, which is very popular. And you can even venture into some authentic Ethiopian food at Enssaro. You’ll have plenty of choices!
Hope you enjoy these places as much as I do. Let me know what you think with comments. I’d also love to hear your favorites because I’m sure I’m missing some.
Article by Stuart Gruendl. Stuart is the developer of Oakwalk, and an Oakland native.
Best Restaurants in Emeryville
Posted by: | CommentsBest Restaurants within walking distance of OakWalk in Emeryville
Since OakWalk is located right in the heart of Emeryville, our homeowners are fortunate enough to be within walking distance of some great restaurants. I’ve had a lot of people ask me about my personal favorites, so here’s my list (be sure to let me know your thoughts about these places by commenting below).
Less than a block away from OakWalk is a great pizza place, Arizmendi Bakery & Pizzeria. They have awesome sourdough crust pizza, but what really gets me coming back (and my kids) is the huge selection of fresh baked cookies. I highly recommend the chocolate chip, but they all taste pretty darn good.
If I’m in the mood for some great Mexican food, I’ll cruise over to Los Cantaros, a taqueria that’s just down the street from OakWalk. They have beer on tap, and some tasty agua frescas. I usually opt for the Carne Asada burrito or the fish tacos, but I’ve heard the mole is also a good choice. The restaurant’s décor is pretty unique with lots of Pixar and Disney themed art, which isn’t too far-fetched with Pixar in town.
The Hof Brau grill at the Oaks Club on the corner of San Pablo and Park Ave has excellent fried chicken and roast beef au jus sandwiches, although the atmosphere might be an acquired taste. It’s also a sports bar, and serves up some amazing Chinese food, and has the Oak’s Card Club attached. So as you can imagine, it’s a bit hard to describe, but worth a visit.
For something a little lighter, right across the street from OakWalk is Miyozen Sushi and Roll. They have great, cheap lunch specials and jams on the weekends with its “all you can eat” specials. It’s definitely a gem for OakWalk residents.
If it’s game day, you’ll be pleased to know that we have our very own Wing Stop across the street. In general, I’d say that if you like wings, Wing Stop is unbeatable in the variety of flavors they offer. The garlic parmesan wings are pretty awesome. I think I’ve actually trained myself to think that even watching a golf game constitutes picking up some wings. They’re hard to resist.
I also discovered a little tucked in place called Wally’s Café which is inside the Bank Club Café Building. People find this place strictly from word-of-mouth. Wally’s serves up some honest Mediterranean food in big portions and at great prices. People come back for the lentil soup alone, but I think you’ll be impressed with the chicken kabob and baklava too. Sometimes it kind of feels like you are eating in someone’s living room, but it really doesn’t matter when you taste the food.
And last but not least, one of my personal favorites, and the place my family is always begging me to take them, is the Townhouse Bar and Grill. It takes about 20 minutes to walk from OakWalk, but it really is one of the best restaurants in Emeryville. You can sit outside on a nice day, which makes for a pretty relaxing meal. I love the sweet potato fries, skirt steak, and they have some amazing salads (my favorite is the grilled Thai steak salad). I think you’ll really enjoy this place, so give it a try!
Article by Stuart Gruendl. Stuart is the developer of OakWalk, and an Oakland native.
Welcome to OakWalk
Posted by: | CommentsHi, I’m Stuart Gruendl and I’m the developer of the newest community in Emeryville called OakWalk. I’m starting this blog to offer my “inside take” on Emeryville, and let you know about all of the cool things going on in and around OakWalk.
Why me? Well I’m an Oakland native, my family lives in the East Bay, and I always have people asking me questions about the area. So this seems like the perfect way to share my knowledge of the Emeryville area with everyone. I’m hoping this blog will become a valuable resource for OakWalk residents (and future residents), with ideas of fun things to do, great restaurants, activities in the area and more.
I’ll be contributing regularly to this blog, so keep checking back. And feel free to add comments to share. I know a lot about the area, but I certainly don’t know everything. You can also subscribe to an RSS feed and you’ll get the latest news automatically.
This is going to be a fun and useful blog for OakWalk and Emeryville residents. Stay tuned!
