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THE

VOL 39   •   NO. 8   •   ISSUE  NO. 422   •   SEPTEMBER 7, 2024                 CIRCULATION: 6,400 RESIDENCES; 200 BUSINESSES

Sponsored by the Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC)  •  4900 Shattuck Ave., PO Box 22504, Oakland  94609

Development Proposal
at 5295 College Avenue
by Casey Farmer, RCPC Chair
Many in our community are talking
about the proposed development
project at 5295 College Avenue. The
developer, Allen Construction, pro-
poses a 15-story building, with 88
apartments, 18 of which would be
affordable units, and ~43,000 square
feet of commercial offices and ground
floor retail space (for more informa-
tion and details, visit the developer’s
website at 5295collegeavenue.com).
Understandably, this project is gen-
erating considerable controversy, both
opposition and support. The Rock-
ridge Community Planning Council
(RCPC) strongly supports more hous-
ing development in Rockridge, both
affordable and market rate, but we
also recognize that this proposal is

Photo: Oakland Fire Department

Photo: Francisca
Darling
A three-alarm fire
broke out at East Bay
Booksellers in the
early morning of July
30th. Pictured above
is the fire as seen from
around the corner on
Clifton Street.
(See story on page 3)

2024 Rockridge Kitchen Tour:
See Great Kitchens as an Attendee or Docent
by Star Lightner, RCPC Kitchen Tour Chair

O
5295 College Ave, see next page

nce upon a time, most kitchens
in Rockridge probably had
Wedgewood stoves and birdcage
refrigerators. In the oldest houses,
the original stove was most likely
wood-burning and, without refriger-
ation available, perishable food was
stored in a “cooler,” which consisted
of a screened cabinet open to the out-
doors on the north side of the house.
These days, kitchen remodels are
more likely tackling 1980s or ’90s-era
remodels by replacing dated oak cabi-
nets, linoleum floors, grout-heavy tile
countertops, and inefficient layouts.
Contemporary remodels often seek to
enhance flow, increase natural light,
and create seating in what has become
the most popular gathering place in
many homes. Other common goals
include energy efficiency and sustain-
ability. And, of course, “granny units”
have evolved tremendously.
Kitchen Tour, see next page

RCPC/NCPC Joint Town Hall
Thursday, October 10, 7pm
Rockridge Library
Upstairs Conference Room
Join the Rockridge Community Planning
Council and the Greater Rockridge
Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council at
a meeting regarding Measure NN, a public
safety funding bill, which is on the ballot in
November (replacing Measure Z).
This joint meeting will discuss the issues
around renewing the police, fire, and
violence prevention funding provided
by Measure Z, which expires at the
end of 2024.
A Zoom link is available to those who wish
to attend remotely. For more details,
visit www.rockridgencpc.com
The Greater Rockridge NCPC
meets every 2nd Thursday of the
even-numbered months.

Photo: Ramona d'Viola
Photography
Kitchen designed by
Amato Architecture
Eight kitchens and two ADUs will be
featured on this year’s Kitchen Tour.


