Tag Archives: Berkeley Iceland
Sports Basement to take over historic Berkeley ice rink
Mayor Tom Bates fell on his butt there. Susan Wengraf and Gordon Wozniak fondly recalled children’s parties there. There was a wave of nostalgia for Berkeley Iceland at last night’s City Council meeting, from both council members and residents providing public comment. But the passionate efforts of Save Berkeley Iceland, the campaign that hoped to resurrect a skating rink at the landmarked building, failed after a 7-0 vote to affirm the Zoning Adjustment Board’s decision to allow retailer Sports Basement to adapt the structure at 2727 Milvia for a new store.
“This is in some ways a very sad day, and in some ways something positive,” Bates said. “It would have been great to [bring back] the rink. It would have been fabulous. But there is not a viable way to make it work.”
The only dissenting voice on the council was Darryl Moore, who abstained in the vote. His motion to call for a public hearing on the project, which would have created another two months’ delay, failed for lack of a second. … Continue reading »
Op/Ed: Berkeley Iceland is so much more than a building
John Corton grew up going to skating parties, playing hockey — even learning to drive a Zamboni — at Berkeley Iceland on Milvia Street. Tonight, the City Council discusses the future of the ice rink which has been closed since 2007. And, as Corten argues in a new Opinionator column, the debate surrounding the landmarked building demonstrates how history and emotion play a vital role in how property is viewed and handled in Berkeley.
Berkeleyside welcomes submissions of … Continue reading »
Berkeley Iceland is more than a building: it’s a sanctuary
Tuesday will be a big day for the city of Berkeley and especially for a little neighborhood in south Berkeley. Tuesday at 7pm the Berkeley City Council will hold a hearing on whether to allow Berkeley Iceland’s use permit to be changed from recreational to retail in order to usher in the city’s first big-box store to replace the historic ice rink which is located there, and has been closed since 2007.
While this may seem like a simple zoning … Continue reading »
Op/Ed: Clean Berkeley Iceland building, whatever its fate
It’s been five years since Berkeley Iceland closed for the last time, and the historic property on Milvia Street has largely been left to deteriorate since then. It has been defaced by graffiti and trash piles up around the building. In an Opinionator piece published today, Tom Killilea, president of Save Berkeley Iceland, says his group has worked to clean up around the perimeter of the building and is open to doing more volunteer work. But, he argues, it is time for Berkeley Iceland’s owners, as well as the City of Berkeley, to step up and take responsibility for maintaining the building while its ultimate fate is being decided. … Continue reading »
Berkeley Iceland must be maintained, whatever its fate
Berkeley Iceland has been closed for over five years. For the majority of this time, the current owners, East Bay Iceland — EBI, Richard Zamboni, President — has allowed their historic property to be defaced, trash to collect on and around the building, and landscaping to become a receptacle of garbage. Complaints are ignored and the garbage keeps piling up, becoming an eyesore and potential hazard to the neighborhood.
A group of SBI volunteers, having seen enough of the … Continue reading »
Discount sports store to take over Berkeley Iceland
Sports Basement, a discount sports store with four branches in the Bay Area, is taking over Berkeley Iceland, according to informed sources.
The retail store plans to cover the ice rink and set up displays of athletic shoes, skis, bikes, camping gear and other equipment.
Sports Basement chose the location because it is opposite some playing fields, much like its location across from Crissy Field in San Francisco.
The news comes as a disappointment … Continue reading »
On the agenda: Berkeley City matters
Decisions, decisions. Highlights from the agenda for tonight’s City Council meeting:
Whether to restrict official travel to Arizona and cancel contracts with businesses there in reaction to that state’s recently passed law allowing police to question and detain people they think are in the U.S. illegally. Oakland, Richmond and San Francisco have already have passed measures aimed at cutting business ties with companies in Arizona. Whether to continue the reconsideration of Berkeley Iceland (pictured) as a City … Continue reading »
