Prescott-Oakland Point Artist Gina Telcocci announce permanent installation

Prescott-Oakland Point Artist Gina Telcocci announces permanent installation

The San Francisco Arts Commission announced a new public artwork installation by Prescott-Oakland Point artist Gina Telcocci for the Potrero Branch Library, which opens on Saturday, March 6, 2010.

Gina Telcocci’s artwork incorporated local plants and other materials based the form of here and past here on the nut of a California Buckeye, a native tree that was an important resource for the Muwekma Ohlone Indian Tribe who once occupied the Potrero Hill area, will be suspended in the open atrium of the new renovated Potrero Hill Library located at 1616 20th Street & Connecticut in San Francisco.

“Gina Telcocci’s artwork encourages reflection on the unique cultural and natural history of Potrero Hill,” stated District 10 Supervisor Sophie Maxwell. “It is a beautiful work of art and a wonderful symbol for neighborhood.” For Gina website, click here.

On a different topic, we may be losing our Saturday mail delivery.

Reading the SF Chronicle article, I found some interesting information.

Moving the mail:

How much mail: 584 million pieces of mail were handled daily in 2009. That's down from 716 million per day in 2006.*

Payroll: Every two weeks, salary and benefits total $2.1 billion.

Vehicles operated: 218,684

Address changes: 43.8 million were processed last year.

Additions: 923,595 new delivery addresses were added to the mail system last year.

*Based on total volume of mail divided by the number of workdays in a year.

Fun facts

Transport: The post office moves mail on planes, trains, trucks, cars, boats, ferries, helicopters, subways, hovercraft, streetcars, bicycles, human feet and even mules. Those mules carry mail to Indians living at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Because some of that mail is food, the post office at Peach Springs, Ariz., has freezers to store it until delivery.

Oldest post office (in the same building): Hinsdale, N.H., 1816.

Smallest post office: Ochopee, Fla., 8 feet, 4 inches by 7 feet, 3 inches.

Floating post office: Post boat J.W. Westcott delivers mail to ships passing in the Detroit River. The boat has its own ZIP code, 48222.

Longest rural route: Route 1, Fordsville, N.D., 176.5 miles daily to serve 174 mailboxes.

Web portal promotes East Bay arts, culture

510arts.com

The tag line for 510Arts.com is "World Culture in the East Bay." That's the first smart-marketing message being pushed by this online portal for artists and art organizations from the so-called East Bay Cultural Corridor, which comprises Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland and Richmond.

While San Francisco still draws larger crowds to its theaters, music halls and museums, the East Bay is where most artists live these days. There are now more than 6,000 professional artists working in the East Bay - increasingly in the more affordable cities of Emeryville and Richmond - as well as hundreds of nonprofit visual arts, music, dance and theater organizations, according to the four cities' cultural departments. Plus, the East Bay is the melting pot of the region; more than 150 languages are spoken there, with residents hailing from every corner of the globe.

The online portal launched Oct. 2 as a public-private-community partnership, with sign-on from the cities' four mayors and funding from the East Bay Community Foundation, the San Francisco Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the James Irvine Foundation and Leveraging Investments in Creativity. The organization's goals are to help market local artists and arts institutions, forge relationships among them and use the arts as a catalyst for economic development. [more]

A worthy repost from the Chronicle: Tamara Straus, Special to The Chronicle, Wednesday, February 24, 2010 Edition

Enjoy! Marcus

16th Street Train Station Community Meeting

Wednesday, February 24 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

West Oakland Senior Center, 1724 Adeline Street

Renovation and Restoration of the 16th Street Station

Once the terminus of the transcontinental railroad, Oakland’s 16th Street Station was abandoned in 1989 after the Loma Prieta earthquake. [More]

On Sept. 16th 2008, the Oakland Redevelopment Agency / City Council approved the Train Station Entity consisting of a nonprofit corporation governed by board members appointed by the Train Station Partnership and BUILD, to oversee the rehabilitation and reuse of the 16th street train station and authorized a predevelopment (non-forgivable) loan with deferred repayment to the train station entity for rehabilitation of the 16th street train station in West Oakland in an amount not to exceed $400,000

Watch Video

On Nov. 3rd, 2009, the Oakland Redevelopment Agency authorize a loan to the Restoration Association for Improving the Landmark 16'" Street Station (RAILS) in an amount not to exceed $39,677 (secured by a deed of trust on the property - currently owned by BUILD West Oakland) to secure the historic 16th Street Train Station in West Oakland.

Watch Video

Annalee Allen, 02/21/2010 Article

Oakland Police Chief unveils Strategic Plan Framework

OPD Website

This Strategic Plan Framework establishes a vision for Oakland and the Oakland Police Department. It is based on what I have heard from members of the Oakland Community and employees of the Oakland Police Department.

Strategic Plan Framework document

Access the Strategic Plan Framework Presentation

After viewing the document and presentation, feel free to provide community input, here

A community meeting Chief Batts has scheduled to solicit feedback from the West Oakland community will be held: Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 6:30 - 8:00 pm at the West Oakland Senior Center, 1724 Adeline St., Oakland

For more information, please contact the Media Relations Office at 510.238.7230 or opdmedia@oaklandnet.com.

Update: Oakland Police Media Relations Office Changes here

Brown Sugar Kitchen a dining destination

By Dave Newhouse, Oakland Tribune columnist

Dan Levi enjoys Brown Sugar Kitchen so much that he drives 250 miles from San Luis Obispo to West Oakland to have breakfast there every other weekend.

Well, he doesn't drive straight through. He stops first in San Jose to pick up his lady friend, Amber Thames, so they can dine together at Brown Sugar Kitchen.

