507 Carmel Ave, Albany, CA 94706

This light-filled barrel front home was built by celebrated architect C.M. MacGregor. An inviting formal entry opens to the living room with lovely period details including matchstick hardwood floors and a fireplace as the focal point. A generous formal dining room with built-in buffet, two bedrooms on the main level and a third bedroom upstairs. The bathroom features a shower over tub and a pedestal sink. The spacious eat-in kitchen, gas range, refrigerator & dishwasher allow direct access to the rear patio bordered in mature fruit trees including Fig, Meyer Lemon, Apple and Tangerine. There is a one car garage and a driveway that accommodates 4+ cars in tandem. Located on one of Albany's favorite blocks, just one block to Memorial Park, a short stroll to Solano Avenue shops and restaurants, BART and El Cerrito Plaza and a “walkscore of 97” make this home a perfect find. Architect C.M. MacGregor is best known for having built over 1,500 homes in Albany, where he began to develop tracts in the late 1920s. He eliminated the need for subcontractors by directly employing carpenters, lathmen, plasterers, painters, and finish craftsmen. He pioneered the practice of building several houses concurrently, thus keeping his crews continuously employed. He also evolved the “rent to own” policy, helping young families to acquire a home gradually. In 1936, his vast projects in Albany prompted MacGregor to move his office from Oakland to Solano Avenue. For many years, Albany celebrated MacGregor Day. His houses stand as proof that thrift and quality need not be mutually exclusive.