Seems like I might have a sports celebrity in my 'hood.An NBC11 truck on Sunday was parked outside one of those very big houses that sit on top of a very prominent ridge that overlooks the Parkmead neighborhood and Walnut Creek. Yes, you can see this ridge and its mammoth houses as you drive by on the freeway.
These homes of course have commanding views--of all of downtown, of the Lamorinda hills and---from this basketball player's new rear terrace, outdoor kitchen and pool and spa--the great expanse of Mount Diablo.
The cameraman coming out the house said an interview was taking place inside, with a member of the Golden State Warriors. He declined to give the player's name but said the interview would be broadcast this evening.
Neighbors say the player, of whose name they weren't sure, moved in a few weeks ago. They said he often drove by and waved, so he seemed pretty friendly.
A recent real estate listing put the 6,000-square-foot, six-bedroom, 7 1/2 bath home at $2.75 million, but there had been some effort to also offer it for rent at a modest $8,500 a month.
I'll be blunt. These homes on top of the north end of this ridge are not my favorite in Walnut Creek. Sorry to offend the owners--but I'm not that sorry. Most of these houses were built to be seen--and presumably to be admired.
Once there was a lovely, oak- and grass-covered ridge. As a kid and teenager, I liked to hike up to the top, take in the view and ponder deep thoughts about life. In the summer, when the grasses on the hill are all dry and slick, we'd cardboard slide down the side of the ridge facing Parkmead.
These houses are in the county-portion of Walnut Creek.
The basketball player's new home is faux Mediterranean style house, and it is not as ostentatious as some of his neighbor's.
From the the curbside view, the scale of the home is certainly modest in comparison to "Xanadu" the fortress-like house at the end of the street--that burned down twice during construction. The basketball player is also neighbors with poor "Tarp House." The beleaguered owners of this house have stretched several very long and wide pieces of tarp down the steep slope just below their home--to stabilize hill, especially during a big storm. They don't want to see their home go sliding down into the Parkmead playing field.
It doesn't look like the basketaball player will have similar tarp issues, even though the slope below his house is also pretty steep.
Well, I guess I better watch NBC11 tonight and find out who my new neighbor is. The interview is supposed to air tonight.
15 comments:
Does anyone really care? I sure don't.
I mean really? Who gives a damn?
Wow, harsh comments on a personal blog. If you don't care, move on. This isn't a political or news blog.
It's always interesting to see beautiful neighborhoods of trees and nature turned into houses that we can't afford. And so many of us in this area can relate to that.
That being said, I hope he enjoys his house, and that he's a good neighbor.
I guess you already know this, that it is reported to be Dorrell Wright.
Does anyone really care?
Yes, some of us more decent folk do.
"Decent folk"? Meaning others on this blog doesn't? Who the hell are you?
A decent person who isn't so afraid as to hide behide anon.
Oh yeah..., "Thud" isn't hiding. LOL!
put up your dukes,bozo
Couldn't agree more with your posting. As a long time financial advisor I can state unequivocally that most of my wealthy clients do not and would not live in a "look at me" showcase "McMansion" cartoon home.
That's the stuff that 'newly arrived' do when they come into some jingle.
The tragedy of wealth being squandered by professional athletes is only too well documented.
I would say that all of us likely live in an area that was beautiful before it was developed. I realize that people don't want beautiful space spoiled by homes, but you have to realize that we've all done it. Just because one person might be pretentious or ostentatious, doesn't mean s/he's done anything different than the rest of us when buying a home in WC.
Where can u find the interview?
It makes me sad to see hills of Walnut Creek and Alamo developed. Pretty soon we'll look like Berkeley/Oakland. My sister, who lives in the small Sierra town of Truckee said, "You always want to be the last person to move there."
Post a Comment