It's always breakfast, and Dan and Amber show up at 2534 Mandela Parkway by 10 a.m. on Sundays to beat the crowd. But one day, they must try lunch, because there is no finer breakfast-lunch diner in Oakland or the East Bay.

Amber discovered Brown Sugar Kitchen last May after seeing the diner profiled on television. She checked out Tanya Holland's creative cuisine immediately.

"It's extremely good food, and I'm a picky eater," Amber said Wednesday. "I love soul food, but she does it in a healthy way. I love the veggie egg scramble, with the best potatoes in the Bay Area — a real potato that's not full of grease.

"The biscuits are also amazing, and she has homemade jam, which is to die for."

West Oakland became a dining destination two years ago when Holland opened Brown Sugar Kitchen. Like Dan Levi, folks who appreciate quality food come from all over, and Los Angeles is farther away than San Luis Obispo.

"A prestigious food writer from Gourmet magazine wrote that it was worth coming 400 miles from Los Angeles for our waffles," said Phil Surkis, Holland's husband.

I've been sampling Holland's breakfasts and lunches for months. The cornmeal waffle with brown sugar butter and apple cider syrup is, indeed, amazing. My wife loves the poached eggs, and I prefer the egg and bacon sandwich on a wheat roll. The pulled pork sandwich and the smoked chicken & shrimp gumbo are lunchtime winners.

Holland, 44, is receiving rave reviews for a onetime engineering student at the University of Virginia. That's where the food light clicked on after she cooked for schoolmates who were existing on macaroni and cheese. Her parents had taught her as a child in Rochester, N.Y., how to cook in diversified ways.

"I always wanted to do something creative," she said Tuesday.

So she switched from engineering to advertising, and after graduation went to New York but continued looking for a future sign. After becoming office manager for a catering company, she realized her life's path.

Eventually, she ended up in France at a cooking school in Burgundy. She stayed 15 months, living off her Visa card and becoming versed on the "mother sauces," as evidenced by the thickener in her gumbo.

Back in the U.S., she trained at various restaurants, including Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill in New York City. And she landed one of the early cooking shows on the Food Network, which lasted 2½ years. Then, needing a new direction, she relocated to Oakland, where her parents, Annette and Hollis Holland, had met, and where Tanya wrote a cooking book.

When the Island Cafe became available, she bought the diner — after marrying Surkis the year before. They live in West Oakland. Surkis, 42, handles workers' compensation claims for UC Berkeley and assists his wife at the diner, even choosing its background music.

The biggest compliment from diners?

“‘These are the best waffles I've ever tasted,' " Holland said. "People also are amazed by the diversity of the crowd. They're like, 'The staff is great, the vibe is great.' "

Surkis said West Oaklanders have told him, “‘Thank you for being here.' It's community love."

Holland will expand her diner by 20 seats this spring with an outdoor eating area. And she's hoping to open a dinner-only bistro in Jack London Square by summer. Can't wait to taste her sweet-potato frites.

Dan and Amber will be by Brown Sugar Kitchen again today. Can't stay away.

Become a fan of Brown Sugar Kitchen (Facebook) http://www.facebook.com/brownsugarkitchen

Designs to unite residents

…the more we can create sociable environments for communities coming together, the better social environment we're going to have.

For Jeffrey Miller, landscape architecture is more than just plants, waterfalls and decorative rocks. For Miller, the founder of San Francisco's Miller Company Landscape Architects, it's about uniting living spaces and bringing people together.

"My impetus to be a landscape architect came out of a question - how to design social and public space so that there were better relationships between people," he said. "It wasn't a nature-based beginning, it came from more of a sociological perspective."

Take Pacific Cannery Lofts, for example. The development, which is built around an old cannery warehouse, has a dining room entry court and a living room courtyard with two large U-shaped seating arrangements. A linear garden grove runs between the condo units in the cannery building and the three-story townhouses that were built just to its east.

"That grove is sort of a garden street extension of Pine Street into the project," said Kevin Wilcock, a partner with David Baker + Partners architects, which designed Pacific Cannery Lofts. "The units are accessed off of that grove, and people hang out on the raised porches there, and its setup really encourages interaction and circulation throughout the complex."

"I think landscape architecture is just as important as good architecture as far as I'm concerned, especially here in California," said Rick Holliday, founder and president of Holliday Development, which has worked on a handful of projects with Miller over the last two decades. "You know, if we were in Manhattan, it probably wouldn't matter; you'd just have put some plants in hallways. But here, you really want the outside to come inside and the inside to come outside. People want to have a relationship with the outside in Northern California, and doing that well is critical to doing good infill housing." [Complete Story]

It's a new year in the Prescott-Oakland Point neighborhood

I discovered the Armchair Abecedarian blog the other day and read this amazing story of "Why I Love Oakland", check it out!

And in case you have not been keeping up, here are some recent stories found at the POPna site:

We draw the lines (California Redistricting)

A Target Store is coming...Really!

Pope Benedict XVI embraces Tweeter...

The rush to aid Haiti events, fundraiser

Is the weather getting you down?

Shhh... The City of Oakland website is in BETA

There are a number of ways to follow the POPna site and stay informed about the happenings in the Prescott-Oakland Point Neighborhood. Here are just a few sites that provide a link to POPna:

A Better Oakland: V Smoothe’s personal commentary on Oakland’s progress under”Oakland Place Blogs”

Oakland Local is an independent, non-profit community news and information hub, connecting community and news.

Bay News Network: a directory and aggregator of 101 blogs and hyperlocal sites focusing on the Bay Area and surrounding environs.

Fwix: a local news site designed to show you the most recent and relevant information in your area.

Placeblog: a blog about the lived experience of a place.

Outside.In: is the leading hyperlocal content and advertising platform.

