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Price Reduction on my Landmark Listing: the Berkeley Rose Walk Complex

By
Real Estate Agent with Red Oak Realty

I enjoyed showing the staged, vacant unit today of my gorgeous listing, the Rose Walk Complex. For residents of Berkeley, California, this is a truly iconic property, and whenever I show this property it's a real pleasure as visitors are always so impressed with the quality of design and construction. Few properties capture the architectural heritage and scenic beauty of Berkeley as wonderfully as Rose Walk and its adjoining properties. It is a real pleasure to represent the nine units that grace the north edge of the Walk which was designed by pre-eminent Berkeley architect Bernard Maybeck. The four two-story duplexes and one cottage plus garages that comprise this property were designed by Henry Higby Gutterson. These were part of a complex designed as an integrated urban community of single family homes, duplexes and cottages bordering a public pedestrian path.

Rose Walk Complex, Berkeley, CA

The path Rose Walk was completed in 1913 with the financial support of its adjoining neighbors. The property on either side was purchased by Florence Dickens Gray and her husband Dr. B. Frank Gray. They commissioned Gutterson to design the adjoining complex that was completed in the mid 1930's.

The Rose Walk is undoubtedly the grandest component of Berkeley's pedestrian pathways, constructed as part of Berkeley's early development to easily link areas in the hills to the central areas by means of shortcuts. These paths would also play an important role as emergency exit in case of fire, such as was experienced in North Berkeley in 1923.

The four duplexes and the one cottage were built from a common design palette of colors and materials: the rosey colored concrete and trim, natural shings and siding, and flat-topped clay tiled roofs. Each of the units has a fireplace, and features hardwood floors. Each unit within the duplexes has a sleeping porch as well as a dining room with doors, and a large closet that at one time housed a Murphy bed.

The complex was gifted to the University Foundation in 1990 in hopes of providing housing for faculty. The University sold the property to my client in 2007. Since then she has obtained an agreement under the Mills Act, which provides for a significant reduction in property taxes in return for the owner of a landmarked property to maintain that landmark. The agreement runs with the land, and is for 10 years, with automatic renewal.

The property recently had a price reduction to $3,550,000, likely to be the final list price. The vacant unit has now been listed for rent (at $3150/mo.) and the seller is likely to rent that unit unless a buyer comes forward soon. Now is the time to act on this truly unique property!

For many photos and more detailed information please visit www.RoseWalkComplex.com

 

Posted by

Arlene Baxter, CRS, Green

Red Oak Realty -- "Seriously Local"

Berkeley Office, 1891 Solano Avenue

Cell: 510.717.1799  GreenBungalows.info   DRE#01209552

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