Historic Elmwood Edwardian! Walk to UC Berkeley!

Description from the owner

Berkeley's historic Elmwood House is an 1908 landmarked gracious Edwardian home in Berkeley's sought-after Elmwood district. Located in one of Berkeley's most loved neighborhoods where family pot-luck dinners are common on front lawns throughout summer, tree-lined streets are teeming with kids on bicycles, neighbors gather on front porches and street corners, and history and brown-shingle homes abound! The Elmwood is one of Berkeley's most prized neighborhoods.

This quintessential Berkeley home is located on a quiet cul-de-sac in a friendly neighborhood. A bright and spacious period residence, luxuriously appointed and ideally located... within walking distance of College and Telegraph Avenues where you will find fine dining, ethnic restaurants, bookstores, theatre, Berkeley's university campus, and more. Walk to historical Telegraph Avenue, or stroll along College Avenue, from the town of Rockridge at one end, and the California College of Art, to the University of California of Berkeley (CAL) at the other end.

This is Berkeley at its best where sidewalks are abuzz with life and things to do. The entire stretch of College Avenue is lined with restaurants and places to shop. The local theatre is just two blocks away and right in the center of it all. San Francisco is only 8 miles away and easily accessible by BART. Monterey and Carmel are approximately a 2 hour drive and the wine country, Napa Valley and Sonoma are only about an hour's drive. At your doorstep are some of the most beautiful parks and hiking trails in the east bay park district. To see an EXTENSIVE PHOTO GALLERY and more information about this heart of Elmwood/Rockridge home, scroll down this page to to see external link to property website.

Elmwood House has three bedrooms, one of which can be used as office or library, a very spacious open living area that spans a long length from living room to foyer, to dining room and kitchen. Beyond the kitchen is a fully equipped laundry room, which leads to the outdoors, and a fenced-in patio with table, chairs, umbrella, and bar-b-que! Each living area has original pocket doors (they slide into the cavities of walls and disappear when not in use) so that you can close off the living rooms, third bedroom, and foyer for privacy, allowing extra bedroom space if needed in the living room or, peace and quiet for those who wish to retire early. The kitchen is well equipped with everything you could need; see the link provided as stated below to see more. There is also a highly regarded and superb-in-tone, 'Knight' European piano for your use and enjoyment! All beds have been chosen for comfort and the linens are of the highest quality, from 700 count Egyptian Cotton to Frette Italian Duvet cover for the sofa bed. The sofa bed is on the 'top 10' list for comfort, and a fiber bed mattress has been provided for extra cushioning if needed. There are ample extra supplies, such as an air mattresses, bedding, towels and pillows. Other items such as baby/child car seat /high chair/stroller/crib all available upon request.

While visiting, make sure to read about The Elmwood and its colorful history. A book of local lore is aptly named: "A Tale of the Elmwood District in Berkeley," and is a gallery of the area's history. Here is what Charles Burress, Chronicle Staff Writer had to write about The Elmwood in the Chronicle on Monday, January 1, 2001

" Berkeley -- Just about every neighborhood has a story to tell, but few are remembered in time's long parade. But in Berkeley, a city passionate about protecting neighborhoods, there is one district so beloved by the citizens that it has inspired its own biography.

The book's gallery of former Elmwood residents ranges from creative giants like painter Richard Diebenkorn to historical figures like Ishi, called "the last wild Indian of North America" in the subtitle of Theodora Kroeber's well- known biography of him. Other famous folks have called Elmwood home, including Jane Fonda, Eldridge Cleaver, Thornton Wilder and Tom Dunphy, better known as "General Waste-more-land" in many anti-war demonstrations.

"Fonda was often seen shopping on College Avenue or at the Berkeley Co-op on Telegraph Avenue," the book notes in one of its many vignettes. "If someone stopped to tell her that she looked like Jane Fonda, the modest actor would reply, 'Oh, everyone says that.' "

Fonda, who moved to the Elmwood in 1971, met her future husband, Tom Hayden, at a radical parent-participation nursery school in the Elmwood called Blue Fairyland. Hayden, who helped create Students for a Democratic Society and became a state senator, was a founder of the Red Family commune, a group of idealistic New Leftists living on Bateman Street (whose sign often reads "Bat man Street," thanks to local nighttime painters).

Elmwood House is located right in the heart of Elmwood, and shopping, theater and dining are just steps from the front porch!Read more

Additional Location Information

Elmwood House is located in a quiet residential Cul-de-sac yet only two blocks to bustling College Avenue, with fine dining, coffee, theatre, bookstores and more. UC Berkeley Campus is just 8 short blocks from the property and Rockridge BART is 10 blocks away, so a car is not needed. This property has a 97 WalkScore! Accessible to everything on foot. There is a garage for parking one car at the house if needed, otherwise, there is street parking. (Ask us more about street parking if you will have more than one car.) CAL's Strawberry Recreation Center and Swimming Pools are located about 5 minutes away and are outdoor, heated, and in a beautiful lush setting close to Tilden Park, and the UC Botanical Gardens. Lawrence Hall of Science is also in the immediate area. There is much to do and see in Berkeley and in the surrounding cities of Oakland, San Francisco, Sausalito, as well as all of Marin County - and never enough time to see it all.

Location Type City, Ocean, Town

Rental fees

Additional notes from owner

$375 refundable deposit
$2250 Thanksgiving week, Christmas, Easter, Spring break May 12 - 28, 4th July week/end.
Please inquire about CAL Football season rates.
Rates do not include any applicable taxes.

What Past Guests Are Saying

• Mari
  Trondheim, Norway

  Great stay in Berkeley

  Left on 02/06/2013 for a stay in January 2013
  
  

  I stayed with my six fellow research students from Norway at the house for almost 5 weeks this January-Febuary of 2012. We found the house by coincidence on the website of "home away.com" The house has a good feel to to it and it felt very much like a home. The house looked much better in reality than it does in the pictures on the website. Maura, the landlord, was extremely helpful with anything we needed during our stay and she would check in with us several times to see if there was anything we needed. Anything. The house had a lot of space and had all the appliances we needed. The beds were very comfortable! The bathroom had a high standard, which I think is important to mention.
  
  Due to our research project, we had to go to San Francisco very frequently for meetings. There was no problem for us to get there. We either walked to Rockridge Bart station (about a 23 minute walk) or took the bus either on Telegraph street or via College street to the Downtown Berkeley bart station.
  
  I especially liked the neighbourhood. Its great to go for a jog or run in the morning and the people I met were very friendly. I felt very secure and relaxed just walking or jogging around on my own.
  
  I would definitely recommend this house to families but also to young adventurous adults who wants to visit the Bay area and San Francisco. You don´t need a rental-car to get around, because the public transportation system in this area is very good and easy to access. Will I come back here? Yes, for sure! And I would love to bring my family from Norway along next time!
  

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  Would you recommend this vacation rental to a friend? Yes

  Recommended for: Travelers, Romantic, Families, Rugged

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  Response from Berkeley Vacation & Short Term Rental. Walk to UCB - 02/06/2013

  

  Berkeley Vacation & Short Term Rental. Walk to UCB

  Owner

  Thanks Mari for your detailed review. It's great to know what you enjoyed about the location and the house. Sounds like you got to see a lot, and eat at some of the great restaurants on College Ave. You were perfect guests, and I hope you will return again soon! Maura