Oaklander Online: Glenview neighborhood blog.

Our Oakland: independent blog

Future Oakland: blog comments from the perspective of a real estate and marketing consultant about Oakland.

Just to name a few!

WHO LIVES HERE? Patti White and John Sander

The other day I had a chance to see what used to be the original PCL sales office when I went to interview Patti and John, and what a transformation. I have to say that the sales office was pretty cool when we were using it but now it's a real show piece. When I first walked in I couldn't even get past the first few steps without asking questions and oohing and aahing. The first item that struck me was the color palette and wall paint of orange, dark green, yellow and beige. The room on the left as you first enter the loft is Patti's office where the shelves are constructed from old high school bleachers balanced on large
metal spools salvaged from the Sunset Line and Twine Company in Petaluma. Still in the wood are carvings of high school love, teacher taunts and adolescent verbiage. This area can be closed off by an old sliding metal bank door with a canvas image of a photograph from one of their trips, in place of the glass. Stunning! I then made my way to the kitchen and sat down at the counter that was constructed from the floor of a bowling alley. This is where they both hang out with their laptops and coffee, surfing and sipping. Most of the artistic touches in Patti and John's unit are derived from items found at salvage yards giving their home a very warm and craft like feeling. The TI work here has taken quite a few months and is still on going. John asked Patti to be patient for two months but she wanted to move in in 30 days, so they did, with an incomplete kitchen... the microwave, restaurants and bathroom sink worked as a substitute while they installed a kitchen of orange and dark brown, primarily from IKEA. Both John and Patti have backgrounds in marketing and communications and actually met while working on an corporate event in New York. Patti, who grew up in Wisconsin, develops marketing and event strategies primarily for hi tech businesses. Her work eventually brought her to the Haight in the city where she loved the hippie essence. John studied theater production and ended up coming to California to help open a performing arts center in Silicon Valley where he stayed and worked for two years. Eventually John found a niche producing corporate events including web work, video, stage setting and more. You can check out his work at phproductions.com. Impressive!
PH Productions is based in Emeryville and John, a SF renter, did the reverse commute driving the backroads through parts of West Oakland thinking....pioneering neighborhood with lots of opportunities! Patti and John, now living together on Potrero Hill, were notified that they had to move due to the sale of their rental, so they began to consider purchasing a home. Looking at possibilities in SF they were underwhelmed by the architecture and overwhelmed by the prices and expanded their search to the east bay(a place John thought he would never want to live). The first time they saw the lofts their response was....building 10, location 3, but something clicked and they both remember being upstairs in a loft and looking at each other at the same time with a nod and a spark. So Patti gave it the "test" making a list of 5 things to do in the east bay including checking out the parks, restaurants, farmers markets, etc. Long story short they are now living in a beautiful building and in a fabulously interesting neighborhood. They are both world travelers and their walls are adorned with art from places including Cuba, India, Iceland, Argentina and Bali to name a few. You can see more images on their blog at www.loft152.blogspot.com. Take a look...eye candy!

WHO LIVES HERE?....Alena Schabes and Michael Forcier

If relationships were a board game, Alena and Michael have mastered chutes and ladders and are now passing "GO", and all in their early thirties. As someone with experience (Rick and I have been together since LBJ was president...don't laugh!) these two are in for the long hall. They both agree that they keep each other balanced as they are still learning new things about each other including their differences. Alena is the driven one keeping Michael on his forward path and Michael is the calm one helping Alena put things into perspective as her ambition ramps her up. Planning a wedding in May their relationship began as students at the University of Wisconsin where they both studied psychology. They moved to the bay area when Alena got into graduate school at the California School of Professional Psychology in Alameda where she eventually earned her doctorate in clinical psych specializing in family therapy. They settled in Emeryville with their two shelter dogs, Poe and Twain, two terrier mixes that look like something straight out of a Dr. Seuss book...check out the picture. Michael, who also has a background in sociology, began working in a variety of positions with special needs kids including those with autism and behavioral problems, but eventually went back to school in real estate and has almost completed the program. But Michael's real passion is writing and he is working on a number of reality based fiction novels and dreams of locking himself is a cabin away from the TV, internet and the world where he can just concentrate on his manuscripts the way Michael Creighton does. Alena, upon completing her schooling, and waiting 7 long months due to changes in licensing, first worked a couple of part time jobs working with adults, couples and families and then she landed a great full time job with Kaiser in Antioch. So now they are getting married, done with school, gainfully employed and the next step is buying a home. At first they looked at over 30 detached houses but the extra ("baby") room started to freak Michael out and they turned their search to condos. Don't get me wrong...they are definitely talking kids but not right now. "Lets just be thirty!" is how they put it. Michael found PCL on craigslist and went over to talk to Gail. His adoration of lofts from the movies kicked in and he went home to talk to the "boss". Alena, being a New Yorker, got it right away and they decided to buy the last grove loft. They love the industrial feel, concrete beam and outside space for the dogs. Alena is quite the decorator and the home is full of her touches from remotely controlled blackout window coverings that she can operate while in bed to twigs gracing and individualizing the railing around her patio. When I asked about their initial feelings about the neighborhood the general response was that it was no bigge. From Alena's earlier work in Oakland with kids she was very familiar with the area and its culutre and didn't have to think twice about moving into the community. They both love the fact that families are moving in next door at Ironhorse and that they see kids in the neighborhood but are glad to have their quiet sanctuary on the grove where they have gotten to know their adult neighbors. They are both taking advantage of the great restaurants in the area including Le Cheval, Brown Sugar Kitchen, Miyozen and Kao Sarn Thai to name afew. Both Alena and Michael are looking forward to meeting more PCL residents and have attended most PCL events. The decorator in Alena wants to see more open homes! So great talking to you both....two sparkplugs for sure!

