EAST BAY LIVING

Often called “the Garden Capital of the East Bay” in relation to its tidy, well-manicured yards, El Cerrito is a suburban city (pop. 23,250) located just north of Albany and Berkeley. El Cerrito has a housing stock as diverse as its people, and is an affordable alternative to its neighbors. Along with many homes built from 1917 to the late forties, a housing boom in the 1950s added a wealth of Mid-century Modernism to the housing mix. Many hillside homes offer stunning views of the San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate and Mt. Tamalpais. The local community center offers recreational classes and activities for all age groups. A treasured bike and pedestrian path, the Ohlone Greenway, connects El Cerrito to its southern neighbors along the BART line and crosses two branches of Cerrito Creek, a recently day-lighted bit of creek near El Cerrito’s City Hall, and a garden featuring plants that have been around since the Jurassic. The restored Cerrito Theater, which for years was a furniture store, is a big hit as a hybrid restaurant and movie theater. El Cerrito Plaza offers a wide variety of amenities including convenient groceries and sundries, home wares and many restaurants. The Plaza’s local favorites include; Trader Joe’s, a twice-weekly farmer’s market, and the Junket — an old world German delicatessen offering a great variety of draught beer. An ideal choice for commuters, El Cerrito offers a convenient location, two BART stations, and easy freeway access.

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