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]

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

CENTRAL STATION BLOCK PARTY

Thursday night Central Station was hoppin'! More than 250 people came to the block party for food, drink, to meet their neighbors or find out what the hub bub is about. The local vendors who fed and entertained were fabulous. Pulled pork and eggplant sandwiches from Brown Sugar Kitchen, great beer from the kegs of Linden Street Brewery, wine tasting with the owners of Urban Legends Winery, coffee, pastries and some great chai from Galatea Cafe, and fruit and vegetable skewers from Namie's Kitchen all accompanied by the the music of DJ, Jonathan Smothers. To top it off dessert was provided by Scream Sorbet with flavors ranging from carmel cashew and lemon buttermilk to thai basil. Needless to say most of the partygoers went back multiple times for the tasty treats!
It was so wonderful to see West Oakland so alive. Pine street was bustling as neighbors strolled down the street and then continued down the grove at PCL to the heart of the new developments. From there people wandered onto the beautiful podium and into the community room at Ironhorse Apartments and to the models at Zephyr gate. The night was tepid and clear and a good time was had by all. Sunday following the party a very nice article came out in the Chronicle about the development of the Oakland's oldest neighborhood. (see blog below) We are on a roll!

THE VISIONARY and A VISION

VISIONARY - Terner Relentless in Pursuit of Housing
Affordable Housing Finance • October 2009
By Rick Holliday

Don Terner changed my life. I first met Don as a burnt-out, lost graduate student at University of California Berkeley in 1976. In the 20-plus years I knew Don, I witnessed firsthand his remarkable ability to inspire and lead his colleagues and friends in his relentless pursuit to build affordable housing. Don approached the never ending affordable housing production shortfall with a laser focus and unbridled enthusiasm. This attitude/method became his mantra, “Whatever It Takes.”

On Jan. 3, 1983, I had the honor to join Don as his business partner with a stated goal to create a “new” regional nonprofit housing developer that could lead the way in developing large quantities of high-quality affordable homes for working families that were priced out of the San Francisco Bay Area market. The mission we laid out was audacious and bold. BRIDGE would build thousands of homes in partnership with public and private parties. BRIDGE is more than 25 years old now, and we lost Don in our 13th year.

Note: Terner, an architect and social entrepreneur who served on the faculties at MIT, Harvard, and Berkeley, died in April 1996 in a plane crash with U.S. Commerce Secretary Ron Brown while on a humanitarian mission to Bosnia.

Complete article here

VISION - New West Oakland lofts in old Pacific Cannery
SFGATE

West Oakland is undergoing a transformation with Central Station, a series of housing developments in the neighborhood around the historic Southern Pacific Train Station.

Approved by city leaders five years ago, the plan calls for more than 1,000 homes to replace 26 dusty acres. They'll be clustered around the restored Beaux Arts-style 16th Street Train Station, the terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad.

The area has long been a sort of no-man's-land. West Oakland was cut off from the rest of the city on four sides by the Oakland Army Base, West Oakland BART, the West Grand Avenue freeway entrance to the Bay Bridge and a lumbering double-decker portion of Interstate 880 called the Cypress Structure.

Then 20 years ago, the Loma Prieta earthquake struck, rendering the Cypress a pile of rubble. Shortly afterward the Army base was shuttered and an area that had long been cut off from the rest of Oakland was suddenly a lot the way it used to be - a regular neighborhood of Victorians and warehouses, easily accessible and well placed.

The area changed slowly, just as Jack London Square did. The artists infiltrate first, moving in for the cheap live-work space; then the hipsters arrive, coming for its rough-edged authenticity; and finally the developers.

One of the first entrants, Holliday Development, is building the Pacific Cannery Lofts in the initial phase of the Central Station community.

The 163-unit project is an adaptive reuse of a historic warehouse, the 1911 Pacific Coast Cannery building, which was shuttered during the Great Depression and has sat empty for 50 years.

