marinwood eichler tractbuilt 1957–1961san rafaelboyenga team at compass
Marinwood Lower Lucas Valley Eichlers
Lower Lucas Valley, called “the Berries” for its street names, is Eichler’s original Lucas Valley tract: 375 homes from 1957–1961 next to Marinwood, with no active design review.
- built1957–1961
- Eichler homes375
- architect—
- eichler sales on these streets…
the tract
About Lower Lucas Valley
The developer of Marinwood laid out a tract of ranch and Storybook-style houses, then ran into financial trouble. Eichler bought an unbuilt portion and called it Lucas Valley; building began in 1957, and the homes were finished by 1961.
The tract has about 15 models, typically three or four bedrooms and two baths, and only one has an atrium. The Eichler streets end in “berry,” while the neighboring Marinwood ranch streets end in “stone” or “wood.” Unlike Upper Lucas Valley, the tract has overhead utility lines.
The area is unincorporated and governed by the county, with parks and recreation run by the Marinwood Community Services District. Miller Creek Road forms the southern edge and Huckleberry Road the western edge, with open space to the north.
- built
- 1957–1961
- Eichler homes
- 375, per the Eichler Network (2021); no recorded tract count was found
- architect
- not documented
- builder
- Eichler Homes
- city
- San Rafael, unincorporated Marin County (Marinwood)
Streets
Huckleberry Road forms the tract’s western edge, so some homes on it may not be Eichlers.
Sources: Eichler Network, “Bringing Back ‘the Berries’” (2021), “The Eichlers of Lucas Valley” (about 2006) and “Modern Preservation: Streetscape Smarts”.
on these streets
Homes for sale on the Marinwood Eichler streets
Live from the MLS. When nothing is listed on these streets, we show other San Rafael Eichlers for sale.
Loading live listings from the MLS…
Orange pins are for sale now; gray pins are recent Eichler sales on these streets. Listing data comes from the MLS and is shown with the listing brokerage; confirm details with the listing agent.
the ledger
Eichler sales on these streets
Loading recent Eichler sales…
| address | sold | price | $ / sq ft | beds · baths | listing brokerage |
|---|
Closed sales reported to the MLS whose listings mention Eichler, on this tract’s streets. Homes that sold privately, or whose listings don’t say Eichler, won’t appear.
the nerd check
Buying or selling a Marinwood Eichler
- Radiant heatMost Eichlers were built with hot-water radiant heat in the slab. Ask whether the original system still runs, has been repaired or was replaced, and get a radiant-heat specialist to look before you remove contingencies.
- The roofThe low-slope roofs and their insulation are a common upgrade. Ask for the roof’s age, material and any permits.
- Glass and wallsOriginal single-pane glass and thin wall panels are typical. Many owners have upgraded; ask what was done and whether it was permitted.
- Marin County rulesThe area is unincorporated, so Marin County handles permits. We found no Eichler-specific county standard here; check the parcel with Marin County planning before you plan changes.
- Look for altered homesA neighborhood count found 17 homes with added second stories and six with added attics, some so changed they no longer read as Eichlers; compare a house with its original model.
- Open-space edgeStreets end at open space to the north, and some neighbors clear brush for defensible space; ask about vegetation work on the lot.
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talk to a property nerd
Own a Marinwood Eichler, or want one?
We’re the Boyenga Team at Compass. We represent buyers and sellers in Santa Clara County, bay-side San Mateo County and San Francisco, and we track Eichlers across the Bay Area; call us about this one. Commissions are negotiable, and we offer bundled services, so ask us what’s included.
Questions about Marinwood? Send us a note.
