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Don’t miss this 'transparently priced' Glenview Mediterranean-style home bordering Dimond Park and Sausal Creek. Owned by only two families, the house was constructed with meticulous care in 1922 by the original owner/builder as a 2bd/1ba and then expanded in the 1960’s adding a garage, large family room and a 575 square foot primary bedroom and luxurious bath.
While the current family has made significant upgrades throughout, the charm and vintage detail emblematic of the era and style of the house has been retained, including lathe and plaster walls, original multi-pane windows, wood beamed ceiling in the living room, arched pane doors off the wrap around deck, built-in display cabinets in the breakfast nook, an open kitchen and dining room design plus much more.
The home is accessed by a wide set of tiled stairs from the private driveway to the 22’x24’ terrace deck, perfect for entertaining guests, enjoying a morning cup of coffee in the sunshine, or relaxing in the evening listening to the owls calling from the adjacent park.
A formal entry provides access to the 24’x16’ living room complete with renovated wood burning fireplace, beamed 14’ ceilings, restored oak hardwood floors and three arched, panel doors leading to the terrace and front deck. Up two steps, you’ll find a charming breakfast nook featuring corner built-ins, new lighting, and access to the kitchen.
A spacious kitchen is the heart of the home and boasts black granite counters, original vintage marble black and white floor that is become so popular today. The kitchen has ample upper and lower cabinets, a country-style apron sink, chef’s professional 5 burner gas stove with stainless steel hood, Miele dishwasher and a built-in Subzero refrigerator. There is plenty of storage in the kitchen pantry.
The formal dining room adjacent to the kitchen measures 16’x11’ and features restored oak hardwood floors, new LED lighting over the table, a triple set of vintage pane windows looking out on the terrace and treetop canopy of Dimond Park.
Down the hall, you’ll find two light-filled bedrooms facing the park featuring hardwood floors, vintage glass doorknobs and hardware, restored oak flooring and new LED lighting. One bedroom features a custom, built-in writer’s nook perfect for studying or a home office.
The main level bath features a large walk-in shower with rain shower head, Travertine tile surround and glass panel, custom built vanity with water-honed granite countertop, round ceramic bowl and new LED lighting. The stacked Kenmore Elite washer and dryer are tucked away in the room as well.
A spacious family room extends the main level floorplan and features custom built-in cherry wood cabinets, a spectacular, hand-milled cherry wood wet bar with Esmeralda Verde granite countertop, prep sink and undermount mini fridge. The room measures 21’x21’ and is perfect as a home theater, yoga studio or playroom for kids of all ages.
Upstairs, the enormous 24’x22’ primary suite feels like a treehouse with spectacular views of the park canopy below and ‘peak-a-boo’ views of San Francisco Bay. The private suite boasts 21 linear feet of closet space with mirrored and wood paneled doors, restored hardwood floors and a primary bathroom tub/shower with Travertine tile surround and trim detail.
Around the side of the house is an additional bonus room recently used as an in-law unit/studio and may potentially be completed with full bath and kitchenette in the adjacent under home space. There is a workshop and storage basement adjacent to the 2-car garage off the brick paver driveway. A small side yard was recently used to house backyard chickens in their urban coup.
The property is located at the end of a cul de sac lane, up a private shared driveway and is perfectly sited for sunny mornings and shaded afternoons in all seasons. Bordering Dimond Park and Sausal Creek to the South and East, the property feels secluded in this quaint neighborhood and is very private.
Only a short walk or bike ride down the hill to the Glenview business district you’ll enjoy Sushi Park, Marzano Pizzeria, Paulista, Bellanico and Savemore market. Only minutes in the other direction through Dimond Park to Fruitvale, where you’ll find the amazing La Farine French bakery, Farmer Joe’s, Shaan Indian cuisine, Peet’s Coffee and Grand Lake Kitchen. Lake Merritt, Skyline and Sibley are only a few minutes away, and literally hundreds of miles of trails and bike paths are easily accessed from the end of the driveway, at the trailhead of Old Cañon Trail.
See the Seller’s Comments button above for more details!
Disclosures found at https://app.disclosures.io/link/4689-Benevides-Avenue-zvabq8o9
· What drew you to the home and property when seeing it for the first time?
When we were looking for a home, our dream was to find an older Mediterranean-style house with a secluded setting and great indoor-outdoor space. We were drawn to the quietness of being at the end of the street, surrounded by mature oak trees, the park-like setting and the lush experience as you come up the driveway. The house was uphill of the driveway, giving it a solid, elegant, and formidable presence. The surrounding environment, especially off the main front deck is so lush and green and we both just fell in love with it. Then we started walking through the house and it gave us such a great feeling – we knew this was the place for us. The property feels secluded and private, you barely know there are neighbors. You feel like you are part of nature, rather than feeling like you are plunked down in the middle of a neighborhood with houses on either side. And you can walk out the door, up the trail and be in endless miles of East Bay trails right from your doorway. For us, this felt like heaven and we could instantly imagine ourselves building a life here.
· What do you love about your home now you have made it your own?
We love hanging out on the front deck for the reasons above, but we also love the large, formal living room off the deck. It’s a beautiful, tall, and elegant room, and it feels like the deck is an extension of the main living space. It’s nice to have a fire in the fireplace or have the living room doors open to the deck. We also really love the lounge – it’s so fun! We love the bar and the big windows that make it feel like part of nature. All three areas: deck, formal living room and lounge, make this an amazing entertaining house.
