1519-L Oxford Street, Berkeley
Offered at: $729,000 - SOLD
Owner's Comments
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The features that I like most about this apartment are the oversized rooms, the views of the Bay, the lovely Berkeley Hills, and the light. Before I moved here I looked at quite a number of homes for sale and it seemed to me that the rooms were always quite small. When I walked into this apartment, I was very impressed with how spacious the rooms were. And, then I looked out the front window toward San Francisco, and there was the ever changing, perfect view of the Golden Gate Bridge. However, for me the view of the Berkeley Hills is equally delightful in all their green glory. I especially like it when the fog is swirling around the top of the hill, seeming to play hide and seek among the trees. And, then there is the light. Because of the way the apartment is constructed, large windows let in light from two directions in almost every room. Which means that even on a cloudy or rainy day the apartment is light and airy. Off the living room, is a small veranda where you can catch the sun in the morning or the cool breezes in the afternoon.
The two sided fireplace that separates the living room from the dining room is a distinguishing and lovely detail in this area of the apartment. In the dining room, the chandelier, which holds real candles rather than electric lights, always seems to delight guests. It's more than just a myth that everyone looks better under candlelight, making dinner parties have a special glow about them. Just off the dining room is a built in bar; another special feature not found in many homes. It has very attractive glass shelves that give the bar an appealing look and the wine cooler is a pure joy to have. It's wonderful to have a glass of wine at the perfect temperature whenever you want one.
Just beyond the bar is a cozy small office, the perfect size to feel comfortable and away from the rest of the house for privacy and quiet and where neatness is not a top priority. The desk is not built in, but appears to be, as it was put together in the room and has become a part of it. The oversized desk has all of the components to help one keep papers well organized.
For me a library is a must. Through a life of reading, one collects a great many book. I find it comforting to be surrounded by books that I've enjoyed reading, books I intend to read, reference books, art books, all manner of books that reflect the things I find interesting. And, then there's the sun/ family room, or perhaps I should call it my oxygen room. I love plants and this room seems to be the perfect environment for growing house plants. I think of it as the soul of the house, as this is where I enjoy the warm sunny days, reading the news paper, catching up on my phone calls, doing Sudoku puzzles, in other words this is the room in which I hang out. It's where I feel most relaxed. I sometimes question myself, do I like it better on a sunny day, or on a rainy day. If you enjoy the pitter patter of rain drops, then this room is the place to be.
The master bedroom is a lovely, quiet sanctuary. Day or night, sounds of the street are but a distant murmur. The walk in closet makes it easy to keep track of my clothing and it's nice to have the linen closet so handy. The big plus here are the "his and hers bathrooms", both of which have their own closets. His bathroom has a roomy tiled shower and hers has an attractive unusually shaped tub. The apartment has a circulating hot water system that translates into almost instant hot water when you want it, which is maintained and paid for by the co-op. Both bathrooms have cabinetry around and under the sinks. The "hers" bathroom has an oversize mirror and a makeup seat.
The kitchen is fully equipped, with all of the amenities for cooking and plenty of room for storage. The laundry and storage room contain both washer and dryer, an extra refrigerator and plenty of storage area.
A lovely guest bathroom and bedroom complete the picture of a highly desirable apartment in the heart of one of Berkeley's most coveted neighborhoods.
For parking, at the rear of the building, are two designated parking spaces in the car port for this apartment, and in addition, there are four guest parking spaces. Each apartment has extra storage space. The largest storage space for apartment "L" is located in the basement.
MAINTENANCE FEE
Roughly half of the maintenance fee is for insurance and about sixty percent of that is for earthquake insurance. The building has been retrofitted to help it survive an earthquake and with the insurance on top of that one can feel that their investment is as protected as possible.
LIVING IN A CO-OP
I'm writing this almost as a diary to myself. When I moved into 1519 Oxford Street Co-op ten years ago I had no idea what a co-op was. I was only sure of one thing and that was the beauty of the apartment and the well maintained building.
Having lived here for an extended period I now have a much clearer understanding of a co-op. In simple terms it means that it's a form of cooperative living. Unlike a condominium where an owner is solely responsible for his own quarters, in a co-op, everyone is mutually responsible for the care and maintenance of the entire building and property.
While this may sound like a burden, in fact, it is not. With duties divided, no one has to give more than a modicum of time and energy. The beauty of this arrangement is that having a common interest draws people together. Rather than feeling isolated, even though I live alone, I have the feeling of being a part of a greater community: a community that cares about the same things I do, namely taking care of our mutually owned property. It seems to bring out the best in everyone who lives here and when we have occasion to meet it is with the greatest of pleasure that we do so.
I will miss not living in this lovely community.
EMAIL BARBARA for more details
or Phone: 510-708-3800
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