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November 15,1986 Vol. 1 No.8

The

Circulation: 4,500 Residences; 200 Businesses _

Rockridge News

—— 4 Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council, 6225 Ross Street, Oakland =

Kestaurateurs Appeal
Planning Ruling

According to documents filed with the City Clerk,
proponents of the College Avenue Fish Co., a fish restaurant
planned for 5346 College Avenue, next door to McNally’s
Irish Pub, have appealed to the City Council to reverse the

decision of the Planning Commission to deny a permit to
establish the restaurant.

The Commission, in a regular public hearing held
September 15, voted to deny the application for the Major
Conditional Use Permit necessary to open a food servide
establishment after considering the arguments of a group of

surrounding Neighbors led by Ms.Karen Paulsell and rep-
resentatives from RCPC.

The College Avenue Fish Co. proposal outlines plans
lo remodel the existing 750 square foot structure, formerly a
single family home used as an office, to seat over 60 diners,
26 inside the restaurnat, and 30 to 40 on a rear deck. The deck

is planned to extend to within six feet of the rear property
line.

Neighbors voiced vigorous opposition at the hearing
because of concern about increased traffic and parking
problems, lack of cooking odor control devices, and the
invasion of privacy and noise disturbance that would be caused
by the proposed rear deck.

The City Council will hear the appeal at its meeting
Tuesday, November 18th, at 7:30 pm. Neighbors concerned
about this issue should wnie to the

Night Spot Denial

ABC Sets Yoshi's
License Hearing

Yoshi’s application to permit the service of alcoholic
beverages in the Night Spot has been denied by the California
State Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Citing the California Constitution, the Business and
Professions Code and the California Administrative Code, the
ABC found that “issuance of the applied—for transfer would be
contrary to public welfare and morals.. and “would interfere
with the quiet enjoyment of [nearby] residential property by
the residents of [the] area.”

Mr. Kaz Kajimura, Yoshi’s owner, appealed the decision
and a hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Monday, November
24, Room 1018, 1111 Jackson Street, Oakland. According to
ABC procedure, a State Administrative Law Judge will hear

Mr. Kajimura’s petition for and any protests against issuance
of the license.

Following the hearing, the judge may decide no license
should be issued, or may recommend a license subject to
specified conditions. The judge’s decision is then ratified or
modified by the Director of the ABC.

As reported in the September Rockridge News, the

Mayor and the City Council prior to
the hearing, and should attend the
hearing. Phoned messages to
Vice-Mayor Marge Gibson, our City
Councilmember, at 273-3611 will
also be helpful.

Call Karen Paulsell at 655-0818
for further information.

RCPC BOARD
ELECTION NEWS
INSIDE, PAGE 3 void.

RCPC Board and Mr. Kajimura
reached an agreement on conditions of
operation for the Restaurant and Night
Spot.

However, since the application
has gone to hearing, that agreement is

Tuesday Nov 18

7:30 pm

City Council to hear College Avenue Fish Co, Restaurant
appeal of denial by the Planning Commission of a Major Conditional Use

Permit for a restaurant on College Avenue. See Story page 1.

City Council to vote on funds for acquisition of Art Stone property.
See Story page 3.

Thursday Nov 20 7:30 pm

RCPC November General Meeting, College Avenue Presbyterian

Church. Election of Board Members. Board Elections

The Rockridge News

November 15, 1986

Page 2

——

Rockridge: An Oral Memoir of Mrs. Lora T. Scott

By Andrea Gabriel

Lora Toombs Scott, an elegant and refined wont’ \
whose lively brown eyes and enthusiastic conversation
belie her age, was born in 1895 in San Jose, California.

Raised in San Francisco, Mrs. Scott moved to the East Bay
with her husband Verner, about 1940.

She began studying music and voice at the San
Francisco Conservatory at the age of 16. Today, at age

91, she sull gives music lessons in her modest home on
Alcatraz Avenue.

Mrs. Scott’s grandmother was a member of a Black

pioneer family from Missouri who crossed the country to
_ California in 1850.

