Ask an Eichler fan where to find Oakland's Eichlers and you might get a blank look. Joseph Eichler built in Oakland only once, in Sequoyah Hills, a small plateau neighborhood off Keller Avenue in the Oakland Hills. It's often called the "land of the lost Eichlers," partly because so few were built here and partly because the homes have stayed so remarkably intact. I've represented several Eichlers on Shay Drive, and here's my guide for anyone curious about Eichler homes in Oakland.
A Little History: From Naval Hospital to Hillside Eichlers
According to the Sequoyah Hills Homeowners Association's history, the plateau where the homes stand was once the site of the San Leandro Naval Hospital, which opened in 1944. In 1964 the Navy sold the land to Eichler Homes and Palo Alto builder Brown & Kauffmann. The hospital buildings were cleared, the land was regraded and construction began. UC Berkeley's Environmental Design Archives holds Claude Oakland's 1964–65 plans for the project, filed as "Sequoyah Hills (aka Oak Knoll)," and the homes I've represented here were built in 1965.
The plan called for 264 homes, but Eichler built only a fraction of them. The rest of the neighborhood was finished by Brown & Kauffmann and later builders, and today the Eichlers stand among roughly 350 non-Eichler homes in styles from ranch to Mediterranean. In 1970 Keller Avenue was extended up into the hills, giving the neighborhood a direct route to the freeway. The last lots sold in 1971, when the homeowners association passed from the developers to the residents.
How many Eichlers are there?
Counts vary a little by source. The homeowners association says 48 Eichlers were built, while the Eichler Network has reported 53 to 54. Either way, it's one of the smallest Eichler neighborhoods in the Bay Area. Most of the Eichlers are grouped near the entrance to the tract on Hansom Drive and along Shay Drive, Phaeton Drive and Coach Drive. In some spots Eichlers face non-Eichlers across the street.
Who designed these homes?
Claude Oakland arranged the homes on their lots and designed many of them, and the firm of Jones & Emmons designed others. The Eichler Network describes three basic models, including one with a Japanese-style dual-sloped roof. On Shay Drive I've worked with two of the neighborhood's best-known designs: the soaring "Double-A" model with its pair of A-frame rooflines, and the Jones & Emmons "Double Gable" model.
What the Homes Are Like
Sequoyah Hills Eichlers are late-period Eichlers, and they're generous. The homes I've represented on Shay Drive have four or five bedrooms and two baths in roughly 2,100 to 2,400 square feet, on lots of about 8,300 to 9,300 square feet. Most are built around a central atrium, and the gabled models open into great rooms with soaring cathedral ceilings.
Many homes still have their original character. The Eichler Network found intact mahogany paneling, grass-cloth closet doors and even a few original kitchens. Homes I've represented have kept unpainted ceilings, original brick or wood-burning fireplaces, skylights, radiant floor heat and original closet doors. Some also have a feature you rarely find in other Eichler tracts: panoramic views across the Bay to the San Francisco skyline, the Bay Bridge and, on clear days, the Golden Gate Bridge.
Preservation and the Homeowners Association
Sequoyah Hills is one of the few Eichler neighborhoods with an active homeowners association that reviews exterior changes. Its environmental committee handles architectural review under the neighborhood's "Collected Rules," and those rules apply to every home in the tract, Eichler or not. The Eichler Network credits that review with keeping the neighborhood's look intact. Second stories and dramatic makeovers are almost nonexistent here.
The City of Oakland has noticed, too. In 1998, Oakland's Cultural Heritage Survey found that every Eichler in Sequoyah Hills contributed to a potential historic district. The neighborhood has never applied for formal designation, but the city's design review applies to exterior changes. If you're planning work on a home here, budget time for both association and city review. Ask the seller for the association's current rules, dues and any pending projects.
