pmahoney

Upper Laurel is not fancy. In other words its still working on being gentrified. The housing is mostly California Bungalows, but most are quite comfortable and they are much more interesting than the 50's boxy raised ranch house a few streets up. There are some homes with chain link fences and concrete front yards. The population is very ethnically mixed, perhaps the most evenly diverse neighborhood in Oakland, which seems to be a very good thing and gives one hope for other areas of the city.

The 580 freeway is a mixed blessing. It protects Upper Laurel from criminal elements crossing over, and it detracts with the noise of traffic. Crime is present in the Upper Laurel but mostly it is property crime....no crime is good of course but thefts and burglary happen almost everywhere. Rockridge has just as much of this theft as Upper Laurel although you may not hear about it as often.

I think people forget how close this neighborhood is to some of the best nature spots in the area. A few minutes brings you to Joaquin Miller, Roberts, and Redwood Parks. the Chabot Space and Science Center is also only about 1.5 miles up the hill. Mills College is also a short walk and they open it all to local residents. I walk my dog at Mills everyday...its a beautiful oasis.

Compared to the housing costs in other similar neighborhoods in Oakland the Upper Laurel looks like a better bargain right now. $400,000 or less buys you a nice home in UL. A similar home even in Maxwell Park can cost more and Millsmont as well. Forget about Temescal now or even Mosswood and West Oakland.

Commuting from the Laurel has been very good. The casual carpool on MacArthur is one of the easiest in Oakland and there are express buses to the city as well.

Its an honest neighborhood that might not impress the out of town guests, but its not hard to live in or afford. We need more areas like the Upper Laurel.