Newark

Birch Grove ia a residential bedroom community of Newark, surrounded by hillside views on the edge of Silicon Valley. “In this area, it’s an affordable place to live, and it’s an easy commute to the other side of the bay, where all the tech companies are located,” says Irina Bondar, an East Bay Realtor with Christie’s International Real Estate who has sold homes in the neighborhood. “You just cross one of the bridges, and you’re right in the center of Silicon Valley.” But the area is more than just a commuter-friendly location, as it offers a more suburban, family-oriented atmosphere. “The neighborhood, but also the city of Newark as a whole, is such a small, close-knit community. I know that gets said a lot, but it actually feels like it,” says local Katie Fuertes, a recreation coordinator of 11 years for Newark’s Recreation & Community Services Department. “Of course, everywhere you go, you’ll find some small events put on for the community, but ours really feel very connected. It’s awesome to see everyone be so involved here and come together in this way.” The neighborhood’s streetscapes are wide and tree-lined, displaying a blend of California Bay Laurels, palms and linear trees. Most Birch Grove homes were built from the 1960s to the ‘80s, with common housing styles being midcentury ranch and traditional. The homes often feature medium-sized front lawns with attached two-car garages and wide driveways. However, there is a small collection of large contemporary custom homes in Birch Grove’s newer Newark Sanctuary Village subdivision, with tighter lots, more modest front yards mostly street parking. Birch Grove’s home options are considered more affordable than similar homes across the water, with prices ranging from $1 million to $2.2 million. “For a single-family home that has three bedrooms and two bathrooms with 1,500 square feet on a 6,000 square-foot lot, you’re looking at around $1.2 million,” says Bondar. “On the other side of the bay, that same house is $1.8 million at least, and in many places more than $2 million for sure.” Other housing options include condos and townhouses. Contemporary condos range from $450,000 for a one-bedroom and up to $1.27 million for a 3-story, 4-bedroom condo. Townhouses start at $570,000 for two bedrooms and can go up to $1.4 million for a 4-bedroom, luxury-style townhouse. Students can attend Birch Grove Primary School, which gets a B-plus rating from Niche, followed by the B-rated Newark Junior High School. The B-rated Newark Memorial High School offers over 50 social clubs and features a Media Communications Academy. This hands-on program is designed to prepare students for continued education and job opportunities in graphic design and audio/video production. Birch Grove is bordered by Interstate 880, which leads directly to San Jose, about 15 miles south and Oakland, about 25 miles north. San Francisco’s southern suburbs are less than 10 miles away via California State Route 84. Multiple Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District bus stops are located throughout Birch Grove for getting around the city, while the San Jose Mineta International Airport is directly 16 miles south. The 15-acre Birch Grove Park is a traditional neighborhood park with playscapes for various age levels, picnic spots and multiple athletic facilities for tennis, soccer and softball. It also has ample green spaces with shaded, tree-towering portions and a paved walking trail that loops around the park. Newark Sportsfield Park is notable for its 12,000-square-foot public outdoor skate park, along with several lined soccer and softball fields. The Sillman Activity and Family Aquatic Center on Mowry Avenue features a lap pool, an activity pool with two 20-foot water slides and a 245-foot lazy river. The 2-acre Shirley Sisk Grove is an open green space outside the New Park Mall, with a eucalyptus grove and an amphitheater for community events. The Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, less than five miles west, is home to over 280 bird species. The refuge has over 30 miles of hiking and biking trails through a terrain of marshes, ponds and wetlands. Numerous retail and dining options surround Birch Grove, including casual national chains, fast food options and local eateries. New Park Mall features big national retailers like Macy’s, a 12-screen AMC movie theater and a brand-new Costco. It also has a mix of eateries, including Jack’s Restaurant and Bar. This American-style eatery serves happy hour specials on a popular outdoor patio. The Breeze Café on Cedar Boulevard serves breakfast and lunch menu items like crab cake benedicts and French dip sandwiches, along with lattes and cappuccinos. Asian cuisine is a big highlight of Birch Grove, with popular spots like Nijo Castle, a hibachi-style Japanese eatery on Balentine Drive and Hu Din Ji Shanghai Bistro, known for its authentic Shanghai-style dumplings. The Lion Market Shopping Center on Cedar Boulevard is the go-to spot for special Asian food grocery items. Shirley Sisk Grove hosts a few annual community gatherings, including the popular Groovin’ at the Grove event. Every other Friday of the summer, locals can head to the Grove for free live concerts with bands ranging from country to classic rock. The Grove is also where the annual Newark Mariachi Festival takes place in July, with mariachi bands, local ballet folklorico, community resources and food vendors. Located directly south of the neighborhood are the vast Cargill salt ponds, which provide many job opportunities for the area. Each year, the Cargill company crystallizes 500,000 tons of sea salt from the ponds for food and other uses, such as melting ice on roads, which benefits the entire Bay Area.