Complete article here

CENTRAL STATION BLOCK PARTY

Tomorrow night is the Central Station Block Party, a celebration of the Central Station Community! Please gather where the three developments, Ironhorse Apartments, Pacific Cannery Lofts and Zephyr Gate, meet, eat, drink and then wander through the beautiful, well planned community. Models will be open at Pacific Cannery Loft and Zephyr Gate. You can also wander up onto the beautiful Ironhorse podium and into their community room. In the corner Pacific Cannery Gallery at 12th and Pine there is a photography exhibit featuring a beautiful interior shot of the Train Station by award winning Katherine Westerhout. In addition there are photos by Jason Mehrtens for our first Artist in Residence program.
Food, drinks and music will be provided by local merchants including:

Jonathan Smothers DJ will provide the music.
Linden Street Brewery will provide the beer.
Brown Sugar Kitchen will be providing tasty food.
Namie's Kitchen will provide more tasty food and snacks.
Urban Legend Winery will have a barrel tasting of their wines.
Galatea Cafe will provide coffee, tea and pastry.
Scream Sorbet will provide dessert.

Don't miss it! Come meet your neighbors from all three developments and from the rest of the community. Bring friends and neighbors and enjoy!!

WHO LIVES HERE? Tara Viriyapunt

I was greeted at Tara's grove loft not only by Tara's radiant warmth but also by her dog Cocoa, who had a stuffed giraffe in her mouth and a tail that wouldn't be still. I was already laughing! We just couldn't decide where to sit first, as inside and outside were both beckoning us. We decided to stay inside as I started asking about the eclectic art collection on the wall, including a piece painted by an elephant in Thailand (yes, a real elephant). Tara collects art from around the world and displays her colorful collection on her spacious loft walls. A world traveler and native of Thailand, her family moved to the US for educational opportunities when she was 16 years old, settling in Hawaii. Tara knew no English upon her arrival and when I asked her what the transition was like, she said it was like being thrown into deep water....."you just have to learn to swim!" Spending four hours a day in ESL classes she excelled in the classes that are more universal like mathematics and art. She went on to major in Math in college....because it was the "easiest choice".....I was laughing again....holy cow! Tara now works in Burlingame as a software engineer and is thankful for the quick access to the freeways. Although it may have made more sense for Tara to purchase a home on the Peninsula, she much prefers "urban living and a more colorful community". Tara discovered PCL when a friend who was loft living in Emeryville sent her the link to the Cannery website. Like many of you, she loved the building although a bit wary of the neighborhood, but after spending time walking and driving the streets of West Oakland she was convinced that West Oakland was the place she wanted to be. And of course the dog washing station and close access to Point Isabel dog park clinched the deal. About this time in the conversation I was offered some hot Thai tea and we moved outside to her patio on the Grove. Lush with plants and red geraniums, inspired by her travels to Europe, we continues our exchange with Cocoa at our feet. Gardening has been a passion of Tara's since her childhood in the tropics so having direct access to the gardens and the sun was a must for both Tara and Cocoa. The Grove was a perfect spot for the two of them. It was so lovely sitting outside, chatting and waving to the neighbors as they returned from their busy day. It seems that the new residents living on the grove have all gotten to know each other and their pets and there is talk of shared dinners and cooking. Tara's speciality is Thai cooking and she usually shops at Oakland's Chinatown for the special ingredients she needs. We want to welcome both you and Cocoa to the Central Station Community. Thanks for the tea!

20 Years after Loma Prieta, How Prepared Are We?

Pondering this question, I checked the "Retrofit Projects Completed since the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake" website, I found the following:

Pacific Cannery Lofts

“This large urban infill project in Oakland had four separate components: a 90,000 sq. ft. covered garage embedded behind new façade lofts, a 95,000 sq. ft. warehouse that was converted and seismically upgraded into warehouse lofts, and two freestanding residential wood-frame courtyard lofts. The existing structures had been used primarily as industrial warehouses …

For the seismic system, Tipping Mar implemented concrete shear walls in the interior and a series of vertical and battered micropiles for the foundation to compensate for site variation.”

