VACANT LOT

# 11 of the Greenwood Common Association is a vacant lot which fronts on Le Roy Ave. and is for sale at $565,000. A remarkable mid-century development near U.C.Berkeley, with spectacular Bay views and a central grassy area, Greenwood Common was developed in the 1950’s by William Wurster, an architect and Dean of the College of Architecture at Berkeley. His brilliant vision was to have a group of modern houses, designed with a sensitivity to regional traditions and all sharing an open space in the center. He wanted the whole 2.5 acre development to feel like a small village and he envisioned it as a community of interesting, creative and educated individuals. He invited colleagues and friends at the University to participate in this venture. The site design was thoughtfully configured to provide pedestrian and vehicular access as well as privacy and Lawrence Halprin, (later hired as the principle landscape designer for Sea Ranch) was hired in 1955 to provide the overall design for the central green. The lots were sold and the houses were designed by a number of different architects, namely; Harwell Harris, Joseph Esherick, Don Olsen, John Funk, Henry Hill and Robert Klemmedson. In 1990 Greenwood Common was designated as a landmark and included 8 properties: numbers 1,2,3,4,7,8,9 & 10. Numbers 5 and 6 are the common grassy area and the 2 western-most properties, which front on Le Roy Ave. sit below the Common and were not included in the landmark designation. Views from the Common have been protected by building height restrictions. One of these properties is 1439 Le Roy Ave and the other is a vacant lot just below #10 and between 1413 and 1439 Le Roy Ave. This lot is currently for sale at $565,000. The lot slopes up gently to about midway, where it flattens out before rising up towards Greenwood Common. Between 1439 Le Roy Ave. and this lot is a 10 ft. easement for a pathway, which is part of Greenwood Common but it has not been developed. The dimensions of the lot are as follows: Front – 60.13 ft,, Rear – 60.11 ft., North side – 99.08 ft, south side – 100 ft. Greenwood Common Association is governed by the homeowners who meet once a year. The dues for this lot are $600 a year. The property is close to Codornices Park, the Rose Garden, Glendale/La Loma Park and a stone’s throw away from the amenities of “Gourmet Ghetto”.