Are you an Entrepreneur? (updated)

Glancing through my latest copy of Inc. magazine I found two articles of interest I thought I might share by Meg Cadoux Hirshberg who writes a regular column about the impact of entrepreneurial businesses on families for Inc. magazine.

Inc. magazine is a great resource for the entrepreneurial souls providing information and advice covering virtually every business and management task, including marketing, sales, finding capital, managing people, and much, much more. They have a website, Inc.com.

Here are excerpts of those two articles written by Meg Cadoux Hirshberg.

Balancing Acts: If Not Now, When?

For entrepreneurs, there's never a right time to buy a house, start a family, have a life. While you are building a business, work-life balance inevitably suffers.

The reality is that when you are entangled in an entrepreneurial life, there's never a right time -- for anything.

There's no right time, because there's no time (and usually no money, either).

An entrepreneurial life becomes all about postponing -- "When we break even…," "When we get that contract…," "When we hire that salesperson…" -- ah, yes, that's when our lives can move ahead.

The fact is that while you are building (and building, and building, and sometimes rebuilding) a business, you are also composing a life.

Theoretically, entrepreneurs control their lives and schedules. But the exact opposite is usually true:

• Entrepreneurs are whipsawed by their businesses.
• There is a constant sense of crisis, and every aspect of running a business demands more time than there are hours in a day.
• If the entrepreneur doesn't build a high wall around his or her personal life, the business is sure to overwhelm it. [More]

Bed and Boardroom

There's nothing like a home-based business for increasing family stress.

The moment you create a business, you step into a twilight zone where the barrier between what is work and what is not starts to break down. The deterioration accelerates for entrepreneurs who work out of their homes. You may start off with a home-based business but soon find yourself with a business where you and your family also happen to live.

Privacy isn't the only issue. In homes shared with companies, living space may be drastically reduced by the demands of workspace and inventory storage. [More]

The City of Oakland has opened an assistance center dedicated to small businesses almost 6 months ago. Their goal is to assist regular people start maintain or move your business by providing help navigating the City’s permitting, zoning, business tax and license departments along with business counseling and outreach resources.

Check out the Oakland Business Assistance Center and the latest issue of the Redeveloping Oakland Newsletter which features many of the non-profit organizations that partner with Redevelopment to implement a variety of projects and programs ranging from workforce development to real estate development.

Do you need help, deciding what business you would like to be in? Check out these organizations that provide consulting, workshops, or long-term classes (multi-week curriculum) and other information to help you.

Also, the first issue of the East Bay Express Small Business Monthly is due out Jan. 27th, as mo a insert in the Express on the last Wednesday of every month.

This marks a 2010 launch of the Small Business Monthly focus on local reporting of small business issues in our region covering wide range of topics including advertising opportunities.

Let’s not forget the IRS folks, check out their small business resources, here.

For more articles and neigborhood news, go to the POPna site.

Who Lives Here? ........Nick Garcia

The Alameda School District had a half day yesterday so I was able to sit and chat with Nick Garcia, one of their speech pathologists and PCL resident since September. At his job Nick assesses and works with kids with a variety of issues effecting their speech including physical, cognitive and motor issues in addition to autism and deafness. He has always wanted to work with kids starting a major in child psychology at Cal State Northridge. This was interrupted abruptly when he was a bit "shook up" living two blocks from the epicenter of the Northridge Earthquake when it hit. Moving to the bay area he completed his schooling by starting over again at Sacramento state in speech pathology which was well worth the extra time in school. Throughout our conversation it was clear that Nick's experiences with these special kids gives him a very compassionate and open perspective on others and life in general. Settling in the east bay where his once long term partner lived, he at one point contemplated buying a house in Martinez. But his social life often took him to SF and his dating life took him to the Lake Merritt area where he began to discover Oakland. A friend of his had recently moved into Zephyr Gate and told him about the Central Station development. Now in a courtyard loft, Nick at one point considered a unit with an open loft, but opted for the more private separate upstairs space. The access to the outside was also a plus. His closing was not fun but both he and HD are glad he stuck it out! Nicks reaction to the neighborhood was similar to that of others.....cautious and warming as he got to know the area, learned more about the neighbors and spent time in West Oakland. Pleased with the insta-access to the freeway he loves the city but also goes to the Lake Merritt area everyday for a workout at Gold's gym(evident by his fit physique) and to load up on groceries at Trader Joes. Nick loves to cook. His home is immaculate and organized with a carefully thought out color scheme of grey blues and muted greens accented with eggplant curtains on black rods. Quite stunning. The living room is dominated by a chocolate brown leather sofa against the soft blue wall. Very nice. Everything is so neat at Nicks...except for the haphazardly painted beam up in the bedroom. I just cracked up when Nick said he got tired of painting. Most people would paint a beam from one end to the other but this beam (check out the picture) looked like it had been painted by a couple of Nick's kids. I loved it! Nick assures me he will finish the job but I say leave it as is! So much personality! Nick also owns a black and burgundy 1988 Citroen 2CV6 car, a beloved treasure from his time spent in France. Although he drove it for a couple of years it is now in pieces as he and his partner are rebuilding it. Hopefully we will eventually see it in the PCL garage....just another unique piece at the Cannery! Nick...thanks for sharing your story and welcome to the PCL community.

Oakland Running Festival Update

Previously, I posted “Oakland Running Festival in the Prescott-Oakland Point." You may remember I stated the race will enter the Prescott Oakland Point neighborhood from Mandela Parkway and 7th street up Mandela Parkway to West Grand then veer right up Peralta before turning on 26th Street.

