Solano Avenue is an artery for both Albany and Berkeley. However, Solano Avenue is unique in that is has no “clean-cut” city limit between Albany and Berkeley. It is a slightly confusing story that has two key distinctions:
1) The Streets, (including parking and sidewalks) and
2) The businesses.
Overview:
The border does not cross Solano Avenue, it runs parallel. On the north side of the street, it spans four and a half city blocks, and runs between Curtis (mid-block), and Tulare. The sidewalk in front of the businesses on the north side of Solano, is essentially the city line between 50 businesses that have a Berkeley address, but who’s frontage is Albany.
STREETS:
As a general rule, if parking is free, you are are in Albany. If you are having to pay to park, you are in Berkeley.
The Albany – Berkeley border is at Tulare, where Sichuan Style restaurant is (1699 Solano). All parking spaces east of Tulare are in Berkeley. 99 percent of the parking spaces west of Tulare are in Albany. There is a three-space exception, at the north-west corner of Tacoma and Solano, where there are two metered spaces and a commercial (yellow) zone that is enforced by Berkeley.
BUSINESSES:
On the south side of Solano the business border is plain, at Tulare. The last Albany address is 1676 Solano Avenue (professional offices). The next address is 1700 Solano Avenue, in Berkeley – also professional offices.
On the north side, there are fifty businesses who have a Berkeley street address on Solano Avenue, however the street is in Albany. Some consider it beneficial to have free (90 minute) parking in front.
The range is from 1513 Solano (Launder Inn cleaners in Berkeley), to 1695 Solano (Akemi Japanese restaurant), all on the north side of Solano Avenue.
City of Albany’s Borders:
Border (south side):
Border (north side):
Thank you Google, and the City of Albany, California – USA.
This page is a work in progress.
Helpful (?) links:
- Zoning Map, City of Albany