For Loma Prieta commemoration and training related events, check out POPna

Who Lives Here? DeAnna Mercier

I rang the doorbell at DeAnna Mercier's grove loft and heard not only footsteps coming to the door but paws, sliding and snorting. The door opened and I was greated by DeAnna and her four year old French bulldog/Boston Terrier mix, Hugo, who DeAnna describes as a "piece of work". DeAnna, who grew up in Vermont, has been living at PCL since April after almost giving up on her search for a home to purchase. Targeting West Oakland because of opportunity, she came upon the filming of the HBO series, "Gangland", and decided that she either needed more money or a bigger dog! But after further research and an introduction to the Cannery she made a comfortable decision to make West Oakland her home. It has everything she was looking for including proximity to the freeways, a ground floor access and porch for Hugo, safety, and a sense of community. DeAnna graduated from UVM with a degree in ecological studies so the Green Point Rating at PCL was also a draw.

After college, DeAnna spent several years traveling and answered a newspaper ad while living in Hawaii about caring for a young autistic child and the found her passion. Returning to Vermont she earned a masters degree in education and applied behavioral analysis from Johnson. She went on to earn a Board Certification in Behavior Analysis and moved to California to continue he work with children. Now a member of the STE Consultants group, she supervises teams of people who work with young children with autism and their families in the bay area. Her consulting work provides the perfect balance between working in the field and at home in her new loft.

DeAnna has found her grove neighbors and their pets to be an extremely friendly and cohesive group. I asked if she had used the dog washing station for Hugo and she told me that when Hugo goes out for walks at the off leash park he comes back "looking like he spent the night partying in Las Vegas" and into the tub he goes. She has also used a Backroads bike this summer to go to the baseball game in SF. She hopped on BART and used the valet bike parking at the ballpark...no traffic, no hassle , a snap!

DeAnna and Hugo....you crack me up! Welcome!

Left: Hugo is not a morning person!

Question of the Night at the PCL BBQ

Ribs, burgers, veggie burgers and munchies were cooked and served up by Holliday Development in appreciation and celebrated of the new residents at Pacific Cannery Lofts. What a great night it was to see everyone so happy and eager to be part of the new community. For those of us at HD who are not based onsite, it was a great pleasure to meet the personalities we have heard about in so many staff meetings. No wonder Amy, Brian and Gail are always so excited about what they do. Rick and I are always thrilled when we see the lights finally go on in a project we have worked on for years but this night was particularly exciting for us because of the history, political battle, neighborhood, staff effort and perseverance of the people now living in their homes and building a great community!

Personally I also loved meeting all the dogs (and so did my dog Jones), Inque and her new sister Vanilla Bean, Cocoa and many more appeared in the PCL pet parade. I am so pleased to hear how much use you are all getting out of the dog washing station.

And finally....the question of the night was, "so where do you live?" Thus the images below. Lots of pointing and smiling going on!

WHO LIVES HERE? Dennis Hanshew

Sunday morning I had coffee and homemade mango pie with Dennis Hanshew, his cat, Domino and his previous neighbors from SF in his new loft. He took us on a tour of his home/painter's studio and treated us to the stories behind his wonderful large paintings that hang from the expansive walls in his classic signature loft. Dennis, who grew up in California, was the son of a state park service employee, and moved from park to park including Mt.Diablo and Big Sur. He moved to Hawaii for college where he earned his degree in painting and a teaching credential and stayed for over 30 years. Back in the bay area as a renter his interest in buying a home was stirred by the opportunities stemming from the financial meltdown. His search took him up and down the west coast including Portland and Seattle. His interest in art, style and architecture brought him across the bay to PCL but initially he felt that the neighborhood was a deal breaker and that he would be too close to the freeway. But PCL stayed in his mind and he came back many times and finally made the purchase. Ironically he now looks out on the freeway and the lit cranes at the Port of Oakland, a view he once described as bizarre, but now finds very pleasing. He has also been pleasantly surprised by the sense of community in the neighborhood. Working as a paralegal in SF, Dennis walks to and from BART daily and has made friends along the way. He has been asked to join the domino games played in the local park on Wood Street and hopes to get to know more of the people who have lived in this area all their lives. He has befriended other PCL residents and finds the mix of people both on site and in the nieghborhood exciting. Dennis decided to make his upstairs loft his work area, where he paints and creates, setting up his bedroom in the alcove downstairs. Often mixing a wax medium iwht his oil paints, his works have a sense of depth from varied translucency and a luster on the paint surface. Besides his great work space Dennis was drawn to the angled walls, the light and expressed that the column was what did it for him. Welcome ot the PCL community Dennis, and thanks for the pie....delicious!

