The San Francisco call., 1910-03-19
VILLAS ON HILLS
FINEST OF HOMES
Beautiful Slopes Within a Few
Minutes of Business Invite
Thousands TO Rest
By FRED E. REED

I'm the foothill districts OF Oakland
has been established the Mecca toward
which turn the eyes and steps of the
successful Californian in his search for
permanent home. The attraction
which these hills has offered for the
making OF homes has played no small
part in the marvellous growth of Oak
land. which is apparent on every hand.
The story of the great development
81 this section of splendid residences
known as the Oakland foothills IL
largely told in the history OF the last
four years. The records show that
mere than S27.000.OOO went into build
ings in Oakland during this period. The
same records show that a third as
much went into modern street work
and other permanent public improve
ments in the same area during these
same four years. and. while the growth
OF all sections OF the city contributed
70 this splendid showing the rapid up
building Of the foothiI residence dis
tricts has been responsible for the
greatest share OF the large total.
VISITORS FIND THEM OUT
The advantages of the lower foot
hills Of Oakland as sites for homes be-
came fully apprecia ted when the people
from the other side of the bay came TO
Oakland in April, 1905 Piedmont.
Claremont and the adjacent Broadway
hiil sections had long been known 10
few The spring and summer. Of ! 900
made them known 10 thousands of 9TH
ers. These newcomers found that they
could leave the center of business ac-
tivity al Fourteenth street and Broad
way and within few minutes go by
the best streetcar transportation serv-
ice in the country 10 the midst of the
residence districts Of Piedmont and
Claremont. There. on those hills. they
saw home sites, from which they could
look down on the cities about the bay
With over third of the population OF
California in those cities al their feet.
They found themselves there as far
removed from the dirt and turmoil of
the workaday world as though they
had travelled so miles into the noun
tains.
VILLA HOMES MULTIPLY
Instead of having 10 go miles away
for the quiet restfulness of a sheltered
home. they could be within few min
utes ride Of their business places. and
in that short ride they had glided over
tie smooth streets of Oakland, through
The quiet lanes of the Claremont coun-
try club or past the suburban homes Of
the nearby hill districts. They saw
stretched out at their feet on one hand
Sreat cities and on the other the
rugged natural beauty Of wooded can
Eons and the towering heights of the
contra Costa range. IL was the ideal
location for the homes of men who
sought rest from the days business, but
who must be near enough 10 take up
The work OF the day following.
Then the villa homes. with all the
conveniences and Iuxuries Of modern
life. began TO appear along the Clare
mont. Piedmont and Broadway hills.
Zach year has seen them added TO until
NOW they can not be counted in terms
short Of thousands. On these hills are
10 be seen today from the sidewa Il1s IN
the heart OF Gaklands business section
dozens of residences that will success
fully stand the test of comparison with
the best samples Of architectural beauty
20 be found on the Pacific coast.
Without any systematic or effective
plan Of advertising. the foothill dis
tricts Of Oakland. because OF their nat
ursl beauty. have become known to
every man Of means in the state who is
thinking either now or in the near
future of building himself a home to
which TO retire from active business.
As the months have gone by hundreds
of men of this class have come from
All parts Of California. They have
come from the mining country of
Nevada and from Arizona, from the
Rocky Mountain region. and from
states farther east. until now there
can be found represented among the
property owners of Piedmont Clare
mont and Rock Ridge, the latest of the
liu districts to be opened. men of
every section OF the country. Pied
mont has grown into a well ordered
community of magnificent homes al
most in 2 season. Claremont became
dotted with villas and mansions almost
as rapidly. Rock Ridge is growing
with great rapidity.
The public records show that there
has been in the whole stretch OF foot
him lands reaching from Piedmont to
North Berkeley one of the most con-
sistent and rapid increases in land val
ustions TO be found in any city in the
United States for the same period.
FIGURES TELL THE STORY
Five years ago the assessed valua-
ton Of the land in Claremont hill dis
trict was $3.50 an acre. Today that
same property is assessed for $4,000
an acre Five years ago the assessed
Valuation Of the Piedmont hill section
WIS s5c5 an acre. -oday it also is
assessed at $500 an acre. Five years
ago the land in Rock Ridge which
occupies all of the territory between
Claremont and Piedmont, was assessed
at $3.50 an acre. This latest sub
DIVISION, which mas Deen cut up by its
owners into lots averaging S0xl60, was
only placed on the market in October
last, but the same increase is expected
there. The assessor has but kept pace
with the actual selling values, but his
figures have shown an increase of
nearly twelvefoId in those lands within
the last FIVE years.
The splendid system of streets and
boulevards, together with the excel
lent electric car service, has made
every part OF these magnificent hill
districts easily accessible and the
building OF new homes is even now go
ing on there at a pace that has never
before been equaled-even in Oakland