Extracted text · highlighting “Richard Smith”

“October 11, 1986 Vol. 1No.7

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ion: 4,500 Residences; 200 Businesses _

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Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council, 6225 Ross Street, Oakland
- 658-9523 -

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enda:
Ag General Meeting

Plan to attend the next General Meeting of the
Rockridge Community Planning Council on Thursday,
October 16, 1986, 7:30 pm, at the College Avenue
Presbyterian Church. Speak your mind on the following
Neighborhood issues on the Agenda:

7:30 pm — Shell Oil’s mini-market proposal

Mr. Gregory Shockey of Shell Oil’s Marketing
Department will discuss Shell’s plan to build a mini—market
at the current Shell station located at 5755 Broadway at Taft
Avenue. Mr. Ted Radosevich and other Neighbors will
present the Neighborhood’s response to that plan. According
to Mr. Radosevich, Neighbors have written more than 100
letters opposing the project.

Last month’s Rockridge News cited Neighborhood
concern about the possibility for increased crime at a store of
this type located on a remote stretch of Broadway close to the
freeway, and pointed out that a similar proposal was turned
down about six years ago because of Neighborhood
opposition.

Shell presents its request for a Major Variance to the
Planning Commission Wednesday, October 29. The
application number is VMD86—434.

8:00 pm __ Parking and Traffic in Rockridge
Vice-Mayor Marge Gibson and Mr. John
Soderling, Oakland Department of Public Works, will discuss
the City’s approach to Rockridge/College Avenue traffic
problems. Sce story, page 1.

8:30 pm Oakland Police Department Study
What kind of job are the police in Oakland
doing? Here’s your chance to express your opinion! Diane
M. Alexander, J.D., of The Lattimer Consulting Group, Inc.,
will discuss the study her firm is conducting of the OPD and
distribute questionnaires polling public perceptions of the
Police Department.

Chariots of Ire?

Merchants and Neighbors
Focus on Rockridge Traffic

Sometimes it seems as if, in some long-ago cloud
studded aerie, a capricious and possibly vindictive Greek God
made a gift of the Wheel to Humankind. Everything was finc
until some mortal soul mated an internal combustion engine
with the gift and created traffic jams.

College Avenue traffic fared pretty well, thank you,
until increasing commercial success and BART brought traffic
jams and parking crunch into our intersections and residential
steets.

Many Neighbors today are angry because they are not
able to park in front of or, in many cases, not even near their
own homes. Merchants are concerned because their employees
and customers have to walk several blocks across risky
intersections to get to work or to shop. BART is upset
because shoppers and nonriders take spaces meant for com-
muters,

According to Mr. John Soderling, Deputy Director of
Oakland’s Department of Public Works, the City is aware of
all of these problems. Several existing City programs — such
as the Residential/Preferential Parking Permit program, now
ready to be implemented at the block level- may provide some
workable solutions.

Construction of an off-street metered parking facility for
College Avenue shoppers, merchants, and employees is being
discussed as another possible solution.

The parcel of land now known as College Avenue Art
Stone at 5372 College Avenue near the intersection of
Manila, College, and Hudson Avenues has been proposed for
acquisition by the City for use as a parking lot.

See Parking, Page 3

Calendar Eve

Redwood Heights Improvement Association to speak to the

City Council concerning maintaining R-30 zoning in Redwood Heights.

Tuesday Oct 14 7:30 pm
Wednesday Oct 15 1:30 pm
Thursday Oct 16 7:30 pm
Wednesday Oct 29 1:30 pm

Planning Commission meeting: City Hall, Room 115.
RCPC October General Meeting, College Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Planning Commission meeting: City Hall, Room 115. Shell Oil

request for a Major Variance for a mini-market at Broadway and Taft.

The Rockridge News

October 11, 1986

Page 2

Rockridge: The Early Years

By Andrea Gabriel

“Rock Ridge, where poppies bloom in November, where
meadowlarks and quail announce the coming of the day, and
the air has a woodsy odor.”

Such was the inducement offered prospective buyers in
the Oakland neighborhood of Rockridge (or Rock Ridge as it
was known then) in 1910. Today, meadowlarks and quail vie
for space and greenery, and the air has lost its woodsy scent.
Apartment building, shops and highways crowd an area once
covered with acres of fruit trees. Large, sprawling houses,

squeezed tightly together dot the once bare and pristine rolling

hills. But Rockridge

60 foot frontage. Reed’s brother, Walter, designed the Italian
stone pillars which still stand at Broadway and Rockridge
Boulevard.

In 1909, Laymance Realty officially opened the tract for
the sale of building sites. The Rock Ridge area was divided
into three distinct sections: Rock Ridge Place, bordering
Broadway, had property selling from $3,500 to $10,000;
Rock Ridge Park, in the center of the hills to the East, sold
lots up to $15,000; Rock Ridge Terrace lots, at the highest
point of the property, sold to $20,000. Advertisements in a
1910 newspaper offered a fleet of motor cars available on
Sundays to drive potential customers through the tract. Other
ads, enticing buyers in

today, as in the past,
remains a charming and
desirable neighborhood.

