Alameda West End

The West End is an eclectic neighborhood known for its residential and commercial zones, bustling retail, year-round Farmer’s Market, and restaurants anchored by Webster Street. This area offers everything from waterfront living and recreation, dog parks, a sprawling tennis & baseball facility, iconic palm tree-lined Burbank street, Robert W. Crown Memorial Beach, an historic WPA library, and Crab Cove Visitor’s Center and sprawling waterfront picnic areas.

The West End is a treasure trove of architectural styles. There are many of the island’s oldest Queen Anne and Colonial Revival cottages along the 1700 block of Bay Street, the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Pacific Avenue, and the 1600 and 1700 blocks of Sherman Street. There are also classic Bungalows, great starter adobe and split level homes, and charming 1920s resort cottages like those in the 500-700 blocks of Central Avenue, the 500 block of Taylor Avenue, and the 600 block of Lincoln Ave. Houseboats also grace the harbors on the north shore, near Mariner Square Drive. If you prefer more spacious modern single-family and condos or townhomes, check out the Bayport, Crown Harbor, and Balena Bay developments. West End Alameda’s maritime facilities include: private deep water docks in Balena Bay, at the Balena Isle, Barnhill, Fortman, and Pacific Marinas, and a public boat ramp behind Encinal High School.

Historical Highlights

The famous Neptune Beach amusement park which operated from 1917 to 1939 and the Croll Building, site of Croll’s Gardens and Hotel, and a famous training headquarters for some of the greatest fighters in boxing history from 1883 to 1914.

Neptune Beach Amusement Park was a very popular attraction for San Francisco city dwellers wanting to escape the Summer fog and birthplace of the snow cone and popsicle. Among its most popular attractions were the Ferris wheel, hand-carved merry go round, the roller coaster transported from the Treasure Island’s 1939 Worlds Fair, and its two huge outdoor pools, which hosted swimming races and exhibitions featuring famous swimmers such as Olympian Johnny Weismuller (cinema’s original Tarzan), and Jack LaLanne, who started the modern day exercise phenomenon with his TV show and a chain of health clubs.

Local Parks & Recreation: Longfellow Park, Washington Park, Crab Cove Visitor Center, Woodstock Park, Encinal Swim Center, Encinal Boat Ramp, City View Skate Park & Alameda Dog Parks (separate small & large parks)

Commuting Options for Alameda’s West End Neighborhood

Commuting to Berkeley, Concord, Fremont, Pleasanton and The South Bay

Major freeways such as Highways 880, 80, 24, and 580 can easily be accessed from either the Park Street bridge or the West End’s Webster Street Tube.

Public Transportation Options for Alameda’s West End:

BART, AC Transit Bus, Casual Carpool, Harbor Bay Ferry, Amtrak

Depending upon your location, the closest BART stations are either Coliseum or Fruitvale stations.  AC Transit Bus offers Transbay express buses to San Francisco via the O and W, and local bus service to Oakland and Berkeley, BART stations, etc. via the 51A to Rockridge BART and to Fruitvale BART via College Ave., Broadway (Oakland), Webster St., Santa Clara Ave., and Broadway (Alameda), or the 51B to Rockridge BART to Berkeley Amtrak or Berkeley Marina via College Ave., Bancroft Way / Durant Ave., Shattuck Ave., Berkeley BART, and University Ave.

A nice option for city commuters is Casual Carpool. The West End pick-up spot is on Santa Clara at Webster and runs Monday – Friday 6am-9am. Cars will pick up additional riders to access Carpool lanes at the Bay Bridge Toll Plaza for a discounted rate. Most drivers don’t ask for contributions from riders.

The Harbor Bay Ferry accessed at the Main Street Terminal at the mouth of the Oakland Estuary is most convenient for West End residents to catch the ferry to the SF Ferry building, Fisherman’s Wharf, Angel Island & Giant’s Ballpark.

The Amtrak train station is located in Jack London Square (Oakland) for commuting or general travel.

Schools in Alameda’s West End

Alameda enjoys a reputation for great quality schools, both public and private. There are several schools within walking or bicycling distance of the West End, both public and private, including William G. Paden Elementary, Ruby Bridges Elementary, Maya Lin Elementary, Nea Community Learning Center, The Academy of Alameda Middle School, Encinal High School, Island High School, Alameda Science and Technology Institute, Bay Area School of Enterprise, and the Woodstock Child Development Center. For more educational options, school ratings and reviews visit Greatschools.org.