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page 2
SEPTEMBER 2024

Visit RCPC at the Stroll
2024 Rockridge Kitchen Tour: October 13
2024 Rockridge Kitchen Tour Tickets are
Available Online Now thru Sunday, October 6.
Cost: $50 (plus service charge)
The Rockridge News was founded in March
1986 by Don Kinkead and is published
monthly (except August). It‘s sponsored by
the Rockridge Community Planning Council
(RCPC),  a nonprofit public benefit organization
founded to: preserve and enhance the unique
character of the Rockridge neighborhood;
promote the health, safety and quality of life
of its residents; furnish a forum for community
involvement; and provide leadership and
representation of neighborhood interests.
Tickets will also be for sale at Market Hall on the day of the tour.
Cost: $55 (plus service charge)
To purchase advance tickets online, go to:
RockridgeKitchenTour.com or scan the QR Code –>
New this year: Purchase an extra ticket as a donation towards
lower cost tickets for those unable to afford the full cost.
Rockridge News Production
Anna L. Marks .........................Editor & Layout Artist
Jo Ellis........................ Assistant Editor & Ad Manager
Susan Montauk......Business & Distribution Manager
Judith Doner Berne......... Senior Contributing Writer
hensive Tour Brochure describing
each kitchen and listing resources
for those contemplating a remodel of
their kitchen. Docents with extensive
knowledge of the remodels will also
be on hand to answer questions about
each owner’s goals and challenges.
No matter what you have in mind for
your own kitchen, you’ll find design
and construction professionals who
can make it happen for you.
Kitchen Tour, from front page
The eight kitchens and two ADUs
on the 2024 Rockridge Kitchen Tour
are very diverse — ranging from an
extremely functional classic Crafts-
man remodel to a wildly whimsical
reimagining of an entire kitchen and
dining area.
Other kitchens include a sleek
European pallet; two with the unusual
decision not to have an island; one
that lovingly preserved and drew
inspiration from an original 1906
pantry; and one kitchen on its third
remodel by the same owners. Another
home has a remodeled kitchen inside
and a bonus outdoor kitchen complete
with a fully outfitted bar in a con-
verted workshop.
The ADUs offer very different
visions of how to get as much as
possible out of small spaces while
maintaining spaciousness and charm.
Not sure you’ll remember the many
amazing ideas after taking the tour?
Don’t worry, Kitchen Tour guests
will receive a copy of the compre-
RCPC Board of Directors, 2024-25
Casey Farmer.......................................................Chair
Ken Rich..................................................... Vice-Chair
Kim Suczynski-Smith................................... Secretary
Louisa Bukiet.................................................Treasurer
Mark Aaronson, Muhammad Alameldin, Kristen
Belt, Eli Kaplan, Star Lightner, Tom Lollini, Zac
Unger, Zack Walton
Contact the board: chair@rockridge.org
For information: info@rockridge.org
Urgent Call for Docents
Lastly, the RCPC Kitchen Tour
committee still needs MANY more
volunteer docents for the Sunday,
October 13th Kitchen Tour. As a
docent, you get to tour several of the
houses during orientation ahead of
the event, and, on event day, you’ll get
free entry to the other houses on the
tour when you’re not on your sched-
uled shift. It’s a great way to meet new
friends and help your community at
the same time. To volunteer, please
email kitchentour@rockridge.org.
Thank you, because the Kitchen Tour
can’t happen without docents. n
Contacting the Rockidge News
Are there topics you’d like to see covered in the
Rockridge News? Have questions about newsletter
distribution? Want to volunteer to be a Rockridge
News distributor? We’d love to hear from you.
Want to write a Letter to the Editor? Letters
are limited to 450 words and are published at
the editor's discretion. Send letters to: editor@
rockridge.org. Please include your name, email,
and street of residence. Deadline is the 11th of
each month for the upcoming newsletter.
All submissions accepted for publication are
subject to editing for clarity and brevity. The
Rockridge News reserves the right to refuse any
articles, letters, or advertisements.
Newsletter Subscriptions
To subscribe to The Rockridge News, send your
check for $22, payable to RCPC with “Rockridge
News” noted on the memo line.
be constructed now, or in the future;
3) We believe it is necessary to solicit
input from our community before
taking any position.
On behalf of the neighborhood,
we emailed the City to ask about its
position on the project, but have yet
to hear back. RCPC will continue to
follow the project and communicate
with the City, the developer, and, of
course, Rockridge residents.
5295 College Ave, from front page
unusually tall and dense for its
location. 
The RCPC has not taken a position
on the project and believes that it is too
early to do so for a number of reasons:
1) We’re not sure that the developer has
correctly interpreted and applied sev-
eral new state law provisions that they
represent as permitting the project’s
size and allowing for expedited approv-
als; 2) We’re not sure if the project is
financially feasible and could in reality
Mail payment to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Avenue,
PO Box 22504, Oakland, CA, 94609
Display Ad Deadline for OCTOBER 2024:
SEPTEMBER 19, 2024
Advertising rates are $28/column inch ($32 for
color). Six-month pre-pay discounts available.
For display ads, call Jo Ellis at 510-653-3210
(after noon), or email joellis1@hotmail.com.
Classifieds: Email Susan at smontauk@gmail.com.
Views expressed in published articles do not
necessarily reflect those of the Rockridge
News, its editor, or the board of directors of
the Rockridge Community Planning Council.
(For analysis and impact of the new
State housing laws, see page 4)


