As a prominent architect explains, "From a Developer's perspective, preservation of history can increase the value of the project. This has been proven, over and over again..."

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Win-Win Suggestion for Forest City's Uptown Project to Reuse Historic Structures

Win-Win Suggestion for AdCo's Thomas L. Berkley Square Project to a prominent Historic Structure

Oakland Heritage Alliance provided Forest City and the City of Oakland with this conceptual sketch of one way the Uptown Redevelopment Project could improve their project through incorporating authentic historic architecture. This view of the east side of San Pablo between 19th and 20th Streets shows how the 120-year-old buildings that displaced the Chinatown here could be preserved and continue to be significant cultural resources. 20th Street (Thomas L. Berkley Way) is just to the left of Chef Edwards Bar-B-Que, the small white building at left.

SOURCE: Oakland Heritage Alliance, City of Oakland Design Review Committee meeting, fall 2003.

In the view above, the historic structures are converted to market-rate lofts. Major grant funding could assist in developing the 120-year-old buildings into an Uptown Chinatown interpretative center. This could be an educational and cultural showpiece to a San Pablo Avenue National Register District.

The Oakland Post building (center) from about 1970 until just recently housed the headquarters of regional African-American newspaper of that name. From its construction in 1920 into the 1960s it served the California Peanut Company.

Will AdCo pursue their original proposal for the Thomas L. Berkley Square project, and reuse the Hotel Royal? An architect examined this reinforced masonry structure and drafted a floorplan for reusing the Royal for affordable housing. The architect of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, William Woollett, designed this 1912 building as a showpiece in anticipation of the Panama Pacific Exposition.

Oakland Heritage Alliance noted

The original [Thomas L. Berkley Square Project] proposal, which re-used the Hotel Royal, would meet all of the PROJECT OBJECTIVES as enumerated on pg 32 of the DEIR [Draft Environmental Impact Report]. In fact re-using this resource will create a project that is more "compatible with the surrounding urban environment" and "is consistent with the City's planning policies." Reuse of the hotel would provide a better transition to nearby historic buildings and make the whole development more welcome.