Ethel Ruymaker moved to Rockridge about 1956 and
became a neighbor and acquaintance of Mrs. Scott. When I
expressed my interest in Rockridge history to Ethel, she

arranged this interview with Mrs. Scott and accompanied
me on my first meeting with her.

This excerpt from our interview reveals a bit of Mrs.

Scott's story in Rockridge and of early days in North
Oakland.

Some of my original questions have been rephrased in

‘og version for clarity. ae a

Gabriel: North Oakland and the Rockridge Area have changed

quite a bit since your arrival. What did Alcatraz Avenue
look like 45 years ago?

Scott: This was a quiet, restful street. It looked just about
like it is, because these houses were all there. The people
were well established and middle class and comfortable.
These were very nice homes all up and down this street.
Respectable homes, nothing magnificent. They were
homes for families. Peralta School was just like the old
fashioned schools — just an ordinary wooden structure, the
old 1890’s type. The school was called Peralta because
this area had been the Peralta Farm. I suppose it belonged
to the Spanish people in those early days.

At that time we had a street car [on Alcatraz]...; it went
down as far as San Pablo.

Gabriel: Did you ever ride on the streetcar?
Scott: Oh, of course. It was very convenient.

Ruymaker: Well, I remember when we first came to the area,
there was the old Key System, and I remember the
streetcars running along San Pablo Avenue. We used to
take the Key System [the old train system] all the way out
to East Oakland. There were four, five, six cars and it was
very comfortable and very nice; you didn’t have to worry
about traffic jams.

Ruymaker: What about College Avenue? What were shops
and stores like there?

Scott: Where the restaurant is [Norman’s], that was a
five-and—dime. There was a streetcar on College Avenue
and there was one on Telegraph Avenue because streetcars
are what they used. The Safeway started there, and I think
that was the original from which they started — a little hole
in the wall.

Across the street from it was a large market called
Hagstrom’s. We always had a drugstore up there —

Chimes. I remember going to [Dreyer’s] occasionally. It
was just a little ice cream parlor. There were a lot of little

shops. I think there was a little shoe shop there where
you had your shoes repaired. You don’t have them repaired

any more, they don’t last that long.

Gabriel: | You were both here when they put the
Grove—Shafter Freeway through, weren't you?

Ruymaker: When I first went to work in San Francisco, there
was no freeway here. I’m talking late ‘50's, early '60’s,
and I used to go to San Francisco by MacArthur

Boulevard.

Scott: It tore down a lot of old homes, comfortable homes.
[My friends who lost their homes] moved out toward

Lakeshore.
Gabriel: What was Claremont Avenue like when you moved
here, Mrs. Scott?

Scott: Claremont Avenue was rather special. Nice homes for
that time. They were mostly wooden, maybe a few
stucco, and then stucco became the material that people

used as time went on.
There was always the Shell Station; I used to go there.

Ruymaker: They used to have a school there, too — College
Prep School..There’s a big office building now [Alameda
County Medical Association building].

Scott: They would have concerts at the Claremont Hotel.
Young singers and musicians got a chance to be listened
to. We didn’t have all the amusements that young people
have now. Everything [now] is so exciting and so
expensive. Well, you’d be surprised; a dollar or two, you
were rich when we were young... Nickel car fare... When
we had parties we had lemonade and high tea cookies. |
can just imagine what these young people would think!

[Laughter]
Gabriel: How did you select this house for your home?

Scott: This house was up for sale and we were looking for a
place to be permanent; at that time, I had three teenagers.
Out in the yard, there was a lovely, attractive artistic pool
with gold fish in it.

Gabriel: What did your husband do?

Scott: He worked at the Post Office in San Francisco. I gave
music lessons; piano and singing.

Gabriel: When you moved to this neighborhood, did you have
a sense of being comfortable?

Scott: Well, yes. When we first moved here, neither my
husband nor I were too noticeable at that time, and nobody
questioned us. I had music students coming here, so they
had a meeting to expel us from the neighborhood.

Ruymaker: Because you had a business?

