Kevin Murray M.B.A.... Voice (925) 279-1190 FAX (925) 279-1191 E-Mail
Community - Profile
City
of Lafayette
HIGHLIGHTS: Lafayette is one of the three cities that form the affluent community known as "Lamorinda", which also includes the separate cities of Moraga and Orinda. This area is bordered on the west and south by a high ridge separating it from Alameda County and on the east and north by the relatively flatter terrain of Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, and Martinez.
Most of Lafayette stretches west to east through a valley between two sets of hills, through which runs the main route to Oakland/San Francisco, Highway 24. There is very little land in the city on which to build new homes, so generally, people who want modern amenities renovate homes which were built during the 1940's through early 1960's.
Lafayette benefits from a high proportion of open space, excellent schools, easy access to rapid transit (BART), exceptional freeway egress, larger than average homes with generous lot sizes, homogeneous neighborhoods, and a strong sense of community. Lafayette suffers from moderate traffic congestion, traffic noise from highway 24, and has modest retail and entertainment opportunities. Lafayette is one of the most sought-after communities in the east bay area.
HISTORY: In 1846 Elam Brown bought Rancho Acalanes and 300 head of cattle for $900. This rancho encompassed most of present day Lafayette. He built his home in an area called Happy Valley, and thus started the village which would become Lafayette. By 1879 there was a grist mill, school, church, hotel, blacksmith shop, post office, and two taverns.
Up until the 1940's Lafayette had evolved into an affluent but substantially rural community. The Kaiser family (ships, steel, health plan) settled here in the 1940's building two large estates one at either end of the town. One of the homes still exists today elegantly preserved by the Taylor family.
The opening of the Caldecott Tunnel and a postwar exodus from the urban areas fired tremendous growth in the 1950's. Lafayette and Orinda became a geographical extension of the affluent Oakland/Berkeley Hills area. Lower income (smaller) housing evolved farther east from the tunnel in the Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill and Concord areas.
Lafayette is served by the
following Airports:
City /
Airport, Distance, Direction, Travel Time H:M
Concord / Buchanan, 8
km., NE, 0:15
Napa / County Airport,
35 km., NW, 0:40
Oakland / Metro Oakland Int'l, 25 km., SW, 0:20
San Francisco / Int'l, 41 km., SW, 0:45
San Jose / Int'l, 66 km., S, 1:00
-- Kevin Murray M.B.A.... Voice
(925) 279-1190 FAX (925)
279-1191 E-Mail
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