Tag Archives: Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association
The Sequoia Building: At heart of Berkeley’s rich heritage
By Steven Finacom
Telegraph Avenue’s Sequoia Apartments building, seriously damaged in a fire on Friday, November 18, 2011, is a stately and historic edifice that helped define the character of Telegraph Avenue in both the early 20th century and in the 1960s.
Constructed in 1916, the 96-year-old, 39-apartment, building was part of an early 20th century development boom that transformed Telegraph Avenue into a bustling business and residential district.
When the Sequoia was built, Berkeley was one of most populous cities in California, riding a wave of suburb development and urbanization that had started with the construction of streetcar lines around the turn of the century, and accelerated after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. … Continue reading »
Berkeley settles contentious library lawsuit
The city of Berkeley has reached an agreement with Concerned Library Users over a lawsuit the group filed to stop the demolition and rebuilding of the South and West branches of the Berkeley Public Library.
In a closed session on Tuesday evening, the city council voted to settle the lawsuit by creating a $100,000 fund to provide grants to preserve historic buildings in the city’s south and west neighborhoods, according to Zach Cowan, the City attorney. The city also agreed … Continue reading »
Book details secret staircases of Berkeley and Oakland
Staircases saved Charles Fleming’s back.
In 2006, as he faced his third invasive spinal surgery, Fleming decided to walk. A longtime Los Angeles resident with a slew of best-selling books to his name, Fleming had his wife drive him down from their hilltop home in the Silver Lake district to the flats. He got out and took a few steps, which led to a few more, which led him to start walking up and down the public staircases that meander through that city’s hills. Soon the pain was gone and Fleming was a walking convert.
The excursions led to Fleming’s next bestseller, a book on the secret stairs of Los Angeles. It proved so popular that he decided to write a sequel, this time about the secret stairs of the East Bay. … Continue reading »
Rally planned to draw attention to library lawsuit
Dozens of church leaders, community activists, students, and library supporters plan to stage a rally outside city hall on Tuesday to call attention to a lawsuit they believe could stop construction of new libraries in the southern and western parts of Berkeley.
The group, which is calling itself New Libraries Now, plans to hoist pickets right before the City Council meeting. They want to let the members of Concerned Library Users, a small group that is suing the city … Continue reading »
Berkeley buildings honored for preservation efforts
The Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA) has once again honored those who have invested time, money and effort into renovating homes or buildings with historical preservation in mind.
This year’s Preservation Awards highlight thirteen Berkeley properties — eleven homes, one commercial building and one institutional project — all of which, in the words of BAHA President Daniella Thompson, “preserve the historic fabric” of Berkeley.
Residential projects which won awards include the Howard P. and Mae … Continue reading »
Julia Morgan homes the stars of BAHA’s spring tour
The Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association’s annual spring tour will this year focus on homes designed by architect Julia Morgan in the Elmwood and Claremont neighborhoods.
The tour, which takes place on Sunday, May 2, 1-5 pm, is titled “Looking at Julia Morgan: Early Residences in Berkeley”.
BAHA has this to say about Morgan and her work:
Berkeley is a treasure trove of early Morgan-designed residences. These welcoming and refined houses are paragons of comfort and beauty — quintessential Berkeley homes.
Julia … Continue reading »
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