The upper and
lower districts of Rock
Ridge developed separ-
ately and for different
reasons, but at one
time the entire area was
part of Rancho de
Antonia, a large tract
of land owned by
Vincente Peralta, given
to him by the Spanish
government.

Rockridge was
“porn” in 1879 when

Sacramento, _ offered
“..a wonderful pro-
perty beautifully devel-
oped with _ parklike
roadways, gardened ter-
races, and surrounded
by building restrictions
intended to make home
places there the most
attractive in  Cali-
fornia”. The develop-
ment was a great suc-
cess and lots sold
quickly.

In 1906, the
properties West of

pa oa Broadway were used for

land owners Colonel
John (Jack) Hays and
Horatio and Charles

Broadway looking Northeast toward Rockridge Boulevard, about 1912.
The sign high up on the hill says “Rock Ridge Properties”.

truck farming and fruit
orchards. Not long
after Reed’s success,

Livermore (no relation to the Laboratory) filed a subdivision
map in the office of the Alameda County Recorder. The name
Rock Ridge originated with Mrs. Horatio Livermore because
of a prominent rock formation on the Eastern side of her
property. Another individual, Charles Hale bought five
adjoining acres from Peralta. This property was later sold to
James Treadwell and eventually became the location of the
California College of Arts and Crafts. Members of the
Claremont Country Club bought property in this area for a
club house and golf links.

In 1906, much of the land East of Broadway — from
Broadway Terrace to the South, and Ocean View on the North
and East for about one and one-half miles — was purchased
by the Laymance Realty Company of Oakland. Fred Reed, a
young, enterprising agent with a Berkeley realty office foresaw
great possibilities afforded by the beautiful Oakland hills. He
conceived a notion of elegance and natural beauty captured in a
well planned neighborhood development. The San Francisco
earthquake and the growth of successful transportation routes
further convinced him to explore his ideas. Reed proposed his
ideas to Laymance, who placed the entire Rockridge project
under his management.

Reed had traveled the Pacific Northwest and Southern
California studying neighborhoods and what made them
successful. His concept was to develop the tracts in a natural
pattern following the graceful curve of the hills ridges and
ravines. Building restrictions “...as to the character, value,
use and position of the improvements to be placed on the lot”
were imposed; no site was to be constructed with less than a

residential and commercial areas West of Broadway developed
along major transportation routes. Since 1892, a street car
line had run along College Avenue to the University. A few
years later, the Sacramento Northern Railroad began carrying
passengers and freight between the Bay Area and Sacramento.
This line ran along Shafter Avenue close to the present BART
station. The station in those years was called College
Avenue. Another transportation route ran down Claremont to
the Claremont Country Club. Residences and businesses were
built and filled the vacant land.

The company of Birdsall and Craig developed much of
this area. Their first venture was to open up a piece of land
bordered by Auburn, Claremont and College; the 25
bungalows to be built were sold before they were completed.
The company then bought and developed an adjacent piece of
land which extended down College to Shafter, originally
Ghiglione Truck Farm. Major development continued
between 1910 and 1935, and schools and churches were built.
Homes in this area of Rock Ridge (originally part of a tract
called Bay View Terrace) were less grand than those in upper
Rock Ridge and typify what is now known as the California
bungalow style of architecture.

To insure the success of the Rock Ridge district, the
Vemnon-Rock Ridge Improvement Club ( later the Rockridge
Improvement Club) was organized in 1910, its members
committed to improving and maintaining the quality of their
area. Streets were kept clean by a committee of weed pullers,

See Early Years, Page 3
Page 3

October 11, 1986

The Rockridge News

Parking, from Page 1

The Boards of the College Avenue Merchants
Association (CAMA) and the Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC) met October Ist to discuss the
need for an overall parking strategy for Rockridge in general
and the implications of locating a parking facility on the Art
Stone property in particular.

The RCPC and CAMA Boards agreed that such a
metered parking lot could relieve parking congestion in the
immediate area of College and Manila, but that it could not be
the single solution to College Avenue parking problems.
Further, RCPC Board members are wary of the new parking
lot becoming a springboard for new development before the
needs of existing development are met.

Location of a parking lot fronting directly on College
Avenue was not a popular idea with the Boards. However,
there was strong support for development of the Art Stone
property as a mixed-use project including a parking use and
other uses such as a park, library, community center or retail
frontage.

Each of the Boards formed committees to work on the
problem. At a subsequent meeting Tuesday, October 7 with
Vice-Mayor Marge Gibson, Mr. Soderling, Parking
Administrator James Rice, and Steve Costa of the Bay Area
Partnership, the CAMA and RCPC Parking Committees
agreed the City should continue its attempts to obtain the Art
Stone property with the understanding that development of the
property would be preceded by a determination of the project
feasibility and appropriate mix of uses for the site. CAMA
and RCPC will work with the City to develop a Request for
Proposal for the mixed-use project.

At the same time, Vice-Mayor Gibson will be working
with Public Works and Bay area Partnership to develop a
proposal for the City to fund a comprehensive look at overall
parking strategies and solutions for College Avenue and the
Rockridge Neighborhood.

