Places Of Note

Oakland Dog Meets Goat

In Oakland, we do have a couple farm animals.  You need to know where to look, but city dogs can definitely meet a city goat or two.

Here’s some photographic proof.  Let’s start with this local dog who, like many around the hills, was out on a daily stroll.  The pooch was leashed and not running free, but still asked its human to visit Valley View’s billies.

Clearly the dog wanted to meet-and-greet the goats, and came right up to the fence surrounding them.  Here you see one goat who returned the favor and showed interest in this alien being.  While both are curious, the goat is a little wary and standing back.

We really enjoy the goats around here.  There are temporary “hired hands,” munching on the grass and preventing fires.  And there are permanent goat residents, which are a welcomed anachronism.

Our 94611 Foreclosures Not That Bad

Every so often, we have looked at real estate prices and foreclosures to see when the tide would turn. The foreclosures are not that bad lately, based on recent 94611 zip code filings that have slowed down.

Let’s start by comparing our foreclosures to virtually anywhere else.  We’re running about 25% of Oakland’s rate overall, some 0.08% vs. 0.32% during November.  For Montclair and Piedmont, our rate translates to around one foreclosure filing for every 1,216 units.

In the past few months, you can see that 94611 foreclosure filings have also dropped.  They ran over 40/month during the third quarter, and dropped to 20/month and below more recently.  Also notice that foreclosure sales prices are holding steady these days – so the tide seems to be turning.

We also took a look at the mix of distressed properties for sale.  While all area properties sold for under $700k last November (citydata.com), the prices for foreclosures are lower and now average $523k (realtytrac.com).  What’s evident is a well-distributed mix among lower and higher-priced units.

In a nutshell, the 94611 foreclosure situation seems to be under control.  The volume of foreclosures, the prices and trends are all moving in the right direction.  It’s true that foreclosures are an epidemic in California and Northern California – but not right here.

Our Practical Stairway, Documented

San Francisco’s known for some cool stairways and we can’t disagree.  Armed with Adah Bakalinsky’s book, we have checked out many of the great ones.  At Woodminster, Oakland also showcases cascades and stairs that rival the Bay Area’s best offerings.

Scattered throughout Oakland are more work-a-day stairways, ones that help us move around our streets.  We trot up and down a particular set of stairs frequently, never giving them much attention – so it’s time to pay homage.

The lower set primarily consists of railroad ties, which are nicely spaced so you can set a decent rhythm and pace.  These stairs are decorated by fallen leaves, pretty much all year long.

The upper set consists of red-painted risers that seem perfectly fine.  Yet when you try them out, they are a bit “short” and it’s harder to establish a natural pace there.

The stairways are well-signed, courtesy of the City of Oakland.  There are lovely garbage receptacles placed at each section of risers, too.  Our neighbors dutifully keep them clean.

Plus local homeowners do their part to keep the stairway ecosystem looking good.  We think this landscaping by one home is particularly pleasing.

Most of the time, we’re charging up or down the stairs and not looking around.  We stopped this time and noticed the trees as well as the soundtrack of a neighbor’s dog.

Maybe these pedestrian stairs around Thornhill are special after all.  Though we’re thrilled by many beautiful stone staircases and terraces installed on private properties, we do appreciate the public egresses.

Oakland’s Old College Try

Check out this anti-graffiti message, elegantly placed on a Montclair Village light-pole.  It’s one of many similar prohibitions by the City of Oakland, placed on poles that are otherwise clean and green.

Oakland Public Works is giving things the old college try, by declaring:  Signs and graffiti prohibited.  Violators will be prosecuted.  OMC Section 5.06.020.

While this warning won’t scare off all the nefarious spray-painters, like our “SNS tagger,” it might be a deterrent for other decorators.  At least I would think twice when confronted with this message, and even pause to consider the consequences.

But I’m not speaking directly for the vandals, armed with aerosol cans.

Rugby Played In Oakland, Too

Did you see Invictus yet?  In this Golden-Globe nominated flick, rugby becomes the healing metaphor for post-apartheid South Africa.  As Nelson Mandela and his fellow countrymen cheer for their losing team, the players start winning and erase their color lines.  It’s a real upper, actually!

While hardly on the same grand scale, rugby is also a sport-with-promise in Oakland these days.  Local boys in grades 8-12 have an opportunity to join the Oakland Warthogs, which was founded only two years ago.   This club team practices and plays matches in the Bay Area youth league.

“High school is the perfect age because they are very open to learning things and have the physical tools – size and speed – to implement your instructions,” explained Mike Spencer, one of the Warthog coaches.  “The great challenge in rugby is getting a team to talk and work together on the field.  Smarter teams beat teams with more brawn and physical gifts all the time.”

Several times weekly, the coaches lead players in core skills like passing, running onto the ball, and setting the ball so it stays with their team.  Since communications are key, the high schoolers are encouraged to cooperate and work closely with each other on the field.

Rugby’s an amazing game, based on moxie.  Coach Spencer declared that “if you are not willing to tackle that guy who outweighs you by 100 pounds, [you have] no business playing rugby.  The great teams play with heart and for each other.  Once the whistle blows, it is up to the players.  It’s like high-speed, full contact chess.”

We’ve watched rugby players and believe their camaraderie can’t be beat.  In Oakland, high schoolers have a special chance to learn the ropes and then play at a competitive level.  However the rugby club is a start-up, which still needs sponsors to equip players, pay league memberships, and find places to practice.  It’s time for us to help them.

More info:  Visit the Warthogs’ site and see their schedule.  To play or support the club, reach Mike at hirepimike-at-gmail.com.