Allensworth, CA The Town that Refused to Die

As a follow up to my interview with PCL resident Charles Allensworth, her eis some background information on his great great great uncle, Lt. Colonel Allen Allensworth and the historic town of Allensworth Ca that he established.

Lt. Colonel Allen Allensworth (7 April 1842 – 14 September 1914) was an American soldier in the United States Army. He was the highest ranking African American commissioned officer in the United States military at his retirement in 1906, and is remembered as the founder of the all-black township of Allensworth, California, now Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park.


Born into slavery in Louisville, Kentucky, Allensworth educated himself illegally; he ran off and joined the army, eventually becoming one of the Army's first Black chaplains. He obtained a teacher's certificate, and was stationed at Angel Island in San Francisco Bay.
Upon leaving military service, Allensworth and his family settled in Los Angeles. It was there that he was inspired with the idea of establishing a self-sufficient, all-black California community where African Americans could live their lives free of the racial discrimination.


In August 1908 Colonel Allen Allensworth and four other settlers established a town founded, financed and governed by African Americans. Their dream of developing an abundant and thriving community stemmed directly from a strong belief in programs that allowed blacks to help themselves create better lives. By 1910 Allensworth’s success was the focus of many national newspaper articles praising the town and its inhabitants.

An unavoidable set of circumstances(drought, arsenic in the water) made it impossible for the residents of this tiny town located 30 miles north of Bakersfield to achieve their founders’ dreams over the long term. But the town did remain home to a handful of families and individuals throughout the 20th century, and true to the courage and resolve of its founders, the town has survived and persevered, earning the well-deserved title “The town that refused to die.”


In 1974 California State Parks purchased land within the historical townsite of Allensworth, and it became Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. Today a collection of lovingly restored and reconstructed early 20th-century buildings—including the Colonel’s house, historic schoolhouse, Baptist church, and library—once again dots this flat farm country, giving new life to the dreams of these visionary pioneers.


With continuing restoration and special events(attended annually by Charles), the town is coming back to life as a state historic park. The park’s visitor center features a film about the site. A yearly rededication ceremony reaffirms the vision of the pioneers. Allensworth is the only California community to be founded, financed and governed by African Americans.



Text is from California State Parks website on Colonel Allensworth State Park and Wikipedia

New Townhome Model at PCL

The Townhomes on the Grove at PCL were the last in the construction order and are now completed and selling. The new Townhome Model is open for viewing and has been a big hit. These units are versatile, with two bedrooms and two baths on three floors. The first floor is very flexible and can be used to set up a business with its roll up "garage style" door opening onto the beautifully landscaped grove full of Chinese lantern plants and banana trees. The middle floor, or living level entertains an open kitchen, dining, living area while the sunlit master bath and bedroom are upstairs for quiet and privacy. Because of the bright light throughout the unit we chose a very dark saturated forest green accent paint that compliments the rose/red wood flooring complimented by some infrared photography by Nancy Holliday. Patio decking from Ikea was used on the bathroom floor and draws a lot of attention. If interested in viewing the model check in with with the staff in the new sales office.

Welcome Galatea Cafe!

Just open on Wood Street between 15th and 16th in West Oakland, Café Galatea is a new café bringing life to the area surrounding the Central Station community and its new neighbors at the Pacific Cannery Lofts.
Owner/artist David Ghadini is the friendly face behind the counter serving up an array of expresso drinks, teas, cold drinks, muffins, fruit, cookies, bagels and a breakfast croissant egg sandwich. This is a place where you can meet, sit, eat, relax, and surf the web (internet is free with a purchase). There are also board games including chess and scrabble for a friendly nerd tournament. Café hours are 6:30 am to 2pm but the plan is to extend hours to 4pm as the business grows.

The atmosphere here at Café Galatea is very pleasant, quiet and artful. The walls are hung with paintings by artist Sabrina Fadial and David displays his sculptures throughout. When sipping your coffee, make sure to look up and check out the light that was designed by David. Very Cool!

How Far Would You Travel for a Waffle?

