Pine-Covered Hills

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Dorothy Londagin

Studio Homes by Phil Heraty

Phil Heraty (1896-1969) was a Bay Area Builder and Developer responsible for homes in Concord, Walnut Creek, San Leandro, and Oakland. I covered Melrose Highlands in Oakland here.

In 1940, Heraty opened new offices at 3625 Hopkins Street (now MacArthur Blvd.) and announced that this would be the headquarters for all company operations. The branch office at 5815 Thornhill, the original tract office for the Merriewood Development, is now home to a daycare.

It is now Medical Offices – **Oakland Tribune November 10, 1940**

This post will cover a group of homes built in the Broadway Terrace area by Lake Temescal.

Lake Temescal Studio Homes

The development of Lake Temescal in 1938 as a recreation center with swimming and picnic grounds significantly increased the demand for building homes in the wooded hill district adjacent to the lake.

In May 1938, Phil Heraty announced the completion of a new group of eight studio homes he called ‘Lake Temescal Studio Homes.’ The previous year, he sold 37 studio homes in the area.

Below is one of the Studio Homes. It was located at 6192 Ruthland Road and was lost in the 1991 fire.

The Temescal, a furnished 6-room display home, was opened in November 1938. It was listed for $4950.00

The Temescal is located on Florence Terrace, where it meets Capricorn Avenue.

This is the area where I grew up. I used to walk to school with a girl who lived there. They moved sometime in the mid-1970s. I then babysat for the next family that lived there. I watched their daughter from about six months to three years old. I love this house! I fantasized about living there.

Unusual Studio Homes

“Live in the Pine-Covered Hills”
Oakland Tribune Aug 25, 1940

In 1940, Heraty announced the completion of a new group of “unusual studio homes” located along Broadway Terrace and Taurus Avenue.

The new two-bedroom homes would cost less than $4900 to less than $6000. They featured large living rooms with beamed ceilings and corner fireplaces, corner tiled sinks in an airy kitchen, and elevated bedrooms on a huge lot. The largest home in the group had a rumpus room finished in knotty pine.

Sliding Down

In the spring of 1952, a group of studio homes in the Upper Broadway Terrace area at Taurus Road began sliding down the hill. I’m not saying they had anything to do Phil Hearty and the construction.

7075 Broadway Terrace
7081 Broadway Terrace
7085 Broadway Terrace
7093 Broadway Terrace
9009 Broadway Terrace
9025 Broadway Terrace
9033 Broadway Terrace
9041 Broadway Terrace

The following year, during the winter rains and after the city of Oakland had done extensive work on the slide, the homes began to slide again. This turned what was left of the homes into rubble and further damaged others.

In 1954, eight Broadway Terrace property owners sued the city of Oakland and the Oakland Sewer Construction Company for $135,000. The suit alleged the damage was caused by seepage from a ditch the sewer construction company dug.

“eight houses in a hilly portion of Oakland, which, prior to 1949, were serviced by septic tanks. The area is a natural drainage area” Findlaw

“prior to the sewer installation, had leaking septic tanks, and possibly some springs.” Findlaw

The area now has big homes built after the 1991 fire.

More Info:

Oakland Local Wiki – Phil Heraty

Demand Increases for Smaller Homes – Oakland Tribune April 3, 1938
Lake Aids in the Sale Homes – Oakland Tribune May 15, 1938
Home Financing Helps Buyers – Oakland June 28, 1938
‘Studio Home’ Break Heraty Sales Record – Oakland Tribune September 4, 1938
Studio Homes By Heraty Attract Throngs – Oakland Tribune August 25, 1940
Heraty In New Office – Oakland Tribune November 10, 1940
Broadway Terrace Slide Victims Sue $135,000 – Oakland Tribune Jun 11, 1952
Slide Resumes Wrecking Homes – Oakland Tribune Jan 21, 1953
Eight Property Owners Sue – Oakland Tribune Jan 27, 1954
Demolition Broadway Terr. Homes – Oakland Tribune Jan 05, 1957
Hill Sliding an Inch a Day – Oakland Tribune Apr 1957
Phil Heraty Obit – Oakland Tribune October 13, 1969
Philip Heraty, Dies – Concord Transcript October 13, 1969

HAMILTON v. HARKINS (1956) – Findlaw

Melrose Highlands- Part 2

Posted on July 13, 2019 by Dorothy Londagin

In 1935 Phil Heraty, a local real estate agent and developer, took over the sales of Melrose Highlands.

Colonial Village – 1935

A type of English brick was used on the exterior of a few houses that were built in 1935.

**Oakland Tribune June 1935** – **7773 Greenly Drive**

**Oakland Tribune July 1935** – **7765 Greenly Drive**

Both the houses are on Greenly Drive, they are side by side at 7765 and 7775.

Heraty to Build 100 Homes – Jan 1940

Cape Cod Colonial – 7776 Sterling Drive

Six generous sized rooms with light-filled upstairs bedrooms. Downstairs has the living room, dinette, and kitchen. Detached Garage. Price $4150.00.

The present-day photo below. I see they made a room out of the garage.

7225 Sterling Drive – 1940

Heraty Homes – Greenly Drive

Forty new -home owners have moved into Melrose Highlands since his organization became the selling agents
said Heraty – Oakland Tribune Sept 08, 1940
said Heraty – Oakland Tribune Sept 08, 1940