The Crocker Highlands Relocation Guide

Crocker Highlands sits in Oakland’s Lower Hills, above Interstate 580 and below Highway 13, right where the flatter neighborhoods surrounding Lake Merritt begin to rise into the Oakland Hills.

Directly north is Piedmont, with portions of Crocker Highlands sitting close to the city boundary. Because city boundaries, mailing addresses and school assignments don’t always align, buyers should always verify the jurisdiction and school assignment of a specific property.

To the west, the neighborhood slopes toward Lakeshore Avenue, Grand Lake and Lake Merritt, putting coffee shops, restaurants, shopping, the Grand Lake Farmers Market and outdoor recreation nearby.

To the east, across the Park Boulevard corridor, are Glenview and Oakmore, with the landscape continuing into Montclair and the Oakland Hills.

And just below the neighborhood, Interstate 580 provides convenient access to the Bay Bridge, San Francisco and the greater Bay Area.

LOCAL PERSPECTIVE: One of Crocker Highlands’ biggest draws is its position: you get the residential character of Oakland’s Lower Hills while staying close to the shops, restaurants and everyday conveniences of Lakeshore and Grand Lake.

Crocker Highlands began taking shape in 1911, when developer Wickham Havens filed a subdivision map as Oakland continued expanding into its lower hills.

A few years later, in 1917, Havens brought in the Olmsted Brothers to plan the neighboring Lake Shore Highlands development. Rather than forcing a traditional city grid onto the hills, their approach worked with the natural contours of the land, incorporating winding streets, greenery, open spaces and viewpoints.

And here's where the story gets interesting: landscape design was quite literally the Olmsted family business. Frederick Law Olmsted Sr., father of Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and stepfather of John Charles Olmsted, was one of the founders of American landscape architecture. Alongside architect Calvert Vaux, he designed Central Park in New York City, and his work also included Brooklyn's Prospect Park, the U.S. Capitol grounds and the Biltmore Estate.

That philosophy of designing with the landscape rather than simply imposing a grid onto it continued through the next generation. You can still see that approach throughout the broader Crocker Highlands and Trestle Glen area today in its curved streets, changing elevations, mature landscaping and relationship to the surrounding hills.

The Neighborhood Takes Shape

By the 1920s, homebuilding was in full swing, and much of the architectural character Crocker Highlands is known for today began to emerge.

Instead of rows of nearly identical houses, the neighborhood developed with an impressive variety of period architecture. Tudor, Spanish Revival, Mediterranean, Arts & Crafts and other styles can sometimes be found within just a few blocks of one another.

This variety is part of what makes exploring Crocker Highlands interesting. Homes can differ significantly in architecture, lot configuration, elevation, views and layout depending on where you are in the neighborhood.

More Than a Century of Neighborhood History

There's another piece of Crocker Highlands history that buyers may not immediately notice.

Portions of the greater Crocker Highlands and Trestle Glen area fall within the Lakeshore Homes Association, an organization incorporated in 1917 that today encompasses more than 1,000 properties across approximately 200 acres.

Like many residential developments and homeowners associations created during this era, this history also has a discriminatory chapter. Racially restrictive covenants and housing practices were used in parts of Oakland and the East Bay to exclude Black residents and other people of color from purchasing or occupying homes in certain neighborhoods. 

These racially restrictive covenants are no longer legally enforceable, but their history remains an important part of understanding how neighborhoods like Crocker Highlands developed and who historically had access to homeownership within them.

Today, properties within the association remain subject to CC&Rs governing certain property and architectural matters, and some exterior improvements, fencing, tree removals, roofline changes and other modifications may require association review or approval.

DID YOU KNOW?
Frederick Law Olmsted Sr., father of Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. of the Olmsted Brothers firm, co-designed New York City's Central Park with architect Calvert Vaux. The next generation of the Olmsted family continued that landscape-design legacy across the country.

The Result Today

Crocker Highlands feels established because it is.

In Crocker Highlands, local knowledge can make all the difference. Working with an agent who is active in the neighborhood means having someone who understands the homes, recent sales, pricing strategies, disclosures and the nuances that can vary from one property to the next.

I’m actively working with buyers and sellers in Crocker Highlands and throughout Oakland, giving my clients insight into what’s happening in the market—not just what’s showing up online.

If you're considering buying in Crocker Highlands, I'd be happy to learn what you're looking for and help you build a strategy for your move.

Finding the right home is only half the battle. Winning it takes strategy.

Let's Connect

Na'im McGee
Cush Real Estate

Phone: 510 755 0060
Email: [email protected]
Website: naimmcgee.com

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