The building has a spectacular view of Lake Merritt and downtown Oakland and is located in the Eastlake neighborhood- a predominately Vietnamese and Chinese immigrant community with a median household income of $30,000 a year. Our building, like other buildings in the area, was affordable. When Manny and I lived in a one-bedroom at "St. Bards" (the name on the awning of the apartment building), we paid $1,275 a month for the apartment with a fantastic view and its own parking spot. During the four and a half years we lived in the building, the rent was only raised once from $1,275 a month to $1,325 a month. Studio apartments in the building were rented out for around $800 a month and one-bedrooms were rented out for around $1,000. The building was mixed with long-time residents as well as newer residents who were young professionals. Manny and I were among the newer residents who chose Oakland for its relatively affordable housing stock. During the time we lived in the building, we frequented the local Vietnamese owned restaurants, local video store around the corner (no longer in existence), Parkway Theater (no longer in existence), Albertson Supermarket Store (now Lucky's), and the Merritt Restaurant and Bakery.
Big changes are in the air in regards to our old building and to the make-up and character of the neighborhood of Eastlake. St. Bards at 1824 Lakeshore has been transformed into a luxury apartment building. Over a year ago, the old residents of the building were kicked out so the building could be gutted and remodeled. Currently, the property management company, 2B Living, is seeking new tenants for the newly remodeled building. 2B advertises 1824 Lakeshore Avenue as located in a neighborhood with businesses such as "Portal Oakland, Fitness SF Oakland, Whole Foods, Peet's Coffee & Trader Joe's, and the Merritt Restaurant and Bakery." 2B Living is not shy about the new demographic they wish to rent to- 2B posts on its website: "Oakland- the new San Francisco." Furthermore, the company brags that 1824 Lakeshore has such amenities as "white oak engineered wood flooring", "quartz counter tops", "top of the line stainless steel appliances", "high-gloss white cabinets", "personal washer and dryer in unit", and my favorite "shared, enclosed bike room." 2B Living is trying to attract a younger and wealthier tech crowd who may be enticed to move from San Francisco if they feel they can get more for their dollar in terms of location and price. The rental prices listed for the units show that 2B Living does not want to rent to the working-class Vietnamese and Chinese families who have traditionally made up the Eastlake neighborhood- junior bedrooms start at $2,150, 1 bedrooms start at $2,550, and 2 bedrooms start at $3,550.
In a nut shell, an affordable apartment complex has now been turned into high price luxury housing. The real estate moguls hope that neighborhoods like Eastlake will transform into high price areas.
 |
| My photo album showing a photo of "St. Bards" at 1824 Lakeshore and a photo of me on our old balcony taken in 2006 |
 |
| Photo of 1824 Lakeshore taken in April 2015 |
