7.5 out of 10

Pacific Ave, West End

Ranked 4th best street in West End
37.7763213858001 -122.280545966926
Great for
  • Childcare
  • Clean & Green
  • Cost of Living
  • Gym & Fitness
  • Internet Access
Not great for
  • No ratings yet
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Who lives here?
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
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Reviews

3/5
2yrs+

"Good Bicycling Route"

The stretch of Pacific Avenue from Grand to 8th is a Class III bicycle route in Alameda. It's part of my daily bicycle commute. I turn left on to Pacific from Minturn and eventually turn onto Sherman; it's the longest straightaway on my trip.

The street is fairly narrow for a bicycle route, but the traffic is minimal. I cycle to work around 6:45am each morning and have only encountered cars two or three times. There are lots of four-way stops and good visibility down perpendicular streets so you can hustle through each intersection. Just watch out for residents pulling out of their driveways; they frequently don't think to look for bicyclists.

The road is not well paved. It's a bit atrocious for a bicycle route, but avoiding it either takes me almost a mile out of my way (down to Santa Clara) or puts me on a street with no bike lane and heavy traffic (Lincoln or Buena Vista). As a result, I've gotten used to navigating the various bumps and potholes the street has to offer. It's not an amazing, tree-lined place, but it's a functional bicycle route.
4/5 rating details
  • Neighborly Spirit 5/5
  • Safe & Sound 5/5
  • Clean & Green 5/5
  • Pest Free 5/5
  • Peace & Quiet 5/5
  • Eating Out 4/5
  • Nightlife 3/5
  • Parks & Recreation 5/5
  • Shopping Options 4/5
  • Gym & Fitness 5/5
  • Internet Access 5/5
  • Lack of Traffic 5/5
  • Cost of Living 5/5
  • Resale or Rental Value 5/5
  • Public Transport 5/5
  • Medical Facilities 4/5
  • Schools 4/5
  • Childcare 5/5
2yrs+

"Happy street, great vibes, terrific location, good walk score"

Pacific Avenue runs parallel to, and is between the main streets of Lincoln and Buena Vista, yet it feels totally different. This street is reminiscent of Disney-ania's vision of a neighborhood of enchanting Victorians, dogs peeking out through the slats of picket fences, parents riding alongside their young kids on bicycles.

Little John Park is one of the happiest places to be. Early mornings, you'll see several people strolling around the park for exercise. Some days, you'll find young men, presumably from the nearby Coast Guard Island, playing soccer. After hours, parents are throwing, catching and hitting softballs with their children for practice. Weekends, there are always picnics where kids are running through the fields. And occasionally, you'll see some folks training their dogs, or taking them for a walk. The activity room for children and the playground are popular destination for parents and their young children.

It's truly a happy place.

This is one of the few streets in Alameda where there are so many stop signs, so that there is less chance of reckless drivers speeding. And residents don't have to worry about moving ther cars from one side to the other due to scheduled street cleaning (hence, no parking tickets).

What is so delightful about this street is the variety of architectural styles --- from stately Victorians to charming bungalows.

It's a block from the bus route on Buena Vista, and two blocks to the main bus rounte on Santa Clara. And it's a short walk to the fabulous waterfront park by Fortman and Grand Marina, a little longer walk to Marina Village. Head the other direction, and voila!, one is in the historic and picturesque Gold Coast area, and enclave of Alameda's version of grand homes on tree lined streets on the island.

Happily, Alameda is a wonderful place to live. It's a small island that is close enough to San Francisco (via ferry, express bus), Oakland or the major highways just across the bridges for easy commute to other parts of the Bay area. Picturesque and historic, it boasts a wonderful selection of restaurants of different cuisine. The Alameda Town Centre is right on the beach, and is continuing to grow the number of fine shops like Bed Bath and Beyond, Old Navy, TJMaxx and soon, Kohl;s. Recently, the newly restored Alameda Theater opened its 8-cineplex.

There are always all kinds of fun events like outdoor summer concerts, art and wine street festivals, etc. all of which evoke pleasant memories of happy events that people enjoy.
Recommended for
  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees

Best Streets in West End

1

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4/5
"newer, affluent neighborhood"
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2

Dolphin Ct

4/5
"cute neighborhood, pretty homes"
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3

Lincoln Ave

4/5
"Perfectly Servicable Major Thoroughfare"
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4

Pacific Ave

4/5
"Happy street, great vibes, terrific location, good walk score"
37.7763213858001 -122.280545966926
5

Santa Clara Ave

3.5/5
"Great access to parks, public transit, and conveniences w/ a friendly residential touch"
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Unranked Streets in West End

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Portola Ave

3.5/5
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8th St

3.5/5
"High Traffic but really great street. "
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4/5
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