Scott: That was not the reason — it was our color. They [the
neighborhood] formed a meeting and they were going to
expel us. Oh, yes! It was horrible. We were going to
pollute the neighborhood. So anyway, no one showed up

at the meeting. No one came! I guess they felt ashamed
of themselves, but that was a long time ago.

Gabriel: Were you angry about that?

Scott: Not exactly angry. You know those things have been

happening for years. A lot of places had [restrictive]
covenants on them, you see.

See Memoir, page 4

——

Page 3

Update: RCPC Board Election

Membership of the RCPC Board of Directors for the

coming year will be determined by Neighborhood voters at the
General Mecting to be held Thursday, November 20, 7:30 pm,
at the College Avenue Presbyterian Church.

Voters will cast their ballots for a total of nine Board

members from candidates selected by the nominating
committee.

Current nominees are:

Mr. Mark Aaronson Mr. Peter Goldsmith

Ms. Barbara Anderson Mr. Don Kinkead
Mr. Marc Beyeler Mr. Jack Nunberg
Ms. Nancy Dutcher Mr. Ray Perman

Mr. Barry Epstein
Ms. Annette Floystrup

_ Nominations may be entered until declared closed by the
Chair prior to the time of the vote at the General Meeting.

Voters must be at least 18 years of age and will be asked
to verify their residence in the Rockndge Area as defined in the
By-Laws of the Rockridge Community Planning Council.

Mr. Richard Smith

Planning Commission Rejects
Shell Oil Mini—Market!

Voting 5 to 0 at its November 12 public meeting, the
Planning Commission denied Shell Oil’s request for a Major

Variance to construct a mini—market at its station at Broadway
and Taft Avenues.

Strong opposition by Upper Broadway area Neighbors
helped convince the Planning Commission to follow staff
advice recommending denial of Shell’s request.

At an earlier hearing, Neighbors testified against the
plan, citing problems of increased traffic, crime, litter and
noise. They also noted that several neighborhood convenience
markets already exist along College Avenue. In addition to
their testimony, the Neighbors submitted numerous letters and
a petition signed by 300 people opposing the project.

RCPC Vice-Chair Barbara Anderson delivered a letter
from the RCPC Board to the Planning Commission and
testified against the proposed variance on behalf of the
neighborhood. Ms. Anderson also argued that Shell’s plan
met none of the requirements for a Major Variance.

G Shop With College Avenue Merchants )

eae
Aves! Enroll Me as a Registered Member of the Rockridge Community Planning
IT have enclosed a check for my tax-deductible donation for a year

November 15, 1986

The | Rockridge News

College Avenue Parking ?

City Considers Art
Stone Property Buy

The critical parking needs of the Rockridge Community
continue to be the focus of discussions between RCPC, the
College Avenue Merchants Association (CAMA), and the
City of Oakland. The Art Stone property near Manila and
College Avenue, considered a possible site for a surface
parking lot in combination with other public uses (such as a
park, library, neighborhood center, etc.), may play a part in
meeting those needs.

On Tuesday evening, November 18, the City Council
will vote on a resolution authorizing funds to purchase the
property for use as a parking lot. Passage of the resolution
will also start the process by which the City staff and the
community will determine the project feasibility and eventual
development of the site.

The City of Oakland has engaged The Bay Arca
Partnership, under the direction of Mr. Steve Costa, to solicit
community input and to coordinate the development of the
project. The Partnership is “a non-profit Oakland—based
organization involved with design, planning and development
of innovative urban amenities in Oakland and other Bay Area
cities”.

Rockridge community members will have ample
opportunity in the coming weeks and months to help
determine the shape and content of the final project. Bryant
Street Neighbor Ms. Sylvia de Trinidad has volunteered to
conduct a door-to-door survey on Manila and Bryant to let
residents know about the proposed mixed-use project, and to
gather Neighbors’ reactions, suggestions, and concems. To
share your thoughts, call Sylvia at 558-5104 (daytime, or
leave a message).

As with any new development project on College
Avenue, the proposed Art Stone property project will have to
go through the full range of zoning applications, stalf
reviews, and public hearings. A preliminary Environmental
Report prepared by the City - ER 86-87 — is available for
public response. The preliminary “Negative Declaration”
applies to the purchase only. According to Planning Director
Alvin James, “Subsequent development of the site will be
subject to further environmental review, including the
preparation of appropriate environmental documents.”