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page 3
SEPTEMBER 2024

East Bay Booksellers
Consumed by Fire
by Annette Floystrup
Odamage can be repaired,
but fortunately, no one
was hurt.
For Rockridge neigh-
bors, this building holds
many memories. It
began life as the Model
T Garage, most likely in
the late 1910s. When the
building was renovated
in the mid-’80s, workers
found the old mechan-
ic’s pit still in the floor.
From 1945 to 1980,
it was College Bowl,
an eight-lane bowling alley, owned
by Rosy (Rosaire) and Helen Duval,
where generations of Rockridge kids
learned to bowl. Helen Duval was the
first woman member of the President’s
Council on Physical Fitness, appointed
during the Kennedy administration
where she served for five years.
Today, the building is best known
as Diesel, A Bookstore, and most
currently, East Bay Booksellers. Diesel
was opened by Alison Reid and John
Evans, both veteran booksellers at
Pendragon/Pegasus in the then-newly
built Emery Bay Marketplace in 1989.
They moved to Rockridge as Li’l Diesel
in June 1994 into what is now Next
Eyewear until the bookstore at 5433
College was complete. A human chain
passed books hand to hand down the
street in order to stock up their shelves.
Alison and John actively participated
in fundraising for the Rockridge
Library and were instrumental in
Photo by Francisca Darling, Market Hall HR
Manager
n July 30, our neighborhood woke
up to the devastating news that a
true neighborhood treasure, East Bay
Booksellers, had burned in a three-
alarm fire. Sixty firefighters, almost
half those on duty citywide, fought
to keep the fire from spreading to the
adjacent buildings. While the façade
bravely stands, the business and the
building itself are a total loss.
A GoFundMe has passed its initial
goal of $200,000, and fundraising con-
tinues toward future expenses as they
recover. Owner Brad Johnson says,
“To say we’ve been encouraged by the
outpouring of support would be a huge
understatement.” He posts frequent
updates on the store website (see boxed
item on right) and Instagram account.
George & Walt’s lost electricity as
the fire was being fought, but reopened
that afternoon. On the day of the
fire, Vero for Hair hosted the staff
and clients of Elizabeth H/the Art of
Hair Design, which suffered smoke
and water damage. They are now up
and running by appointment. The
Chocolate Dragon Bittersweet Café
is open and escaped damage, as did
upstairs apartments on their half of
the building. Some residents are still
displaced from the apartments closest
to the fire until fire, water, and smoke
Oakland firefighters work to extinquish flames at
East Bay Booksellers, at 5433 College Avenue.
Community Rallies In Support
It took about one week for the Rockridge
community to setup a GoFundMe page
that has raised more than $200k to date
(https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-
east-bay-booksellers-come-back).
The owners are extremely grateful and
want folks to know that they are still
open for business. Visit them at https://
www.ebbooksellers.com.
obtaining many books for the newly
opened library while our commu-
nity waited for City funds to come
through. In August 2017, Alison and
John sold Diesel to their long-time
associate, Brad Johnson and East Bay
Booksellers was born. East Bay Book-
sellers is currently doing business
online, and sponsoring readings at
Gilman Brewing Company.  n


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page 4
SEPTEMBER 2024

50-100 percent increase in the number
of units depending on the amount
of affordable housing provided, with
waivers of zoning constraints such
as height limits and setbacks. They
also allow for the inclusion of mixed
uses such as retail, offices or hotels,
as long as it can be demonstrated as
necessary to achieve the affordability
goals of the project. The SDB program
can enable projects to achieve zoning
compliance through waivers of cer-
tain land use constraints or physical
requirements such as height limits
or setbacks, and become eligible for
accelerated, ministerial approvals.
Additional laws target parking and
CEQA, two of the biggest hurdles in
housing production.
Parking: Additional laws reduced
parking requirements to zero for
housing within a half mile of a major
transportation facility (e.g., BART)
and 0.5 spaces/unit in other locations,
while AB 1317 requires unbundling
parking costs from rent to make hous-
ing more affordable for some.
CEQA Review: Should discretion-
ary review be required to comply with
CEQA, other State laws limit the City
to a maximum of five public meetings
or hearings on any project before ren-
dering a decision. AB 1633 exempts
100 percent affordable projects in
urban areas from any CEQA review.
Locally, the City of Oakland’s
2023-2031 Housing Element and
Planning Code Update was accepted
by HCD last year, and with adoption

RCPC  Land Use Committee
AB 1287, provides incentives for mod-
erate income housing as well. Eligible
projects must comply with “objective
planning and design standards” and
meet other requirements detailed in
Government Code section 65913.4.
The amount of affordable housing
required is dependent on a city’s prog-
ress toward meeting HCD housing
production targets for various levels
of affordability. Because Oakland, like
nearly every other jurisdiction, has
not met these targets, proposed proj-
ects may make use of these incentives
that consist of two key elements:
1) Ministerial Approvals: The
primary tool for streamlining is
to remove all discretionary review
for projects that meet the eligibility
criteria. City Council and Planning
Commission hearings are eliminated,
and design review beyond checking
compliance with objective standards
are not required. Eligible projects
are also not required to demonstrate
compliance with the California Envi-
ronmental Quality Act (CEQA), which
has been a primary lever for stopping
projects over the past 30 years. Public
notice and public input are essentially
removed from the process.
2) Density Bonuses: Concurrent
with streamlining legislation, the
State Density Bonus (SDB) program,
established in the California Gov-
ernment Code in the 1970s, has been
amended multiple times to facilitate
housing production. The SDB allows a

