The San Francisco call., 1910-05-14


and closer than the peninsula towns
While the railroads have not def
nitely stated the nature of the service
officially it is learned from good au-
thority that there will be Northbrae
express running directly to the ferry
and return without stopping at way
stations, and this will bring Northbrae
closer, time, of course, being the con-
sideration, than any other section OF
the city which may now be nearer by
actual measurement.
DEMAND FOR HOMES
The increasing popularity of Berke-
ley as a residence city is shown in the
fact that the demand for good houses in
fast exceeding the supply. Many buy
ers in Northbrae and Berkeley heights
are preparing to build on their lots at
once, and many of these are not salts
fed to wait until the residences are
completed, but have rented houses in
North Berkeley until they can occupy
their own.
The greatest activity in the building
line is undoubtedly in the northern
section of the city. and here also the
greatest part of the property is being
sold. This is accounted for by the
fact that in this section the railroads
are devoting their energies to COM
pleting the five lines which connect
Northbrae with the ferries. Besides
this the owners of the tracts in that
vicinity are Fastening the completion
Of the improvements. Great gangs
OF workmen and horses are grading
the winding streets and avenues, build
ing cutters and sidewalks, and corps of
gardeners al. laying out the parking
spaces with trees and flowers. This
work viii be completed this summer,
and by the way in which the lots are
.
pears that there will be no property
for sale next season.
The artistic arrangements of streets
and parks in Northbrae has proved
an irresistible attraction to the better
class of home seekers and the selling
has been stimulated by the activity of
the railroads in that district. The cleo
trizing of the Shattuck avenue line of
the Southern Pacific is being rapidly
pushed forward and the double tracks
are now laid up to the Circle in
Berkeley square.
BIG CUT COMPLETED
The giant steam shovel has COM
pleted the cut at the Circle and the
bridging over will be commenced at
once and the tunnel finished in less
than six weeks. The work on the
Ninth street line, which will connect
with the Shattuck avenue road at the
Circle, is being carried on by two large
gangs of men with work trains and
steam rollers. The Key Route line,
which will terminate in the depot to
be erected at the Circle, is nearing
completion, and the work of building
the station viii soon begin.
OPTIMISTIC VIEW
Perry T. Tompkins. general manager
of the Mason-McDufie company, is ex-
c1- Nrafi is1afc CT 10 he TO 70
situation in Berkeley. He says:
My opinion is that the present season in
Berkeley viii prove q banner one, not only
for this city. but for any residence section
around the bay or down the peninsula. at
any time. Berkeley is without doubt the
coming residence city for San Francisco
kind visit our office every day seeking either
good homes lots on which to build
business pr aeH The chief % difcuity T is to ind good
houses TO supply the demand. We have
been particularly busy with our. Northbrae
properties. The tracts there viii no doubt
be bought up by the end Of the season.
We sold a lot in Piedmont avenue on
which Se,500 house is to be built at
once. six lots in Claremont park and five
lots in Clsremont court. Besides this we
have sold several homes In various parts
In the last few weeks we have sold
sl25.0o0 worth OF lots in Berkeley heights.
Most Of these have been sold to home
buyers although many OF them have been
taken as investments by people who have al
ready selected homesites, and ii is safe to
say that inside of two years these people
viii double their money. This has hap
pened in Claremont and this property in
Northbrae with the magnificent view and a
dozen other attractive features gives even
greater promise.
The crowds OF people who have come
out here TO see the new city parks and
the steam shovel have been astonished at
the transformation that has taken place in
the last year in this section and many of
these have bought lots sent their friends
here who have bought
Other Berkeley dealers are of the
opinion that the boom which has
struck Berkeley is Of the most SUBJ
stantial kind and all report that their
sales have been greater than in any
previous season. 1t is the general
opinion that a building boom is under
way and that this summer will find
hundreds of houses going up, particu-
larly in the northern section Of the
city.