About San Leandro's The Broadmoor

Add on and save your home's integrity. Lately some homes have been added onto in San Leandro's "The Broadmoor" neighborhood.

These homes were built in the 1920s. These homes in general were built as single level homes. The existing foundations were only capable of supporting a single level.

These homes I am blogging about today have added a second level without having to disturb the existing foundation too severely.

This photo shows two houses side-by-side. These homes were practically identical (rare for "The Broadmoor") and next door to each other.

The home on the right is in it's original single level configuration. The home on the left has been added to. If you notice closely that the second level steps back about 18 inches from the original side elevation and has it's own new stronger foundation supporting the second story about 18 inches inside of the original foundation. The original foundation now only carries a small portion of the original ground floor outside side walls.

Here is another example of a home across the street. It also has a new second level that was built within and above the original first floor.

The homes original appearance would have been similar to this home down the street. The home above actually did have a small existing second floor within the gables of the roof line toward the front of the home. But it was very similar to this single level home shown below.

It's my personal opinion that this method of adding on/within/up is really cool and helps to save the integrity of the home's original architecture.

Let's work together and find a smaller home with character. Work with your budget and transform the floor plan to fit your family and current lifestyle.

This came across the Broadmoor Neighborhood Association's email server. I thought I would share it with you. It looks like it will be a very informative evening for all of those who live in the Broadmoor area of San Leandro.

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A while back, there was talk about the history of the Broadmoor - fact, fiction and lore. Who planted the magnolia trees along Broadmoor? Which are the oldest houses? How old is your home? Who lived in your house before you? How was the Broadmoor developed?

We've arranged for one of the senior librarians to do a special presentation for Broadmoor residents to give us the real story about our neighborhood's history and a tour of the History Room at the Main Library.

Wednesday, September 10^th

7:30 - 8:30PM

San Leandro Main Library

History Room - Second Floor

300 Estudillo Avenue
San Leandro , CA 94577

Because the presentation will be in the History Room and space is very limited please let me know if you want to join us and how many will be in your party. You can e-mail me at jkaplan@jatnet.com.

More information on the History Room can be found at:

http://www.ci.san-leandro.ca.us/sllibraryhistoryroom.html

Also, for those interested, the regular BNA meeting will be held in the History room ½ hour before the presentation.

Thanks.

John Kaplan

August 5th, 2008 is the first Tuesay in August and it's time again for the National Night Out Against Crime.

This will be the 14th year our street has been doing the Night Out Block Party. It's always held on my mother's front yard. The City of San Leandro will not allow us to close off the street for our block parties because the Alameda County Fire Department uses Superior Avenue as an emergency access route to Interstate 580.

I will be bringing my famous open house fudge to the block party. The residents on the odd side of the street are bringing deserts this year. Since my address is odd, I get to bring my fudge. Mother is feeling well enough to make her chocolate eclair desert. Across the street the even addresses are bringing salads and easy entrees.

Each year "The Broadmoor" homeowner's association kicks down $50.00 toward sausages and hot links. Mr Schumann is always the designated BBQ master.

Target Stores the National Sponsor for National Night Out Against Crime is donating party supplies such as plastic utensils and napkins.

The Mayor of San Leandro, City Council members, police officers and fire fighters all stop by. The fire fighters let the kiddies play all over the fire engines and pretend like they are driving it.

We have a very tight knit neighborhood. I encourage all neighborhoods to participate in this event.

I know all my neighbors, do you?

I will have some flyers printed up with some of my real estate information to give out to all my neighbors. I must not miss this opportunity to reach out the farm of prospects.

I would like to recommend Chris Kinser of Kinser Restoration & Construction for your construction and restoration. Kinser Construction is located in San Leandro's "The Broadmoor" and can service the entire East Bay area.

The residents of Superior Avenue in San Leandro have hired Chris and love his work.

As soon as I get some money in (and I will) I will be having Chris remodel my laundry room to tile the walls, and remove the old tank water heater and to install a brand new tankless water heater.

By installing a tankless heater, I will finally have room in the laundry room for a washer & a dryer.

Tim, one of my other neighbors has offered to give Chris some glowing references!!! We stick together on Superior Avenue....

That's why we are Superior..... Just kidding, Superior Avenue was named after the Great Lake and not an attitude.

KINSER RESTORATION & CONSTRUCTION

CA Lic 912863

538 Superior Avenue

San Leandro, Ca. 94577

510-862-1202

Some neat things are starting to happen in San Leandro's North Area.

1. "The Broadmoor" neighborhood association's email list server is all a buzz with the idea of becoming a solar community. Today is April 11th 2008. If this message is timely for you, and if you want more information please let me know and I will forward you the information. <update to go here about the planned community meeting>
2. "The Broadmoor" and Estudillo Estates are looking into the possibility of community vegetable gardens in the parking strips between the sidewalks and the curbs.
3. "The Broadmoor" will also be starting garden sharing. This would be if your garden needs to have plants split, or you have too many bulbs. You share the clippings, cuttings, bulbs with your neighbors in an open exchange.

It's just so very appropriate that a garden program would take root in San Leandro. As you can see from this old sales brochure for Glen, Oakes, Begier and Superior, San Leandro was "The Garden Section of the East Bay Communitues". I'll have to post the companion images of this 1930s (1937-1941) brochure in a future blog. I just thought that this one was so right for the current topic of the community gargens.