The latest information on the March 27th-28th, 2010 Inaugural Oakland Running Festival is it has surpassed a total of 2,500 runners representing 33% of the anticipated final (limited) registration.

For more information about this event and others, go to POPna.

WHO LIVES HERE? Zach Warner and Tyler Nielson

For the longest time I thought that ZACHANDTYLER was just one word, but the other day I finally got to sit down with these TWO young men and hear each one of their stories. I have been hearing their names for so long because they were acquainted with PCL by one of our marketing consultants in the very early stages and were able to watch the project during construction. With all units available at the time stage they considered many locations but landed in the end grove unit and are elated!

Both men grew up in Utah, Zach in Ogden and Tyler in Richfield, both very rural settings. Tyler's family ran a dairy farm with over 500 cows! Not far away is Promontory Point, where on May 10, 1869, there was a grand celebration as the Union Pacific's No. 119 and the Central Pacific's Jupiter touched cowcatchers to complete the transcontinental railroad. Z+T who are very familiar with railroad history are now thrilled to be near the Oakland Train Station at the end of the transcontinental line.
Zach’s grandfather was a physician and at one point Zach thought about following in his footsteps. His degree in zoology from Weber State University lead him to various jobs in a hospital in Salt Lake but his creative side keep rearing its head. He moved into the area of marketing and sales at the hospital and felt like this was the direction of his passion.
In the meantime Tyler had connected with a childhood acquaintance who set Tyler up selling Vitamix blenders. (check out www.vitamix.com). He was a natural salesman and soon was travelling between Utah and the Bay Area for the company. On one of his stints back in Utah he and Zach met and have been together ever since. Having both been on Mormon missions, Zach to Argentina and Tyler to Denver, they began sharing thoughts and experiences including some of the lifestyle challenges of growing up Mormon in Utah leading the two of them to move to San Francisco where there was more diversity and acceptance. Here they both work selling Vitamix blenders at Costco and were able to swing moving to PCL and establishing a home of their own. Their expression of self and creativity is evident in their loft accented with colorful walls, well thought out, wisely purchased furniture and a very healthy and nutritionally sound lifestyle. As a former exercise physiologist I am very interested in good nutrition. It was so much fun to talk about what healthy meals can be blended up in one of the Vitamix Blenders. Tyler threw in couple of strawberries, stem and all, some juice, soy powder and ice and in a matter of seconds I had a delicious healthy scoop of sorbet that rivaled the sorbet served by Scream at the party last week.

Now legally married the word for them is smitten. Smitten with the bay area, smitten with the abundance of fresh local produce, smitten with their new home and neighbors and smitten with each other. Z +T...welcome to the Central Station community and thanks for the sorbet. I will be by to pick up my blender. (yes....I bought one:)

Holliday Holiday Wishes for You!

First of all let me tell you how crazy making this time of year is for all of us at Holliday Development. For 11 months of the year we have to keep reminding people that there are two "L"s in our name (HOLLIDAY DEVELOPMEMT) and then the month of December comes and messes with our minds:)

Enough of that nonsense as the purpose of this blog is to wish all of you now living at Pacific Cannery Lofts the best in your new homes! We have so enjoyed getting to know you, watching you get to know each other and hearing your stories for the blog.(the blog will be continued in 2010 so if you are interested in being interviewed please let us know) Here is lifting our glasses to you in congratulations and wishing you happy holidays and good times in the new year.

It is my understanding that you had a smashing holiday party. In case you were wondering what HD did to celebrate check out the image. Our tradition is to draw names and then purchase a toy that reminds you of the person you drew. We got some good ones this year. KB got a sock monkey because it had red hair like his, Thomas got a toy porsche because he just finished a 25 hour car race and Cheryl got a toy tow truck because she had a little fender bender recently. At the end of the evening all toys are donated to Toys for Tots.

Happy Holidays from all of us at HD!

Don't forget to EXHALE then RESET!

A new year, another beginning...

During this holiday period, there will be times where you should take some time and decompress.

This year has been particularly challenging for everyone, for a myriad of reasons.

As you ponder next year’s journey, you’ll probably make some new, modify some old and simply write-off promises and resolutions as you do every year about this time.

Before you start the year as you do every year, sit back relax, unwind and check out the articles, news and events on some of a few Oakland’s blogs:

As you go forward in 2010, remember, every problem is an opportunity in disguise.

An example: Benjamin Franklin, constantly switched between two pairs of eye glasses for his varying sight needs, in 1784, Benjamin decided to graft two different prescriptions (at the time, two lenses) into one frame, allowing him to see far or near distances.

The bifocal lens is born.

(POPna cross-post)

Happy Holidays Central Station

from the Prescott-Oakland Point Neighborhood Area!

Shopping Late? Parked in the dark?

Attention West Oakland BART patrons:

Get an escort to your car!

On Thursday, December 17th and Friday, 18th from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. the Oakland Police Department’s Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (CPAAA) will escort you to your car.

On an average weekday, there are 4,800 riders exiting the West Oakland BART Station. Now that the sunsets around 5:00 p.m. and BART has reduced the number of on-site parking spaces due to the Earthquake safety work currently underway, BART patrons are parking further away.

The CPAAA working in collaboration with the Oakland Police Department (OPD) and BART Police Department (BART PD) have developed a program which will increase the number of OPD officers and BART PD officers in the West Oakland BART area this Thursday and Friday.

There will be an OPD van taking BART patrons to the perimeter parking lots as well as OPD officers on foot patrol, escorting BART patrons side-by-side with volunteers from the CPAAA.

