el·dritch (eldriCH) adj.

weird, otherworldly, uncanny

Imagine

Kev, a single parent, is on kid duty. She collects the kids from school, plays chauffeur for various activities, and makes sure everyone gets a snack and starts homework. Pete, another single parent, takes advantage of the kid free time to get some extra work done in the yard. Max and Evie, empty nesters near retirement, take over kid duty after dinner so Kev can head out to a concert. The kids have a “sleepover” in the bunk bed in Kev’s suite, and Pete takes them to school on his way to work in the morning.

Vision Statement

We humans are social animals. We do best when we have people in our lives who we can depend on and learn from. When we have someone around to pick us up when we stumble, to brush the dirt off our knees and wrap us up in a hug. When we feel valued for the care and support that we provide for others. When we are seen and known and understood by the people around us.

It wasn’t so long ago – and in many parts of the world still is the case – that people lived with extended family units, with babies, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and parents all working together to run the household. I’d like to recreate that, with found and heart family, here in the Bay Area, to create a community like the one imagined above. A multifamily house that welcomes people of all colors, genders, ages, and orientations. A household of parents and caregivers, who want to be each other’s village.

The House

Eldritch House is a grand dame of a house, built in 1898, with most of the original detailing and built-ins intact. She sits at the base of the historic Capitol Street steps in Vallejo, just blocks from the ferry and transit center, weekly Farmers Market, shops, theater and waterfront dining.

The original first floor of the house – the living room, kitchen, and dining room – are communal space, as are all the outdoor spaces, including the yard, gardens, and deck off the front entryway. There is an outdoor cat who lives under the deck by the Garden Suite, and an indoor cat who lives in the main house.

The house is non-smoking, substance free, and low- to no-scent (no incense, scented candles, scented plug-ins, etc.). Access to the property requires climbing a flight of stairs from street level.

The Garden Suite – Available

The light-filled, almost 300 square foot bedroom has French Doors that open onto a deck and a skylight, with a private bathroom and laundry up a short flight of stairs. The suite includes a small room with a sink that had previously been used as a darkroom but could be used as a kitchenette. It has multiple private entrances, as well as an entrance to the main house through the kitchen. The suite also comes with access to a storage room.

This space would be great for a couple without kids, or a single parent who is ok sharing a bedroom with their kid. This space would not be great for someone with light sensitivity (there is a skylight in the bedroom) or noise sensitivity (the bedroom is off the kitchen). The open space between the kitchen and the bedroom will be closed, and a door installed, to make the space more private.

Rent: Asking $1200 a month, additional fee for each additional person living in the unit.

The Ground Floor – Construction in Progress

Over the next few months, the walk-in basement will be turned into a two-room suite, with access to shared laundry and a shared bathroom. There is a private entrance from the Sonoma Blvd side of the property, as well as internal access to the kitchen via a staircase.

This space would be great for a couple, a single parent with kid(s) needing a separate bedroom, or an individual who would like to have a private space to use as an office or sitting room. This space would not be great for tall people – the ceilings are on the low side.

Rent: Asking $1000 a month, additional fee for each additional person living in the unit.

You

I’m looking for kid-friendly folks interested in living communally, with regular house meetings, family dinners, game nights, and shared grocery shopping and household chores. Single parents and folks with kids are welcome and encouraged, as are adults who don’t have kids (or don’t have kids at home any more) but want to help out with communal childcare.

Finances and rent will be quasi-communal. I’m going to be the mortgage holder and so will be making payments for the mortgage, insurance, internet, trash, water, and other household bills, as well as putting some of the monthly rent payments into a rainy day / household improvements fund. We’ll work together as a household to determine how to handle shopping for groceries, toilet paper, and other Costco’ables, as well as deciding how we want to carve out “household time” and “individual time”. House dues will likely run ~$325 a person.

That Sounds Great, but… Vallejo?

Let’s start with the downside first – Vallejo is a bridge plus a 20-30 minute drive from Oakland/Berkeley. If you’re used to living in the heart of the East Bay, that can feel like the edge of civilization.

But, if you’re open to being a bit farther out, Vallejo is worth checking out. It’s affordable – had I bought an equivalent property in Oakland or Berkeley, I’d be charging at least $2000 a bedroom. It’s also not as remote as it seems. SF is a ferry ride away, and there’s a bus bridge to El Cerrito BART. Vallejo is one of the most diverse cities in the Bay – the city is almost evenly split among individuals identifying as Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, and White – and about a quarter of the population is foreign born. There’s a funky arts scene, with the madcap Mad Hatter Festivals around Christmas and the Fourth of July and an Art Walk on second Fridays. And if that’s not enough, the weather is just lovely – it’s far enough north that most days are sunny, but gets enough of a breeze from the Bay that it’s almost never hot.

How to Apply

Please fill out the form below with answers to the following questions:

Please tell me a little bit about yourself and your household, why you are interested in this house, and what your ideal living situation would look like.
What experience do you have with communal living? What’s worked well for you in the past. What hasn’t worked well?
Do you have any dietary restrictions?
How do you feel about living in a household with people from other races, religions, or countries? What about people who are trans, non-monogamous, or queer?
What are your deal-breakers?