Rockridge

Just east of Telegraph Avenue and south of Berkeley, guests discover a charming district with neighborhoods and commerce. Many of the homes were built between the 20s and 50s but is matched with more modern areas in the form of apartment buildings. According to a 2002 article written in Money Magazine, Rockridge was named one of the “best places to live.”

History of Rockridge

This region was named for the projections of rock that formed its ledges from the Hayward Fault Earthquake. These rocks can still be seen in parts of a reservoir at the Claremont County Club on Pleasant Valley Road. Originally, this region did not connect to Piedmont until the downside hill of Pleasant Valley was created in the 1950s. Italian immigrants poured into its district and was at one point considered “Little Italy.” Despite the decline of many stores and local shops in the 1970s, a handful of business owners formed a “critical mass” of commerce appeal that boosted its economy. Railroads and electric trolley trains were the typical form of transportation until fading away in the mid 20th century.

Rockridge Points of Interest

Rockridge is recognized for its vast array of bars and restaurants, local businesses and grocers. Zachary’s Chicago Pizza was formed in 1983 and has accumulated more than 150 best pizza awards. They are a 100 percent employee-owned company that caters to the needs of customers and workers. It offers exclusive styles known as thin and thick crusts. This may not seem out of the ordinary until you realize the thick crusts make the dough look more like pies. Pegasus books is another surviving goodie with two other locations in Berkeley.

They offer sales that last months at a time and are recognized for its wide selection of calendars. This business was named the Best Bookstore by the East Bay Express in 2014. Art fanatics should peep the Firestorm Community Mural Project nearby Rockridge BART station. It is compiled of over 2,000 hand painted tiles in honor of those lost in the 1991 Oakland Hills Fire. Frog Park is a popular children’s retreat comprising a greenbelt between Hardy and Redondo Park. Lastly, the local Rockridge Branch Library has all the basic amenities with an exclusive meeting room for its guests.

Education

Chabot Elementary school serves K-5 and scores favorably in statewide assessments. Claremont Middle School is located on College Avenue and now serves more than 400 students at grade levels 6-8. Oakland Technical High School has an API of 686 with proficiency in English and Science. Also the California College of the Arts has been listed among the top ten on the coast for its graduates’ salary potential. Additionally, the CCA has called it a “college of distinction” claiming it’s effective in “engaging students, great teaching, vibrant communities and successful outcomes.

Rockridge Schools

Oakland enjoys a reputation for great quality schools, including public, charter & private. For more educational options, school ratings and reviews, visit Greatschools.org

Transportation around Rockridge

Rockridge is served by BART with a stop along the Pittsburg-Baypoint line.
AC Transit: 7 Del Norte BART-Rockridge BART , 17 Powell Plaza-Rockridge BART , 51 Berkeley-Oakland-Alameda and 64 Downtown Berkeley-Merritt College