AC Transit features a “Commuter Appreciation Day” in partnership with 106.1 KMEL on Thursday, December 10 at 14th & Broadway in downtown Oakland from 7:30-9:00 a.m. The first 200 people to show up at the booth will receive a free TransLink card with $5. They will also be handing out bags of freebies, TransLink pens, and t-shirts, while supplies last, "to thank you for taking public transportation."

Yea, Okay. I thought it was just a good marketing promotion. Whatever it is "I'll take it!"

Speaking of AC Transit, get in sync with your bus by using “NextBus“ to get real-time bus arrival information on your cell phone, computer, and at select bus stops. I am told all buses are equipped with GPS and most have the GPS activated.

Also remember to attend the AC Transit Board of Directors meeting and speak in favor of the adoption of the Revised Service Adjustments Plan on December 16th 6:00 p.m. at 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland. More information and why this item is important can be found on the POPna site.

On Dec. 2nd I submitted the following comments by email to Directors Greg Harper, Christian Peeples, Joel Young and planning department for consideration:

“In regards to the Proposed Line 26 changes, specifically the routing from 7th street and 14th & Wood Street, I am pleased that the change in route and time during peak hours will reach a previously underserved group of residents both long and short term residency, young and mature.”

“However, I would suggest since so much work has been done to mitigate the air pollutants in our neighborhood by regulatory agencies, Port of Oakland and private developments, that alternate fuel vehicles equipped with GPS are used to serve line 26. GPS will benefit our children going to and from school, parents going to work and shop as well as our more mature residents’ seeking services they need. Oaklanders in general appear more and more concern regarding public safety and GPS will not only aid public safety issues but promote increase in ridership, ensure connectivity and timeliness in reaching our destinations.”

Ø Ø Ø

Switching topics (somewhat) BART is currently looking for a new police chief and need the community help to gather input on the recruitment and selection process. They have launched a nationwide search to bring new leadership to its Police Department.

What are your thoughts and opinions on a) the issues, challenges and opportunities facing the new Chief ? and b) the background, experience and characteristics the new Chief should possess?

You can either take the on-line survey at http://www.bart.gov/policechief or provide your input at the public forum on Thursday, December 17th at 6:00 p.m. at the Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter Auditorium , 101 8th Street, Oakland (across from the Lake Merritt BART Station).

Other news: BART and Southwest Airlines are giving away one hundred free trips to anywhere Southwest flies! Click here for the Sweepstake.

BART has announced plans to extend hours, run special service New Year's Eve, for more information, click here.

Find "Oakland Grown" Business HERE

Oakland Grown is a movement celebrating and supporting Oakand's locally-owned, independent businesses and artists. It's about making your hard-earned money go further here at home, creating a sustainable economy, and helping to preserve the unique Oakland you love.

Individuals, businesses, artists and organizations can all join the movement. Step out of the box. Be Oakland Grown. Learn More

Oakland Grown is A Program of the Oakland Merchants' Leadership Forum.

Inspired by similar efforts around the country, Oakland Grown is a group of local business owners, artists, and engaged citizens committed to strengthening Oakland's local economy, social well being, and unique sense of place.

Oakland Grown Blog

News, muse, and more on the localization movement - your window into how we can all change the world.

Read the Oakland Grown Blog

EBBC's Velo Wonderland: Bike & Art Party

You are invited to the East Bay Bicycle Coalition's holiday event,

"Velo Wonderland: Bike and Art Party".

Date: Friday, December 4, 2009 - 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Admission is free, and everyone is welcome - bring a friend!

Uptown Body & Fender

401 26th Street, Oakland

We've had a fantastic year, and it's time to celebrate with our fellow cyclists. The party takes place the same night as Oakland 's First Fridays art walk, Art Murmur, and we'll have bicycle-themed and recycled art curated by local artist Margo Rivera-Weiss. Enjoy snacks from Spice Monkey and beer from Linden Street Brewery. DJ Olga T will be spinning music all night long.

They will have a pedi-cab on hand, so you can take a ride in style to nearby Art Murmur galleries.

To read more

Pedi-cab services will be available.

Oakland currently has two pedicab services:

Oaksterdam Bike Rental, 410 15th St. , 510-290-1883 and

Backseat Beta: 557-9150 or bakseet.com backseatcab.com backseatcabs.com

Every 15 minutes...

That’s what AC Transit is telling us.

According to a presentation a couple of weeks ago, AC Transit presented information on the Bus Route 26 changes that could have you at the West Oakland BART station from 12th and Wood Street or arrive at 12th and Wood Street from the West Oakland BART station in less than 5 minutes, every 15 minutes during peak hours and 30 minutes during off peak from 5:00 am to 12 Midnight.

At that same presentation, AC Transit shared information on the Bus Route 31 that would provide trips to the Emerybay Public Market for dining, Bay Street Emeryville, Powell Street Shopping Center in Emeryville, East Bay Bridge Shopping Center, and IKEA for shopping in less than 10 minutes from 12th and Peralta Street which is 3 blocks southeast from Wood Street.

Come out to the Community Open House to learn more about this revised plan and talk with AC Transit planners tomorrow Tuesday, December 1st 2009 at 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Comments on the revisions will be accepted through December 2nd.

Those comments will be accepted in the following form of communication:

• Board of Directors:
  o Greg Harper (Ward 2) gharper@actransit.org
  o Joel b. Young (Director / At-Large) jyoung@actransit.org
  o Christian Peeples (vice President / At-Large) cpeeples@actransit.org


• By online comment form


• In person at the community open house on December 1st


• By email to planning@actransit.org


• By mail to the AC Transit Board of Directors, 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland, CA 94612


• By fax to (510) 891-4874
  

The Board of Directors is expected to adopt the Revised Service Adjustments Plan at its December 16th meeting.