Jonathan Gold of Gourmet Magazine, a self proclaimed waffle snob, has admitted to traveling miles to taste many a good waffle but states that once he tasted the waffles at Brown Sugar Kitchen it was like he had never tasted a waffle at all. Jonathan describes the yeasted cornmeal waffles at Brown Sugar Kitchen as so light and so crisp that they are almost a different species. We are lucky to have Tanya Holland, brilliant chef and owner of Brown Sugar Kitchen, right here in the neighborhood, a stones throw away from the Pacific Cannery Lofts. Jonathan on the other hand had to travel 400 miles for his waffle. To read more about Jonathan Gold's experience at BSK click here.

KGO Covers Gracie Madden's Home

The story of Gracie Madden’s home aired Thursday, May 14th on the KGO 5pm news.


Click here for the video; Holliday Development folks are seen in the background working …

Here are some excerpts:

Cannon Constructors stepped up to finish the project with the help of an all volunteer crew, including some who are unemployed.

"It's very heartwarming. Again, we do it because we can. We have the opportunity to take care of somebody else," said Ken Kuhn from Cannon Constructors.

This is one of 40 homes being repaired by the non-profit group Rebuilding Together Oakland Nationally, rebuilding together rehabilitated 4,000 homes and non-profits in April.

"It's wonderful how we're able to leverage the resources that are out here and able to do the work at no cost to our homeowners," said Kym Luqman from Rebuilding Oakland Together.

Good feelings were all around.

"There's is good people still out here and it just overwhelms our hearts," said Edward's mom Leora Clay.

For some history, check out “Contractor abandons family mid-project”

KQED SPARK airs

KQED's arts program, SPARK, recently aired featuring Katherine Westerhout photographing the light in the abandoned Oakland Train Station. If you missed it you can still view the segment and read the copy by clicking here, and searching Oakland Train Station.
ENJOY!

The Velo Lounge at PCL is Full of Bikes!

Today the Holliday Development staff strapped on their bike helmets and shuttled more than 20 bikes from storage at the HD offices to the Velo Lounge at the Pacific Cannery Lofts. The bikes were purchased from Backroads Active Travel Company based in Berkeley and had to travel from Utah where they were being used and stored for cycling vacations. Any resident at Pacific Cannery Lofts is more than welcome to use a bike for commuting or pleasure. Bike locks are provided and you can get the combination to the locks from the sales staff. For your safety please where a helmut when riding.

For information on routes, rules, safety, commuting and more check out the bicycle section of 511.org. and the East Bay Bicycle Coalition.
A special thanks to BACKROADS for their assistance and generosity.

History in the Gardens

Throughout the project, Miller Company has sited historic elements saved from the original cannery building into the garden areas. In the western entry area historic cast iron wheels, magnificent survivors of the industrial age from the ice making machinery, have been mounted as a sculptural reminder of what once was at the heart of the building. At the eastern end of the Entry Dining Courtyard the factory's original industrial scale, originally used to weigh cans before being loaded onto trains, is placed at the building entrance. Miller Company also incorporated antique switchgear, valves, and gauges now repurposed throughout the project marking underground pipes. Finally, electrical panels from the original cannery are placed at the end of each courtyard. Take a stroll through the grounds and enjoy!

What's with all the MUD!

It's hard not to notice all the mud on the sales office side of the Pacific Cannery Lofts, especially now that it is being worked and evened out. Curious about what is happening there? We again look to the fine work of Jeff Miller and his Landscape company who are preparing that entire area for a burst of color in the spring. The now primed soil will be peppered with California wildflower and native plant seeds. In this mixture are blossoms that will spring forth at different times throughout the year. So what are they waiting for?....a dry spell... to spread the seed mixture. If the soil is too wet the seeds will rot instead of grow. So keep you eye on the mud. Once the seeds are sown it won't take long for the color to bloom.

Brown Sugar Kitchen News!

Did you see the food section in today's (March 1) Chronicle. If not, take a look and you will see an article about the fresh spin on soul food featuring Tanya Holland and the bustling Brown Sugar Kitchen. Tanya's delicious dishes are based on specialties from African American kitchens but use local free range poultry and California grass fed beef along with yams and other produce from local organic farms. This application of French culinary style and a more polished presentation is taking the West Oakland community and beyond by storm.
Brown Sugar Kitchen has also just been voted Best Soul Food in Oakland, in the upcoming May issue of Oakland Magazine's "Best of" issue. BSK has truly become an anchor in the budding community of West Oakland. If you haven't already indulged..........need I say more!