· How would you describe your home’s best features in which a buyer might miss if not informed by the marketing?
It’s definitely the park-like surrounding which is really easy to overlook unless you slow down and take it all in, to be still, and to reflect. The more time we spend here, the more we feel really lucky for the location and to be surrounded by such a quiet and lush environment. Even though you’re in an Oakland neighborhood, with quick access to everything, the property feels secluded and private, and you feel like you have no neighbors. At night when it’s quite you can hear the water running down Sausal Creek outside if you have the windows open, or the owls calling each other at night, or just the simple silence. We have peek-a-boo views of the Bay from the treehouse bedroom sitting up so high, it is so relaxing and special. It’s such a rare opportunity in a city setting, especially knowing you get all the benefits of being close to neighbors, having community and great access to restaurants, nightlife, amazing outdoor activities, and shopping. For us, all these things come together in this special place.
· What do your friends and family love about your home? Be specific...
They always say our house has such a “good feeling” and has such character. It’s also the biggest house on a little block. Our friends and neighbors are constantly asking when the next party is! We hosted a lot of gatherings for birthdays, holidays, Halloween, watch parties, or other events in our/their lives. They love coming over and partying on the deck with the fire pit burning or listening to music in the lounge and chilling.
· Tell us about any renovations completed during the past several years in which you are most proud to share with friends and potential buyers? Go ahead… and brag a little!
Oh my, we have put our personal touches on every room of this house and more. The house was an amazing piece of clay that we’ve worked with over the past 20+ years that we’ve lived here. The deck was an old, flat-black dilapidated wooden deck when we moved in and didn’t take advantage of the view and openness. We designed an elegant wrap around deck with wide stairs leading up to the deck, in a Spanish tile to match the house. We then pulled that tile in a little bit into the living room with the fireplace tile. The previous owner was a contractor and had used left over kitchen counters to surround the fireplace, as a mantel. We replaced that with a simple dark wood mantel to again tie the room together, this time with the ceiling beams. Our goal was to simplify and tie everything together.
The lounge was our pièce de resistance. The realtors won’t tell you this, but the room was orange venetian plaster floor to ceiling and had a warm glow. Dated, we now know, but it was so awesome. With the bar, the big windows and some great music, it is the perfect party and entertainment room. We threw many a Halloween parties in that room and have made some really amazing memories.
We wanted the guest bathroom downstairs to feel like a spa. So, we built a big, open shower with a rainspout and used warm-colored tile along with sea glass-like tiles to make you feel like you’re in the tropics. The washing machine used to be in the garage, and pulling that into a more functional and accessible space was a game changer for us.
One of the things we will miss the most is our bedroom closets. We love these closets and can’t imagine ever having so much well thought out and usable space again. They are the best feature in the amazing “treehouse” bedroom. We already miss all the space - the functionality and usability.
· What projects or renovations did you consider earlier in your ownership that you have not completed and/or that have had less appeal with time?
We never got around to renovating the upstairs main bathroom and we look back on that as the missing piece of the puzzle and the one room that we were not able to update. The main reason we didn’t do it was, when we tried, was an issue that there was not a fire hydrant close enough to the house, so the city was going to require that we put in sprinklers or install a hydrant at the bottom of the street at our own expense. So, we put it off. Eventually, the block came together to put one in. Now that we have paid to have a hydrant put in as a community, I think the next owners should blow out the bathroom and put in either a fantastic shower or a soaking tub overlooking the park.
· Why live in your neighborhood? What do you want a potential buyer to know about the area, your neighborhood specifically and/or your community as a whole?
This is the BEST little block in Oakland; we have amazing neighbors and an awesome community! The block is filled with interesting, creative, quirky and diverse people. It’s a very inclusive place. We also do a lot as a community. During the holidays and in the summer, we have progressive parties where we go from house to house for different meal courses. People are wonderful on this block and we’ve made some of our best and closest friends here. Also, the park has so, so much to offer: Old Canon trailhead, Dimond Park, the heated Lions pool, Sausal Creek. You can walk a mile up the trail, in the woods, and feel like you’re in nature and no longer even in Oakland. If you walk in the other direction, you get to the amazing La Farine bakery – OMG we are going to miss having a French bakery down the street. The restaurants on Park Blvd are awesome. We swear Sushi Park is the best sushi we have ever had and Marzano pizzeria, Paulista and Bellanico are all great! Savemore Market has high-end everything. Our accountant is up the street. Our dentist is down Park Blvd. a few blocks. Lake Merritt is a mile away and a great 3 mile run. Skyline and Sibley are a few minutes away. You can jump on your bike and ride for miles up the trails – literally, hundreds of miles of trails are right there at the base of the driveway. And, the weather! No cold fog from the Bay and it’s cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter – it’s like we are in a perfect micro-climate with the valley, creek, and hills behind us.
· What will you miss the most about not living in your home?
Everything and everyone. We’re emotional and are sad to be leaving. We will miss every aspect of this house. It’s been our home of 23 years. We are going to miss the access, the culture, the diversity, community, the amazing restaurants, parties, solitude, splendor… The house is a bit quirky with the additions over the years, the 60’s architecture with the cantilevered bedroom, the shape of the lot and the house layout. I’m going to miss ‘going to bed’ and shutting down the house as you go upstairs to bed. It’s been surreal and fantastic. The next caretakers are going to love it, as we did. It’s a great piece of clay!
Comments above are opinions and observations of the sellers only as of March 20, 2024. The listing agent has not verified this information.