For more information and updates, keep checking the POPna site or AC Transit blog

Who Lives Here? Lydia Hemphill

Lydia Hemphill is a local girl growing up in Kensington where she attended El Cerrito High School and then on to UC Berkeley where she majored in integrative biology. You now can find her in her lab coat hovering over pipettes full of molecules that she has produced for in vivo, in vitro and toxicity studies. Her work at Genentech as a research assistant takes her to South San Francisco daily so she is very pleased with the convenient freeway access at PCL. Her true biological love is anatomy, physiology and evolutionary biology and her dream job would be to work at the Academy of Sciences in the city. Before putting on her lab coat in the morning, Lydia jumps into the pool and swims for 45 minutes covering more than a mile in the water. We talked about the peacefulness of swimming, the thinking time that it provides and the soothing sounds of ones own breathing and heart beat. What a great way to start the day. Spending a year abroad in Madrid Spain during college is only a fraction of her world travel. She has been to India, Nepal, China to see her grandmothers village, and Thailand. Before moving to the Cannery, Lydia's home was a rental in Emeryville. When she started looking for a home to purchase she looked at everything in her price range including foreclosures but was uninspired. It was her boyfriend who spotted PCL from the freeway and encouraged her to take a look. She loved the building right away and began working her way through the different units. Of course the neighborhood was an initial concern but now she is very comfortable in her signature loft that faces the port. She didn't really think about her door to the outside being an assset at the time of purchase but now that she is thinking about getting a dog she is glad to have the direct access to the outside. She assures me that her dog will be a big dog like a lab or malamute. Because of her busy work schedule she hasn't met a lot of the new residents but says that the ones she is beginning to meet are very nice. Lydia attended last months block party and met some new folks there but says the best way to meet someone is through their dogs. Upon entering Lydia's signature loft, I was struck by the beautiful saturated colors on the walls. (check out the photograph) For a house warming gift Lydia's parents gave her a session with a colorist who chose rose, burnt orange and even some green for the walls. For fun and relaxation, Lydia plays the trumpet in a 60 person symphonic band (that includes her dad on trombone) called West County Wind sponsored by Contra Costa College. You can catch the performances at the performance hall on campus. Monday night practices are a weekly highlight for Lydia. So if you hear a sweet trumpet sound wafting from the port side of PCL you can bet that it is coming from the Hemphill House. Welcome to PCL Lydia and let us know when you get your dog!

Gentle Side of Chip Johnson

As a guest writer for the PCL blog, I thought this might be a topic of interest.

A recent article by Chip Johnson (not related) of the SF Chronicle, titled “West Oakland may be on verge of positive change“ was focused on the Central Station development. Chip visited the previous week during a community party event held within the courtyard of the current residential developments of Pacific Cannery Lofts (PCL), Ironhorse and Zephyr Gate in Central Station.

Before I begin, let me say although Chip and I are not related, we are of the same mindset, sharing same life experiences, ideas and values. I am comfortable saying that I consider Chip as part of my extended family, until proven wrong by some DNA testing.

In Chip’s article, he notes “a West Oakland neighborhood long known by locals as the Lower Bottom Neighborhood.” Reading this, I think this may need further explanation. First I do not believe all locals (as this statement implies) use or call their Prescott Oakland-Point neighborhood the “Lower Bottom” which may have luster, in my opinion seems generational and not linked or designated by traditional methodology like the historic name of Prescott Oakland-Point neighborhood.

In a March 2009 KTVU special one neighbor stated "I don't care for it," says Betty Johnson (not related), who has been known in the neighborhood as Miss Betty since she moved there in 1962. "The youngsters started calling it Lower Bottom."

In the same KTVU special I stated "When I hear the term Lower Bottom now, I understand that it's an artistic term,”…

Betty Marvin, Oakland's history maven, commented to me while discussing the Prescott Oakland Point neighborhood that she thought “the "Lower Bottom term is reverse romanticism." Now how artistic is that!

Something else unexpectedly came out of Chip’s article which I equate as a testament of the quality of work and commitment by the various architects, builders and developers creating a “seamless transition from one building to the next” in the Central Station development.

How did Chip provide this testimonial? In his article he stated “although the complex will carry the design imprint of four separate developers, so far there is a seamless transition from one building to the next.” He further wrote “Construction of an additional 300 units of rental housing and a low-income apartment complex … has not begun.”

Chip did not realized during his tour and subsequent discussion with me lasting for almost 40 minutes, during the community party that we sat in the middle of the courtyard (seamlessly)bound by the PCL, Ironhorse (affordable housing) and Zephyr Gate residential units.

Typically, affordable housing is often criticized as being easy to identify by its cheap, substandard and ugly appearance, which perpetuate the perception that affordable housing does not fit within a community of market rate housings.

In some cases this could be true, but seeing Central Station dispels any preconceived notions about affordable housing when you partner private developer, Holliday Development with affordable housing developer, Bridge Housing both being experienced and successful community builders.

For more on affordable housing, keep checking the POPna site for articles currently in-progress.

WHO LIVES HERE.......LeAnn Flesher

She loves the design and the find! As I walked through the door of LeAnn Flesher's upstairs corner grove unit I was hit with light from all sides and stopped in my tracks by the great sense of original design and feeling of "I'm home". First was the unusual kitchen island.....a piece of furniture that was perfect but that I had never seen before. It was an oak craftsman style table/island/counter/cabinet all in one that LeAnn uses for eating, storage, as an island and for computer work. Really cool! As a dining table it comfortably seats 12! The main focus in her loft is the two story pillar that is smack dab in the in middle and visible from basically any room. LeAnn entertained me by sharing her visitors comments and suggestion for use of the pillar ranging from painting it, to stringing it with lights, to putting hooks in it, to getting rid of it all together. We laughed about that last suggestion as we both visualized the ceiling crashing in and taking everything in its path down to Zack an Tyler's unit below! LeAnn uses her space so creatively with placement of her living area and bedroom downstairs and a home office and TV/den/second bedroom upstairs. I think many people would have switched the placements but this really works beautifully!

