Would You Pay Extra to Live on a Cul de Sac in the Rockridge Area?

They've apparently been around for more than 3,000 years, but what are now known as cul de sacs continue to be popular places to live.

At least one historical account says evidence of these dead-end streets have been unearthed from Egyptian ruins circa 1885 B.C.

They also are believed to have been used in ancient Athens and Rome, probably more for defensive purposes or to accomodate walls built around communities.

The word cul de sac came to use in Europe about 200 years ago. In French, it can be politely translated as "bottom of the bag." That somehow refers to the look of such residential roads.

These type of streets were first used in the United States in a New Jersey subdivision in 1924.

In 1936, the Federal Housing Administration began encouraging their development as a way to reduce traffic and increase pedestrian safety in housing subdivisions.

In the 1950s, developers began to abandon the "grid pattern" for neighborhoods and cul de sacs have been with us ever since.

Some analysts say home buyers are willing to pay up to 20 percent more for a home on a cul de sac. Are you?

We couldn't find any cul de sac houses for sale in Rockridge, but in the Montclair Hills there was this four-bedroom, three-bathroom home at 23 Observation Place that's listed at almost $1.4 million.

The house, built in 2001, is 5,166 square feet. It sits on an eighth of an acre.

You can read about more cul-de-sac homes in nearby communities on Albany Patch and Alameda Patch.

This information was provided by Rachael Hand, Broker Associate, Coldwell Banker and director for the Contra Costa Board of Realtors (DRE 01450616), 925-372-8080 or rachael.hand@cbnorcal.com. Properties featured in this article may be offered by a variety of local real estate firms.