Your views and concerns on the pro project and
other parking issues may be directed to RCPC Board membg
Barbara Anderson at 655-3499. a

S registration and other support areas

II have checked off: ae |
| $ Registration Donation |
| Name: |
| ie eis Rockridge News Donation |
, penne » Sa Legal Fund Donation ,
| City/Zip Thank you! Mail to: Don Kinkead |

5626 Oak Grove Avenue ||
\ Phone Oakland, CA 94618

A Clean Sweep For Rockridge? A Stronger Demolition Permit Process

——.— Changes in demolition notice posting, demolition

The Oakland Street Sweeping program is underway! permits issued simultaneously with building permits for a
Funded by a surcharge on your scavenger company bill, the replacement structure, and a stronger penalty structure have
program provides for periodic machine sweeping of been proposed by Public Works Director Terry Roberts.
Neighborhod and business district streets. Those proposals are being studied by the Public Works &

. Capital Improvements, Land Use, and _ Environmental
Mr. John Gable, an Ocean View Avenue resident has si > City Council.
discussed the program with Mr. Alvin Bashful of the City of  C¢¢ms Commitee of the City

A stronger demolition ordinance with substantial
Oakland Ofiice ot Public Works. According t Mr, Basitul, a penalties for "violators will give Neighborhoods a more

report on the street sweeping program is in preparation for effective voice in the planning process. The Adams Point
submission in January to the City Council. Preservation Society. 38th Street and Mosswood

The important step at this point, according to the City, | Neighborhood Associations, RCPC and other Neighborhood
is for Rockridge Area residents to decide what they wantandto Associations agree on the necessity to strengthen the

advise the City in wnting. proposals to develop a meaningful Ordinance revision.

Mr. Gable will present his findings in greater detail at RCPC members are encouraged to write to these City
the RCPC General Meeting, Thursday Nloversber 20, at 7:30 ©=—Officials at 1 City Hall Plaza, Oakland 94612, in suport ol

pm at the College Avenue Presbyterian Church. Please plan Strengthening the demolition ordinance:
lo attend. Vice-Mayor Marge Gibson, our Councilmember,

Director of Public Works, Terry Roberts;

Bring in this ad to gobbl Comittee Chairperson Mary Moore.
“Thanksgiving Specialt rs For details of the proposed changes, call Annette

Floystrup at 652-6794.
Prices shown are 15% or more off! Natta
Good through December 15 Memoir, continued from page 2

Riviera Market Gabriel: We've talked about street scenes and store fronts that

have changed. Has Oakland changed in other ways?
59316 College Avenue Scott: I used to go home to my mother and my aunt in San

Francisco, and I’d come home on the last train around one
“ Bryant Avenue o’clock [in the morning].

.
;
;
ate err SE dL teeny Aer agp Gabriel: And you felt safe travelling at that hour?

Bn Pe ee ee Scott: Perfectly. Do you know I used to leave my door ajar?

Beer— 1/2 Keg — leave my back door open and never think of closing it!
Budweiser, Coors $34.95 + tax It’s really changed now... But we thought nothing of it,
Wine from France to take the last train home. We used to go over there [San
Eclat 750ML. $2.99 + tax Francisco] to concerts and good plays. Oakland was very
primitive then!

Wine from Germany

Elitar 750ML. $2.99 + tax
Wine from Portugal

Lancer Vinho Verde 750ML. $3.29 + tax

Liquer from Italy
Sole Sunburst 750ML. $2.99 + tax

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Bourbon | pe We Will

Wild Turkey Liter $16.99 + tax as

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Brandy / Be Open
E& J Liter $8.99 + tax ae
Rum
Ron Bacardi Liter $7.99 + tax

Thanksgiving Day!
9 a.m. 7 p.m.
Shop with us for your
Wine, Produce,

Grocery and Beverage
Holiday Needs!

10% Case Discount, All Cases
Cigarettes, Domestic Carton $8.99 + tax

CS eens Sy