The San Francisco call., 1910-06-11
BERKELEY FEELS
3. RESIDENCE BOOM
Renters and Buyers Make Great
Demand for Homes in Col
Iege Town

-: BERKELEY, June 10.-The last week
has. been an exceptionally busy one in
the. real estate business here. Trad
; ing in residence and city business prop
'ejsty has been brisk, and hundreds of
fouses have been rented for the sum-
:rrler months. All dealers are feeling
the growing popularity Of Berkeley as
residence city. but the owners Of the
tracts north OF the city are doing by
..far. the largest business ever done in
: residence property on this side of the
bay: Northbrae properties are most
popular. and although more than
f125.OOO worth of lots were sold in this
section during May. this month prom
!. .4ses 10 be even a larger one.
80. It is generally commented upon that
while all the residence towns around
san Francisco. particularly down the
peninsula, are practically deserted by
the summer commuters, Berkeley is
hard put to supply the constantly in
'creasing demand for homes. 1t is also
3 observed that the great number of those
who. haYe been pouring into this city S
residence districts have taken long
leases on the houses which they have
= secured. This is looked upon as q
promising sign of stability, and an in
.dfcation that the rush" TO Berkeley is
hut the beginning of "A rapid normal
growth. This is borne out by the large
number Of sales in the new tracts al
NOrthbrae and Berkeley heights, and
the number of houses that are being
? built Ia that section, TO be completed
= this summer.
-. Perry T. Tompkins, general manager
= ~ 81
upon the situation as more than prom
ising for the future Of Berkeley. He
d. said:
The last week has been eXcep-
tionallv good for business in gen
eral realty, and the residence prop
erty has kept up the same steady
pace that has marked the trading
since we opened up the NOrthbrae
tracts TINS spring, This trading in
business property ia the city here
Is. 70 my mind. a certain sign of
stability OF the residence section,
for the business section, in a city
such as this in its relation to a
large metropolis, is usually slow
TO follow the other. With splendid
transportation facilities. a fine and
frequent ferry service and grow
ing business section, the future of
northern Berkeley is assured.
We sold among other pieces, sew
eral lots in the Claremont region,
two houses IN northwest Berkeley,
= a house in central Berkeley and a
business block in the center of
town. Berkeley heights and North
brae, OF course, are still moving
20. briskly and viii soon be off the
81. market as far as direct sales are
concerned. AS soon as the first
train runs over either the Southern
Pacific or Key Route you viii see
. the demand increase again at least
SO per cent above the present prices.
: Indeed there have been several Of
-E 1ers to buy lots in Berkeley heights
= which had already been sold, and
although the sums offered have
s been tempting, none of the owners
wouEl let go
!" .. There is a great deal of building
going on and a number of houses
s;are being planned and will go up
this summer. Flea ger has started
his $4,000 residence adjoining In
dian Rock park, the design of
p. % Architect John Hudson Thomas.
: - Leland's house is now nearing COM
: .. pletion. and Pierce's bungalow, with
:. its attractive facing of native rock,
viii be ready for occupancy in a
very short time.
There is every indication that the
building fever is growing in North
brae, and by the time the electric
trains run in there, there will be
a healthy trainful of commuters
<Teady for il.