Frequently Asked Questions

Oakland, CA has many distinct neighborhoods to choose from and offers something for every lifestyle. Here are some of the best places to live when you're looking for an Oakland apartment for rent:

Oakland delivers a distinctive East Bay experience with waterfront access, cultural diversity, and strong transit connections. Whether you're looking for career mobility, outdoor recreation, or creative energy, here are some standout features:

There are many fun activities to do in Oakland! Aquavia Living’s prime location places residents close to the city’s most popular destinations. Major attractions and activities in the area include:

• Jack London Square featuring Sunday farmers market, Dave & Buster’s, Rosenblum Wine Bar, and Plank.
• Lake Merritt attracts many vendors on the weekends, laying in the sun for a picnic, or going to the Lakeshore Farmer’s Market on Saturday’s.
• Fox Theater
• Oakland Museum of California
• Redwood Regional Park
• Ferry Terminal to San Francisco
• Paramount Theatre
• Uptown Dining District

Aquavia Living in Oakland, CA offers direct access to San Francisco, CA’s top employers via BART, ferry service, I-880, and the Bay Bridge. This convenient access makes commuting to major industries simple and efficient, including:

• Salesforce
• Uber
• Google
• Meta
• Twitch
• Airbnb
• University of California, San Francisco
• University of California, Berkeley
• Wells Fargo
• Kaiser Permanente
• City and County of San Francisco

Living in Oakland allows residents to enjoy a more relaxed East Bay atmosphere while staying closely connected to San Francisco’s economic core.

At Aqua Via Living, residents enjoy modern upgrades and everyday conveniences designed for connected Oakland living, including:

Aqua Via places residents at the epicenter of one of Oakland's most beloved and revitalized waterfront destinations. Jack London Square — with its open grassy fields, bayside promenade, and eclectic dining and entertainment — is right outside your door. The SF Bay Trail offers miles of scenic walking and cycling along the waterfront. The Jack London Movie Theatre and Rosenblum Wine Bar are just steps away. The Lake Merritt BART station connects residents to the Bay Area in minutes. And Dave & Busters adds a social, entertainment dimension right in the neighborhood.

Jack London Square's open green spaces — 2–3 large, sun-drenched grassy fields perfect for sunbathing, letting dogs run, and casual outdoor gatherings — are right outside Aqua Via's front door. The SF Bay Trail extends along the waterfront for miles, offering a scenic, well-maintained path for walking, jogging, and cycling with sweeping views of the Bay.

Aqua Via's dining scene is one of the most exciting in Oakland. All within a 5–7 minute walk: Farmhouse Thai, Noka Ramen, Seabreeze On The Dock, Kuiadore, Fat Lady, Odin, Nido's Backyard, Xingones, Chicken and Waffles, and Slainte Irish Bar. For coffee, Peerless Coffee and Bicycle Coffee are beloved neighborhood institutions. Brooklyn West Winery rounds out a neighborhood dining landscape that rivals any in the Bay Area.

Aqua Via is exceptionally well-connected to the Bay Area's transit network. The Lake Merritt BART station provides rapid connections to Downtown Oakland, San Francisco, and the broader region. A ferry terminal in Jack London Square offers a scenic water commute to San Francisco. And quick access to Interstate 580 and the Alameda Tunnel gives drivers a direct route to Alameda, the East Bay freeways, and beyond.

Jack London Square is its own cultural destination — home to the Jack London Theatre and Yoshi's, Oakland's legendary jazz club and Japanese restaurant that draws world-class musicians to intimate performances year-round. Dave & Busters provides social, entertainment-driven fun for all ages. And the Oakland Museum of California is just a short BART or drive away.

US Chefs Store is just 1 block away — a premium food service retailer beloved by residents who appreciate quality, variety, and bulk options. Safeway and Target in Alameda are a 7-minute drive through the tunnel. The Jack London Farmers Market on Sunday mornings brings exceptional local and artisan produce directly to the neighborhood.

The Jack London Farmers Market runs every Sunday, drawing a vibrant community of local farmers, artisans, and food vendors to the waterfront. Jack London Square's rotating monthly event calendar brings live music, art fairs, food festivals, and community gatherings throughout the year.

Narrative Vintage Shop is a neighborhood gem — a carefully curated vintage and consignment boutique that rewards browsing and repeat visits. Jack London Square's retail mix, combined with easy BART access to Downtown Oakland's emerging boutique and design district, gives Aqua Via residents excellent shopping variety within easy reach.