LeAnn, who works in Berkeley as the Academic Dean of the Baptist Seminary of the West, moved from Alameda to an apartment in Emeryville a couple of years ago. From this base she took her time looking throughout the area for a home to purchase including the Richmond Marina. In escrow two times before closing on her PCL loft, she finally moved in on May 18th and immediately went off to Africa for work (more on that later). Her unit actually closed while she was traveling and she told me that she felt like she was home the minute she walked back in the door even though she was still in boxes. LeAnn looked at a number of units at PCL during her hunt but this one stuck with her! When she first saw it she figured the numbers wouldn't work and actually asked her realtor to get her out of there! Both he and Gail picked up on the fact that her face actually changed when she entered that space and eventually she did come back, was very pleased with the numbers and moved in!

Prior to becoming Dean, LeAnn was a professor of theology, specializing in Old Testament Studies at the Graduate Theology Union in Berkeley, an ecumenical and interfaith school. Her education is extensive including undergraduate work in business administration at the University of Minnesota, her home state, a masters degree in divinity from Bethel Theology Seminary and a PhD. from Drew University in Madison, NJ. Her work took her to Africa where she is involved in starting a Protestant seminary in partnership with a mission in Uganda. She was also in Rwanda and war torn Congo working with women who were struggling with the trauma of being war victims. Have a cup of tea with LeAnn if you can and listen to the stories! After that I felt silly asking her if she was wary of West Oakland but home is different. LeAnn calmly replied that she had been in much worse situations in NY and was very excited after talking with Rick about his vision for the area. She loves being apart of it all and living what she teaches. I asked LeAnn where her neighborhood haunts were and found that she really goes all over the place. She loves the local restaurants and has taken up sailing in the Berkeley Marina. LeAnn....thanks so much for sharing your home and in your spare time could you please design our next model?
P.S. this blog is in red because we both love designing in reds!

What made this event so special?

In July 2007, the construction contractor UPA California for the City Walk, the Olson Company's boxy condominium development a block from Oakland City Hall walked off the job and then filed bankruptcy.

On November 19th, 2008, developer SunCal (Lehman Brothers were the financial partner) filed for bankruptcy on Oak Knoll residential project in the East Oakland hills. The vision of the development was 960 homes, a retail center and community park. The luxury estate homes would line the highest ridge, with affordable apartments and senior housing nearer to Mountain Boulevard and market rate homes in between.

AF Evans, which declared bankruptcy on March 5th 2009, lost its 901 Jefferson St., a 75-unit building development, to the lender. An estimated the total cost of the project was at $140 million. The City of Pittsburg plans to spend $9.2 million to buy and finish building Vidrio, a 90 percent-complete condo project originally developed by bankrupt AF Evans Co.

All these projects and more cite the financial meltdown and the tightening credit market as contributors to their failures.

In one of the worst economies and in an area that has received little positive press over the past years, Central Station has seen some of the greatest success of any new development in the Bay Area.

On Thursday, Oct. 29th 2009 Central Station celebrated the completion of nearly 400 homes (currently over 200 new residents) as part of the first phase of Central Station, the largest private investment in the history of the Prescott Oakland Point neighborhood.

The block party was an opportunity that brought together new and long-time residents. The 300+ attendees of this party included the Lew Hing family, local elected officials, local businesses, out-of-towners, and represented the rich Prescott Oakland Point neighborhood with people of diverse ethnic, cultural and economic backgrounds living side by side which dates back to the early nineteenth century.

Who Lives Here? Stephanie Schnapp and Kendra Bickley

Before I even got to the door of Stephanie and Kendra's new loft I was greeted by their "puggle" Blue who came running down the hall. Blue is a cross between a pug and a beagle, absolutely adorable and is only a few months old. When I did enter Stephanie and Kendra's home I was struck by the vivid colors on the walls. Two shades of a very saturated orange on a wall in the living room accented by Kendra's grandmothers kitchen table of yellow "formica"...so familiar to me having grown up in the 50's! Straight out of Mad Men! Stephanie and I (Kendra was at work unfortunately) sat at this table chatting while Blue took over the green armchair for his after noon nap. These two ladies have been together for the past eight years having met in San Francisco while Kendra, originally from Stockton, was studying Photography at San Francisco State University and working as a barista at Peets Coffee on Market Street. Stephanie grew up and attended college in Southern Illinois and moved out here on a whim after finishing her degree in bio science. Her science background led her to UCSF where she had a number of positions before landing her present job of 4 years as a clinical lab scientist. Her work in the immunohemotology lab includes educating others with her background, on how to become a clinical lab scientists like herself. Kendra now also works at UCSF as a unit coordinator in the ortho/spine pod for the OR. These two ladies were some of the first residents at PCL moving in April from San Francisco where they had the "landlady from hell". They found us on the PCL website. About this time Lola, the cat, wandered down the stairs and led us outside to the balcony where the sun was shining on a lime and tomato plant. I was then invited upstairs to see K+S personal gym set up in the area at the top of the stairs of their courtyard loft. Stephanie used to be a personal trainer and still lifts weights at home when she has the time. Wrapping up, Stephanie got serious and looked me in the eye telling me that one of the main reasons she and Kendra decided to move to PCL was because of Holliday Development's reputation and the fact that Rick and I run the company together with such warmth. Thanks you so much for that Steph and welcome to the community.