“During the 1920s development, the houses [in Maxwell Park] had to be designed with some type of individuality, so the tract ended up with a variety of styles.” (Local Wiki)
The Maxwell Park neighborhood is located in the Oakland foothills, northeast of Fruitvale, southeast of the Dimond district and Laurel neighborhood, and just west of Mills College. I-580 runs along the top of the neighborhood. Lake Merritt is a fifteen minute drive away, downtown Oakland is 25 minutes away, and Redwood Regional Park is 16 minutes by car.
Maxwell Park is mostly residential. Homes in the area range from bungalows and Craftsman to Spanish style, split-levels built in the 1920s and 30s, and Tudor revivals. The neighborhood includes multi-unit buildings as well. The Maxwell Park neighborhood is not only diverse in its home styles but also in its neighborhood vibe, with some streets having a more suburban feel than others. Some homes in the district have views of the Bay.
Maxwell Park (the actual park) goes from Fleming Avenue to Allendale Avenue between High Street and Monticello Avenue. “There is a lot of amazing mosaic work in the park, especially on the outside of the restroom. There is a children’s playground and tables for playing chess. In April the wildflowers start to bloom.” (Local Wiki)
Directly east of the Maxwell Park neighborhood, you will find the 135 wooded acres of Mills College. Established in 1852, this historic women’s college is a private institution with open admission for the general public.
“Mills is an independent liberal arts college for women and gender nonbinary students with graduate programs for all genders. Over the decades, Mills “firsts” have been numerous: the first women’s college west of the Rockies (chartered 1885); the first laboratory school west of the Mississippi for aspiring teachers (1926); the first women’s college to offer a computer science major (1974) and a bachelor’s-to-master’s accelerated degree program (2001); the first business school in the West dedicated to advancing women (2005); and the first MFA program in book art and creative writing in the nation (2009).” (Mills)
Also on campus – various cultural events, arts, a children’s school, preschool, and summer camp.
Residents in Maxwell Park can find shopping and restaurants nearby in the Laurel and Dimond districts.
Several buses in the neighborhood will get you to the Fruitvale BART station, which is ten minutes away by car. The NL transbay bus will get you to San Francisco, along with casual carpool, with a pick-up at High and MacArthur in the Laurel district.
Maxwell Park is a popular area due to its variety in home styles and sizes and strong community feel. The area has seen a great deal of change and interest in the past few years, and the neighborhood has grown in popularity by those looking to put down roots in Oakland.
