Shimmy was a great host and it was a very enjoyable stay. The high ceilings make the 1-BR apartment feel much larger than it is. There is a lot of sunlight that floods the apartment and both the kitchen and bathroom have been renovated very nicely. It was also convenient to Lake Merritt (only 2-3 blocks away) and super convenient to the best Whole Foods I have ever been to.
I do agree with others that the traffic noise can be bothersome if you are sensitive to noise when you sleep, but I brought earplugs because of what I read in the reviews and was fine (the traffic noise is not constant, it is intermittant). The building is on the older side, but the unit looks new from the updates. Also, at no time did I feel that the area was unsafe.
I would definitely recommend Shimmys's place and hope to stay there again the next time I come to Oakland!