29 September 2005

Lecture at South Berkeley Community Church


Photo: Daniella Thompson, 2004


The beautiful Mission-style South Berkeley Community Church, originally Park Congregational Church, was designed by Hugo W. Storch in 1912 and is City of Berkeley Landmark No. 13. The church is in need of restoration, and BAHA will kick off the capital restoration campaign with a lecture on Wednesday, 19 October at 7:30 pm, to be held at the church, 1802 Fairview Street at Ellis.

Program

Historic South Berkeley
Susan Dinkelspiel Cerny, architectural historian and author

Berkeley’s first interracial church, 1943 to the present
Members of the congregation, including charter member the honorable Maudelle Shirek

Hugo Storch: Arts and Crafts transforms the Mission style
Bradley Wiedmaier, architectural historian

A reception will follow, courtesy of Emerald Catering.

This event is sponsored by BAHA’s John Beach Memorial Lecture Fund.
Suggested donation to benefit the South Berkeley Community Church capital restoration campaign: $15 at the door.

Please make out your contribution check to:
SBCC Capital Restoration Fund

If you can’t attend the lecture, you can send a check to the church at 1802 Fairview St., Berkeley, CA 94703.

13 September 2005

Outings on Fridays in Berkeley & Oakland

Cohen-Bray House

The popular series of guided tours returns. The tours take place on the first Friday of each month at 11:00 am (we meet at the tour location at 10:45 am). Additional tours will be announced as planning is finalized. Tickets are $15.00 per tour. You may buy them online (see our Events Calendar).

7 October  sold out
Cohen-Bray House (1882–83)
1440 29th Avenue
Oakland, CA 94601

4 November
Preservation Park
1233 Preservation Park Way
Oakland, CA 94612

06 September 2005

Letter to John Gordon re: Weisbrod Building


Weisbrod Bldg. (photo: Daniella Thompson, 2004)

Dear Mr. Gordon,

It has been brought to my attention that you represent the owner of the Weisbrod Building at the Southeast corner of the University and San Pablo intersection.

Over the past year, this vacant building has deteriorated shamefully. Right now, it is covered with graffiti to such an extent that the windows are significantly blocked with spray paint. This graffiti is gang-related.

Perhaps the owner, who I understand is not a Berkeley resident, is unaware of the fact that this intersection is one of the busiest in Berkeley. University Avenue serves as a gateway into the city for tens of thousands of people daily. Because of this prominent location, the miserable condition of this building is a blight on our entire city.

In addition to its significant location, the Weisbrod Building, designed by Spivek and Spivek in 1930, recieved official designation as a Structure of Merit in 1985. This building is an important part of our City's architectural fabric and our past, and it deserves to be restored to usable condition.

Lastly, I live just a couple blocks from this building. I find it personally offensive that, as I walk through the neighborhood to patronize vibrant local-serving businesses like Lanesplitter Pizza, Mi Tierra Foods, Country Cheese, Longs Drugs, Pet Food Express, Wells Fargo Bank, and Everett & Jones Barbeque, I see this building: a gang signpost, promoting crime and degrading the neighborhood and the surrounding businesses.

I request that you contact the owner of the Weisbrod Building and ask that take immediate action be taken to remove the graffiti. I encourage the owner to find an appropriate tenant that will contribute to our thriving local business area.

I have copied City Council, Berkeley Police, and BAHA members on this message in hopes that they might reply about legal specifics of graffiti abatement requirements for property owners in Berkeley.

Thank you,
Rachel Boyce
neighbor and member of Poets Corner Neighbors