Green Thumb Artist

If you have walked through the Pacific Cannery Lofts you have undoubtedly experienced the beautiful landscaping, courtyards, historic items and seating areas that make the Pacific Cannery Lofts the place you want to live and hang out. Holliday Development has always put serious thought into what makes the difference between a "project" and a "community" and part of that answer is accessibility to inviting outside space where residents, their friends and pets can get to know each other. No one is better at designing and landscaping these spaces than Jeff Miller and his staff at The Miller Company. Jeff is one of the few landscape architects who has explored and mastered landscape design as a way of improving living conditions in urban areas. He has worked his magic on many previous HD projects including the Lofts at 18th and Arkansas in SF, Emeryville Warehouse in Emeryville, and Iron Horse Lofts in Walnut Creek. In the next few blogs I will be covering different aspects of Jeff's work on our gardens and relaying the thought process behind the landscape art. We are so lucky to have Jeff working his green thumb art at PCL.

Jones on "Spin Cycle"

Jones' first bath at the Pacific Cannery Lofts Laundramutt! The dog washing station is open 24/7 to all residents and their pets. Given the rain we are getting I expect it to be a busy place.
Wear a raincoat if you dog goes on spin cycle like Jones!

Bookmark it! Prescott-Oakland Point Blog

I recently went back to check the Oakland Prescott Blog created by Marcus Johnson. I hadn't been there for a while and was amazed at the amount of updated information that is gathered there. From art to culinary interests, from getting around by bus, train, bike or walking, to up to date events in the area....it is all there on this one blog. Easy to navigate and ever growing I would strongly suggest bookmarking this site and visiting it often.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please send a email to blogger, Marcus Johnson and put "POPNA" in subject line.

West Oakland Looks to SoMa's revival model

The Novemeber 21-27 SF Business Times featured an article paralleling the current changes in West Oakland to the revival of the South of Market area of San Francisco in the late 80's. This neighborhood transformed from an under utilized industrial zone to a booming office and residential district. Rick Holliday had a large hand in the SoMa revival as he developed three of the first San Francisco loft buildings in this area, 601 4th Street, followed by 355 Bryant Street and the Clocktower Lofts on Second Street. Rick and many other developers including Pulte Homes and Bridge Housing believe that West Oakland is on the cusp. Read more

Oakland is Yummy

With Oakland being the home to brands such as Del Monte Foods, Granny Goose, and Mothers Cakes and Cookies, it has been able to distinguish itself as a city with some serious culinary roots. The epicurean character of Oakland has not only sustained itself, but has expanded to include dozens of other local businesses such as Numi Teas, Revolution Foods and Blue Bottle Cofee. And now, you can experience the "yummy" character of Oakland by taking the Oakland Waterfront Foodtrail, a tour that guides you through Oakland's culinary businesses by bike or foot. Learn more here, and get a real taste of Oakland!

Art @ Pacific Cannery Lofts

Last Friday night the Pacific Cannery Lofts came alive with activity as 30 local artists displayed their work. The art included sculptures, paintings, metal works, collage, fashion and music. The food was provided by Brown Sugar Kitchen, the new "PLACE TO EAT" in Oakland. Pulled pork and vegetable sandwiches followed by individual pecan pies where examples of the delicious fare. The music touched on both Jazz and fabulous violin music accompanied by drums and guitar. Hardly a foot was able to keep from moving!

We will keep you posted of future events in the courtyards of the Pacific Cannery Loft!

Courtyard to Courtyard

Last week we celebrated the completion of the main courtyard at the Pacific Cannery Lofts as well as the 20 year anniversary of Holliday Development.

To celebrate the potential of what we believe to be our best work to date, we shined a light on the history one of our past projects, the Clocktower Lofts.

The Clocktower has a similar design, the same development team, and also sold in the face of a tough real estate market almost 20 years ago. The Clocktower and Pacific Cannery also hug opposite ends of the Bay Bridge, located just 5 miles apart from each other. While people originally bought lofts at the Clocktower for $200,000 - $250,000 that are now worth 3-4 times that amount, we are now bringing the Pacific Cannery Lofts to the market from $250,000 as well.

