SOLD! 258 Alvarado
SOLD! 258 Alvarado Road, The Claremont Hills
Stunning Mediterranean with Bay Views — Offered at $1.7M $1.595M Sold at $1,535M
Imagine living every day on a scale so grand it’s magical. That’s the feeling you get in all the major rooms at 258 Alvarado Road, Berkeley 94705 (City of Oakland).
The house is sited on a hillside facing southwest, which creates changing patterns of light throughout the day and into night. The uphill driveway is shared with five other homes built since 1991 on a cul de sac. At the top of the driveway, a two-car garage provides entrance to an elevator for effortless access to the living spaces above.
This superb location in The Claremont Hills offers the best of all possible worlds. The bottom of the driveway is across the street from a foot trail leading down to shops and cafes. The proximity to transportation is remarkable: freeways, casual carpool and Rockridge and other BART stations. Yet the property is close to nature: Claremont Canyon, Garber Park, Vicente Canyon and next door — more than two acres of open space.
A spacious dream kitchen with family room offers beautiful SF Bay Views. The dining room has an open floor plan that flows into the gracious living room, with fireplace and pretty SF Bay Views. Also on the main floor is a large bedroom, serving the curent owner as an office, and there’s a gorgeous full bathroom. Each of the four bathrooms on the property have different color marble sink countertops, all distinctive.
Upstairs are four more bedrooms and three bathrooms. Featured most prominently is the Master Bedroom with SF Bay Views and fireplace. It’s hard to imagine a more luxurious Master Bath. Its state-of-the-art shower for two has the option to be used as a steam room. And the closet/dressing room is practically the size of another bedroom.
The inviting front entry terrace also serves hub for several pairs of French door leading indoors and out. This arrangement is ideal for entertaining.
The main stairway continues up to an intimate rooftop patio, a private spot with views of the world.
This approximately 4300 sq ft home is above The Claremont Hotel, built 1906-1915. The historic landmark has been renovated and in recent years has been developed into a popular first-class destination resort, The Claremont Resort & Spa, and Paragon Restaurant.
The lot belonging to 258 Alvarado Road is approximately 10,000 sq ft. As previously mentioned, the property is adjacent to two-and-a-half acres of open space owned by a neighborhood organization, Vicente Canyon Hillside Foundation. Neighbors have the option whether or not to join for a small membership fee. The open space has splendid oak trees, deer trails for walking, and several benches for sitting. And to cap it all off, at one end is a garden of organic vegetables and flowers, all planted and tended by a team of neighbors. At the end of the season, the harvest is shared among neighbors at a neighborhood pot luck. How much better can it get?