Urban Fitness Gym provides residents with a convenient, well-equipped workout option close to home. The SF Bay Trail and Jack London Square's open lawns offer extraordinary outdoor fitness options — from waterfront running to open-field yoga sessions with views of the Bay.

The SF Bay Trail runs directly along the waterfront adjacent to Aqua Via — providing a beautiful, well-maintained path for cycling, walking, and jogging with sweeping Bay views. The flat terrain of Jack London Square and the surrounding waterfront makes cycling an effortless and genuinely enjoyable part of daily life.

Urban Fitness Gym is Aqua Via's closest dedicated gym option, offering convenient access for residents who prefer a structured workout environment. The waterfront's outdoor fitness culture — run clubs, cycling groups, and yoga sessions in Jack London Square's open fields — provides an equally compelling alternative.

Aqua Via's Jack London Square location offers access to Oakland's educational ecosystem. The Lake Merritt BART connection provides easy reach to schools and universities throughout the Bay Area, including UCSF, UC Berkeley, and Cal State East Bay.

Jack London Square's café culture — anchored by Peerless Coffee and Bicycle Coffee — provides excellent informal coworking environments with reliable WiFi and a relaxed atmosphere. BART access to Downtown Oakland's growing coworking district means professional workspace options are always just a few minutes away.

Aqua Via offers a commuting setup that's genuinely exceptional. A 25-minute scenic ferry ride to San Francisco makes the daily commute feel like a luxury experience rather than a chore. BART from Lake Merritt Station connects to Downtown San Francisco in approximately 25 minutes. For South Bay commuters, Capitol Corridor Amtrak service provides comfortable rail access to San Jose and beyond.

New residents quickly discover that Jack London Square rewards those who linger. Yoshi's — Oakland's legendary jazz venue — offers world-class live music in an intimate setting. Brooklyn West Winery, tucked into the neighborhood's industrial edge, delivers an outstanding tasting experience that surprises and delights every visitor. And the Sunday Farmers Market's more obscure artisan vendors are the kind of discovery that makes residents feel like true locals.

Jack London Square and the broader Oakland waterfront offer an organic, community-driven events calendar. Outdoor yoga sessions, fitness classes in the square's open spaces, and waterfront run clubs create regular opportunities to stay active and meet neighbors.

Aqua Via fosters a welcoming, dog-friendly community that draws residents who value the rare combination of urban vitality and neighborhood warmth. Jack London Square's waterfront energy creates a natural social scene — one where neighbors meet through shared routines: morning coffee runs, evening walks along the bay, Sunday farmers market visits, and impromptu gatherings on the open lawn.

Jack London Square's evolving retail mix brings a growing range of daily conveniences to the neighborhood. BART access to Downtown Oakland's banking, pharmacy, and retail corridors ensures that anything not immediately on hand is never more than a few minutes away.

Aqua Via offers a waterfront living experience that is genuinely rare in the East Bay — a residential community positioned directly on the Jack London Square waterfront, with San Francisco Bay as your backdrop and one of Oakland's most vibrant and rapidly evolving neighborhoods at your front door. It's the kind of address that defines a lifestyle, not just a location.

Aqua Via's application process is transparent, welcoming, and designed to be straightforward for all applicants:

• Income: 2.5x the monthly gross rent is required.
• Rental History & Credit: Screened through ScreeningWorks, which compiles a comprehensive assessment of credit, rental history, and income, resulting in an overall recommendation: Approved Standard, Approved with Conditions, or Denied.
• Automatic Denial: Bankruptcies, evictions, money judgments, and/or rental collections may result in denial, subject to applicable law and individualized review.
• First-Time Renters: Welcome to apply.
• Criminal History: In compliance with Oakland's Fair Chance Housing Ordinance, we do not inquire about or consider criminal history as part of the rental application or screening process.
• Reasonable Accommodations: Applicants who require a reasonable accommodation in the application or leasing process are encouraged to contact our leasing team. We engage in an interactive process to identify effective accommodation in compliance with the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA).
• Source of Income: We accept all lawful sources of income, including Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) and other housing assistance programs, in compliance with California Government Code §12955.

Our leasing team is here to walk you through every step of the process.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, source of income, immigration or citizenship status, primary language, ancestry, or any other characteristic protected under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the Unruh Civil Rights Act, or applicable local law. Equal Housing Opportunity.