To celebrate the communities and the value, Don Bleu of Star 101.3 who has a personal tie to the Clocktower, joined us to host the event. Shuttles took people between the two projects where parties were going on at each location, allowing people to see firsthand how the buildings are just 10 minutes apart, have similar feels, and how an almost identical loft at the Pacific Cannery is as much as $500,000 less than its Clocktower counterpart.

View a slideshow of the event here, and stop by soon to see the finished courtyards at the Cannery.

Grand Re-Opening at Ernie Raimondi Park

On Sunday Oct. 5th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. there will be a grand re-opening ceremony at Ernie Raimondi Park located at 1700 Wood St. in West Oakland. The event will feature many local sports teams and include a free soccer clinic for youth, a football scrimmage, a cheerleading demonstration and local baseball leagues. In addition, there will be ongoing activities for all including music, food, face painting and informational tables. A special program will be held at 1 p.m. to recognize all those involved in bringing Phase 1 to fruition. We invite you to attend this celebration and share in the festivities. This will be a fun filled event for the entire family and a great way to learn more about your local parks and Oakland community. If you have any questions about the celebration feel free to call or email either Kathy Raymond, Executive Director of Friends of Oakland Parks and Recreation, at 510-465-1850 or oaklandparks@sbcglobal.net or Marguerite Hinrichs, Special Events/Marketing Coordinator for the City of Oakland Office of Parks and Recreation at 510-238-2082 or mhinrichs@oaklandnet.com. We look forward to seeing you at the Park!

Photo Update

View from the Signature Model just after sunset. The loft looks over the port, the bay, and towards downtown San Francisco and Angel Island.

Emory Douglas at the Pacific Cannery Lofts

Village Bottoms Cultural District and the Black New World Presents:

BLACK PANTHER
the culture of ministry of
EMORY DOUGLAS

in collaborations with and curated by
Marcel Diallo

August 22, 2008 - Sept 26, 2008

Pacific Cannery Lofts,1200 Pine Street, Oakland ART @ THE CANNERY

Opening Night Reception
Friday Aug. 22 @ 7pm
A conversation with Emory Douglas
A performance by Marcel Diallo & co.
Plus a special cultural presentation

Prints and Books available on site
510.451.4661 BlackNewWorld.com

Photo Highlight - Sunset at the Lofts

Tuesday night was not only a nice summer evening, but it created quite a glow around the Cannery. This shot by Nancy Holliday is looking down the main courtyard. Once the courtyard is complete, it too will have its own glow with lights softly illuminating the sides of the walkway.

Prescott/Oakland Point/Central Station Community Neighborhood Block Party

COME MEET YOUR NEIGHBORS!

National Night Out is the nation's night out against crime. Sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch, residents are encouraged to join with their neighbors to have a neighborhood block party, ice cream social or other outdoor event to build neighborhood spirit and unity - which is the first defense against crime. Research shows that when neighbors know each other and look out for each other crime goes down.

Oakland's National Night Out is on Tuesday, August 5, 2008 between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm at the intersection of 12th and Pine St. adjacent to the Pacific Cannery Lofts. Please bring you favorite food or snack to add to the shared refreshments.

For additional information please contact Marcus Johnson, Prescott NCPC (Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council)
at 510 290 8300

For information on this national event go to http://www.oaklandnet.com/nno2008.html

Shake it with Metro Station

Metro Station rocked out at the Pacific Cannery Lofts with a private concert for 50 lucky guests this afternoon.

Before playing a full concert in Berkeley tonight, the band stopped by for an E-Room event put together by Energy 92.7. Radio listeners over the past week were able to win VIP tickets to attend the show and meet the band.

While we couldn't accommodate their request for a free loft, we did let them know they can own for less than $2,000 a month. They said they'd be back after selling a few more albums, of which we wish them the best of luck as they continue to cruise up the top hits list, currently number 7 on the Billboard Top 40 and also on the iTunes top 10 most downloaded songs.

The event was a great start for the Third Space at the Pacific Cannery Lofts, a cornerstone space that will be home to many more artists of all kinds down the line.