The Heart of Berkeley: The Historic McGee-Spaulding District

Fox Common is a complex of three rustic, brick-sided cottages wedged between two two-story commercial buildings on University Avenue. It was built between 1931 and 1940. The style of the buildings is Tudor Revival, often referred to as “Mother Goose” or “Hansel and Gretel.” Setting the brick and stonework required great skill, which was not common even when the buildings were built.

Between 1924, when the Fox Brothers Construction Company was established, and 1953, the company built many romantic, small-scale residential buildings. Even as late as 1941, University Avenue was not fully developed with as many vacant lots as there were shops.