A Point Richmond Gem

A Point Richmond Gem

PHOTOS BY ROBERT JORDAN

Flooded with light, the home’s sunken living room was designed for admiring the surrounding vistas.


A Mediterranean that sparkles against a backdrop of bay vistas.

Once blighted by abandoned shipyards and deteriorating docks, southwest Richmond’s precipitous coastal hillside community known as Point Richmond used to be one of the best-kept real estate secrets in the East Bay.

Not anymore.

Past the tangle of freeways, refineries, and shipyards, this hidden enclave—with its astonishing bay vistas—immediately dispels the perception of Richmond as a hardscrabble, down-on-its-luck town.

With commanding views of three Bay Area bridges, a modern Mediterranean manse recently hit the market for $1.5 million, one of four homes surpassing the million-dollar mark in the region.

Built in 1990 on a rare near-level lot, the two-story, three-bedroom, 3,316-square-foot home is on the appropriately named Grandview Court, at the end of a semi-private cul-de-sac.

“Many of the homes here were built into steep hillsides with countless stairs and no elevators,” said Brenda Tam, listing agent for Zephyr Real Estate. “This property has a level, livable outdoor space and easy indoor access from an alleyway garage. It’s the perfect home for people hoping to age in place.”

Enter the home’s expansive exterior and be transported immediately to European-inspired living. An elegant staircase flanked by sun-drenched rooms, finished in Venetian plaster and Spanish tile floors, lends Old World gravitas to the interior.

Then, there are the views.

Flooded with light, the home’s sunken living room was designed for admiring the surrounding vistas. Access to an outdoor patio via French door, and rustic beamed ceilings elevate the structure’s Mediterranean roots. A centrally located fireplace provides an additional focal point—and warmth on foggy Bay Area evenings.

“I always let prospective buyers enter the living room without me,” said Tam. “It takes about two seconds before the, ‘Oh, wows!’ begin.”

A few steps up from the living room, a well-appointed home office opens to an outdoor patio, while an adjacent library provides the perfect sanctuary for the cerebral senses.

Sunny and roomy, the second-floor living quarters afford each occupant lots of space and breathtaking, near panoramic views. The master suite features a fireplace, walk-in closets, and magnificent en suite bathroom, and it shares a small patio with a second bedroom. This protected perch is the perfect place to sip a glass of wine and watch the sun set over the Golden Gate or to stargaze at the heavens after dark.Designed for casual dining, a well-planned stainless-steel gourmet kitchen includes built-in bench seating for family dinners plus a marble-topped island perfect for a morning coffee break.

Recent development in the surrounding area includes condominiums, a marina, and a smattering of notable restaurants and shops. Think Montclair Village, minus the traffic, but views like Tiburon. A proposed ferry service to San Francisco near the Ford Assembly Plant is making this area even more desirable to people who would otherwise be looking to purchase far less home for the price in the city.

“This is an affluent community of retirement age people who enjoy upscale amenities and views. There’s a semiprivate beach a minute’s walk from here,” added Tam. “I timed it.

“Anyone looking to purchase a property with these kinds of amenities would pay upwards of $35 million in The City,” said Tam. “With condos selling for $1,000 a square foot in San Francisco’s Richmond District, Point Richmond is a bargain.”

 

The Particulars

518 Grandview Court, Point Richmond

Price: $1,495,000

Broker: Brenda Tam, Zephyr Real Estate

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2.5

Square Feet: home 3,316, lot 6,039

Virtual Tour: www.518GrandviewCt.com

Published online on Sept. 30, 2016 at 7:00 a.m.

Faces of the East Bay