17th St, Lake Merritt Park

If I could purchase my place, I would. 17th Street has a retail district that is quirky and real, and it is close to 12 Street, 19th Street & Lake Merritt BART, as well as many bus lines. Plenty of jobs, especially in gov't, but also diverse downtown opportunities. There are some bars and small-scale grocery in the area, but most larger and hipper places are a bit of a hike or a short drive. It is tree-lined and there is generally an abundance of pedestrians on their way to/ from home. It's not a quiet street, and there are a variety of characters that add to the diversity. Housing-wise, there is much to choose from except single-family homes: rental/ ownership, affordable/ luxury/ senior, long-term/ short is all here. Crime is small-scale for a downtown city: car vandalism and occasional theft- though be a smart city-dweller. Lake Merritt is in some ways the heart of the city, and it is within blocks of the street and the Lakeside Apartment district, where anyone/ everyone in Oakland walks, jogs, bikes around.

All-in-all, I would highly recommend this neighborhood to those looking for a central location. It's not for everyone, but it holds great appeal.