Streets and Location
Sequoyah Hills sits above I-580, off Keller Avenue and just below Skyline Boulevard, in Oakland's 94605 ZIP code. The streets are named for horse-drawn carriages. Shay, Phaeton and Coach Drives radiate from Hansom Drive like spokes from a wheel, which is a pun the neighborhood historian clearly enjoyed.
For a city neighborhood, it's surprisingly close to open space. The Eichler Network notes that Leona Canyon Open Space and Anthony Chabot Regional Park are within walking distance, and their redwood trails are less than a mile from Shay Drive. The neighborhood overlooks Sequoyah Country Club's golf course, and Knowland Park and the Oakland Zoo are a short drive away. I-580 is minutes down Keller Avenue, and Highway 13 is close by, so downtown Oakland, Berkeley and San Francisco are all within reach.
The neighborhood is in the Oakland Unified School District, which uses an enrollment process with multiple school options. Always check current assignment and enrollment rules with OUSD for a specific address.
Buying an Eichler in Sequoyah Hills
With only about 50 Eichlers in the tract, some owners stay for decades. One home I represented came to market for the first time in more than 48 years. Here's what I tell buyers:
- Know the model. A Double-A, a Double Gable and a Claude Oakland plan live very differently. Ceiling height, atrium layout and view orientation all follow from the model.
- Read the association documents. Review the Collected Rules, the architectural review process and the dues before you plan any exterior changes.
- Inspect for the hills. Beyond the usual Eichler items like radiant heat, roofing and single-pane glass, look closely at drainage and grading on hillside lots.
- Weigh the view. Bay views vary from lot to lot, from peek-a-boo to panoramic, and they're a big part of value here.
- Consider leasing first. Eichlers here occasionally come up for lease, which is a good way to try the neighborhood before you buy.
Selling or Leasing Your Sequoyah Hills Eichler
Few buyers know to look in the Oakland Hills for an Eichler, so marketing has to reach Eichler fans across the Bay Area and tell the home's architectural story. These are homes I've represented on Shay Drive:
- 8077 Shay Dr: an A. Quincy Jones "Double-A" model with an open-air atrium entry, unpainted ceilings and an original brick fireplace, on the market for the first time in over 48 years. Sold July 2026.
- 8010 Shay Dr: a renovated Double A-Frame Eichler with cathedral ceilings, a central atrium, a heated pool and a Tesla Solar Roof. Leased.
- 8021 Shay Dr: a Jones & Emmons Double Gable model with five bedrooms, a central atrium, a retro kidney-shaped pool and panoramic Bay views. Leased.
- 8039 Shay Dr: a Claude Oakland design with preserved skylights, radiant heat, a wood-burning fireplace and Bay views reaching the Golden Gate. Leased.
If you're thinking about selling or leasing, start with a home valuation. I'll walk you through what Eichler buyers and renters are looking for right now.
Sequoyah Hills FAQ
Are there Eichlers in Oakland?
Yes, but only in one neighborhood. Sequoyah Hills, off Keller Avenue in the Oakland Hills, was Joseph Eichler's only Oakland development.
How many Eichler homes are in Sequoyah Hills?
The homeowners association counts 48, and the Eichler Network has reported 53 to 54, built in the mid-1960s.
Who designed them?
Claude Oakland arranged the homes on their lots and designed many of them, and Jones & Emmons designed others, including the Double Gable model.
Is there an HOA?
Yes. The Sequoyah Hills Homeowners Association covers the whole tract, and its environmental committee reviews exterior changes. Ask for current dues and rules during your due diligence.
Is Sequoyah Hills a historic district?
Not officially. Oakland's Cultural Heritage Survey identified the Eichlers as contributors to a potential historic district in 1998, but no application has been filed.
Let's Talk Eichlers
Whether you're hoping to find an Eichler in the Oakland Hills, wondering what yours is worth, or comparing East Bay Eichler neighborhoods, I'm always happy to talk. Explore more of the city on my Oakland neighborhood page, read my guide to Parkwood Estates Eichlers in Concord, browse my recent listings and sales, or reach out and we'll find a time to chat.