Your ideas and feelings on parking issues and plans need
to be heard! Come to the RCPC General Meeting Thursday,
October 16, 7:30 pm at the College Avenue Presbyterian
Church. Vice-Mayor Gibson, Mr. Soderling,. Mr. Rice and
CAMA representatives will be there to discuss current
proposals and hear your concerns.

Nominations Received
For RCPC Board

Twelve nominations for the Rockridge Community
Planning Council Board of Directors have been received. As
discussed in last month’s Rockridge News, names submitted
in nomination will be published in the News as they are
received. Please submit the names of nominees and your
name as nominator to RCPC Nominating Committee, 6225
Ross Street, Oakland, CA 94618.

Current nominees are:

Mr. Mark Aaronson
Ms. Barbara Anderson

Ms. Annette Floystrup
Mr. Peter Goldsmith

Mr. Marc Beyeler Mr. Don Kinkead
Mr. Jack Brown Mr. Jack Nunberg
Ms. Nancy Dutcher Mr. Ray Perman
Mr. Barry Epstein Mr. Richard Smith

Early Years, from Page 2

electricity was put in, police and fire protection were secured,
bus service was started, and wooden bridges over Temescal
Creek were replaced by concrete culverts. Club members were
social as well as civic minded — they organized turkey dinners,
dances and whist parties.

Today there is no need to entice buyers into the dense
and busy Rockridge Area; it is a popular place to live. The
diversity of our Neighborhood is evident in its many
restaurants and food stores, unique gift shops, convenient
transportation, neighborhood businesses and services, and
community action groups. Although the character of
Rockridge has changed and developed over the years, it is this
rich diversity which continues to nurture a strong community
feeling and to make our area a pleasant place to live.

Information for this essay was obtained from clippings,
photographs and articles on file in the Oakland History Room,
Oakland Public Library.

T hank you for your continued support of the Rockridge Community Planning Council

and The Rockridge News.
Suggested Minimum Donations: $10 per category. .
SSS SSS SS ES ES SS SS ES SS SS SS Se SS —— <A
Aves! Enroll Me as a Registered Member of the Rockridge Community Planning Cofficill
IT have enclosed a check for my tax-deductible donation for a year’s registration and other support areas
IT have checked off: : !
| $ Registration Donation !
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\ Phone Oakland, CA 94618

The Rockridge News

October 11, 1986

Page 4

Planning Commission Votes
Support Rockridge Positions

Recent applications for variances for food-oriented
businesses on College Avenue were heard by the Planning
Commission at its October 1 meeting.

Applications for variances filed by Cybelle’s Pizza and
LeDuc Catering, businesses proposed for the new Rockridge
Court building, were approved by the Commission with
conditions for litter control, signage, and parking adopted as
suggested by RCPC.

The fish restaurant proposed for the building next to
McNalley’s and strongly opposed by near-by Neighbors was
not approved.

Bring in this ad to take advantage of our

Hallowe’en Spirits Special!
Prices shown are 15% or more off!
Good through November 15
e
era Market
5316 College Avenue
at Bryant Avenue
10:30 am - 9 pm Sunday — Thursday
10:30 am - 11 pm Friday and Saturday
Beer- 12 Pack-12 oz..
Budweiser, Coors $5.28 + tax
Wine- 1.5 Liter
Gallo Chablis, Red Rosé 2/$5.00 + tax
Hearty Burgandy, Rhine
Champagne
André 750 ML. 2/$5.00 + tax
Vodka
Royal Gate Liter $5.79 + tax
Smirnoff Liter $7.59 + tax
Gin
Bombay 750ML. $9.99 + tax
Royal Gate Liter $5.79 + tax
Scotch
J&B Liter $14.49 + tax
Johnny Walker Black _ Liter $19.99 + tax
Johnny Walker Red _Liter $14.49 + tax
Bourbon
Jim Beam Liter $8.29 + tax
Kessler Liter $8.29 + tax
Brandy
Korbel Liter $8.99 + tax
Rum
Myers Liter $11.99 + tax
Tequila
José Cuervo Gold Liter $10.59 + tax
Liquer
Kahlua Liter $13.99 + tax
Cigarettes, Domestic Carton $8.49 + tax
——— Accepted (cerca
; MasterCard
LL VISA _| Wii. )

City Considers Stronger

Demolition Permit Process

Revisions proposed for the City of Oakland Building
Demolition Ordinance requiring all properties proposed for
demolition to be posted for thirty days prior to issuance of a
demolition permit, and stipulating that demolition permits
could only be issued with a building permit for the
replacement structure were set forth in a recent memo from
Mr. Terry Roberts, Director of Public Works, to City
Manager Henry L. Gardner.

Violators of the Ordinance would be subject to penalties
of about $2,000 per unit, not a real deterrant considering the
size of developments in the Rockridge Area.

RCPC Secretary Annette Floystrup wrote a letter to the
City on behalf of RCPC supporting the proposals and calling
for a four-fold increase in the penalties and denial of all future
demolition and/or building permits for violators of the
Ordinance.

The Public Works proposals will be submitted to the
City Council for consideration after a public testimony and

review process.
Applegate Portraits
Fine Art + 547-7313

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