Victorian water closet--2140 Clinton Ave, Alameda, CA
Today's newest Victorian has a mysterious obsession with water.
The sale history suggests an intra-family transfer of some kind--a plot of land that size, with lagoon access, was worth far more than $56,500, even without a beautiful Victorian sitting on it.
6 bathrooms, 4,501 sqft, 12,660-sqft lot (!), MLS(r) #40378361, $1,150,000
Great water income property. [...] victorian w/full basement and finished attic, 3 story water tower for future use, 6 off street parkings, 2 newer units in back [...] on lagoon. Approx. 300' deep [...]The public records say nothing about bedrooms; only bathrooms matter in this "water income property" with a "water tower for future use" (is that when the aliens have invaded Earth and turned all our water into liquid hydrogen?) "on lagoon." Regardless, it is a striking building:
(note the model in front demonstrating one of the "6 off street parkings." in her spiffy new white Dodge)
The sale history suggests an intra-family transfer of some kind--a plot of land that size, with lagoon access, was worth far more than $56,500, even without a beautiful Victorian sitting on it.
Without any information about the layout, it's hard to even guess at what kind of income the property might bring in, but at $255 / sqft in that location, it's a steal and should go in a heartbeat, assuming the property's inside matches its exterior. And guess who's not too happy about this listing?Last sale and tax info
- Sold 03/21/1997: $56,500
- 2008 Property Tax: $5,218
I believe City of Alameda requires 1.5 off-street parking spaces per bedroom for rentals and they're pretty strong on enforcing this now. Which means that the number of legal units is probably less for those looking to buy this as an income property --a big consideration when you're running the numbers the loan, since illegal unit income will not be allowed into the calculation.
There was one guy (over on Union Street?) that having inherited the house after his parent's deaths lived in the water tower while renting out the main house as boarding house rooms and just used the tenant's bathrooms and kitchens when they were out --or at least when he thought they were out, causing all sorts of problems with the young females he preferred as tenants. I heard every day he could spend drinking wine instead of working was a fine day in his book.
Don't think you'll get away with that much anymore, but that's what I think of when you tell me there's a watertower on the lot still.
What kind of area is this building in - is it a nice family friendly neighbourhood?
It's about a block away from the hospital. (that one really long block between Walnut and Willow) It's not too bad, there are lots of smaller income properties around the area. Many converted victorians and some of the 60's apt buildings that were put up in place of the torn down victorians.
If I remember correctly, there is off street parking behind the building. Many of the lots on that side of the block are pretty long and have other buildings in the back on the street due to the fact that the lagoon/original shoreline border it.