How New State
Housing Laws Could
Reshape Rockridge’s
Future
by Tom Lollini, FAIA, RCPC Land
Use Committee Chair
The California legislature has
passed scores of new laws since
2017 with the intent of addressing the
state’s housing crisis by accelerating
development through a combination
of shortening approval timelines by
reducing discretionary review; creating
density incentives to spur develop-
ment of affordable housing; reducing
parking requirements in urban areas;
and entitling builders to seek waivers
when jurisdictions are not meeting
their obligations to generate sufficient
housing as determined by the State.
The California Department of Hous-
ing and Community Development
(HCD) lays out key housing challenges
for the state that these laws intend to
address. Since 2019, under SB 35, local
governments must have streamlined
options for approving housing projects
that include affordable units.
Governor Newsom signed 56 new
housing-related laws, including SB 423
which extends and expands upon SB
35’s approach until 2036. Another bill,

Land Use, see next page
RCPC  Land Use Committee
Next Meeting:
Wed., September 18, on Zoom
The Rockridge community
is encouraged to participate in LUC
meetings where elements of the
General Plan is a primary topic of
conversation.
Meetings are held at 7:30pm
on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.
To participate, or to request links to
this or any previous meeting,
email landuse@rockridge.org.


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page 5
SEPTEMBER 2024

Land Use, from previous page
of its Objective Design Standards
anticipated this fall, Oakland will
be compliant with HCD regulatory
requirements. These documents
increase allowable heights along
College and portions of Claremont
Avenues to 55 feet, 95 to 100 feet near
the BART Station, 65 feet along parts
of Broadway, and from 35 to 40 feet for
residential lots within the neighbor-
hood. The City’s S-13 Housing Overlay
Zone provides local height and density
incentives for affordable housing along
commercial streets.
Courtesy John Allen
Construction/
JDRV Architects
A pre-application for a 15-story, 170-foot-tall, 256,000 square-foot housing
project at 5295 College Avenue has been submitted to the City of Oakland.
How Might These Regulations Impact
Rockridge?
assertions. RCPC will provide updates
as this project evolves.
Building an Inclusive Vision of
Rockridge’s Future.
spaces and bike parking; plus, private
and semi-public open space. The ini-
tial images on the developer’s website
show a 15-story, 170-foot-tall, 256,000
square-foot project. See the devel-
oper’s website for this project here:
https://5295collegeavenue.com/.
Given the limited number of large,
marginally used sites available for
development along primary corridors
like College, Claremont and Broadway,
the most significant new housing
might come from developments at
either end of College, along Broadway,
around the DMV site on Claremont,
and possibly near BART where
allowable heights are greater. Other
possibilities include incremental devel-
opment of smaller lots along College
with buildings up to five stories, and
possibly seven to nine, or higher if
State density bonuses laws are used.
Within single-family areas where
examples of higher density housing
date back decades, accessory dwelling
units will likely increase, while lots
4,000 square feet or more might be
transformed to four or five-unit build-
ings three to four stories tall, based
on added incentives like no off-street
parking requirements, smaller set-
backs, and increased allowable height.
The current high cost of single-family
homes makes this option financially
unlikely in most cases.
In recognition of how the unfold-
ing development context will bring
significant change to our neigh-
borhood, including strengthening
neighborhood diversity and College
Avenue’s identity as the heart of our
community, RCPC also wants to
ensure we are thinking forward to
improve mobility, public safety, access
to open space and other qualitative
enhancements that support our exist-
ing residents and anticipated increases
in population. Please join us in our
Community Vision efforts by volun-
teering to bring your thoughts, dreams,
and skills to the table. You can sign up
online at bitly/VisionRockridge. n
The project claims to qualify for
as-of-right ministerial approvals
under SB 35 and SB 423, plus multiple
State housing density bonuses and
waives multiple zoning requirements
and objective design standards.
Based on several methods of analysis,
the project appears to make some
assumptions that are neither legally,
physically nor financially feasible.
Inquiries have been made to the City
of Oakland Planning Department to
ascertain the applications status and
the City’s evaluation of the applicant’s
Is The Proposal for 5295 College Ave.
A Beta Test or a Viable Proposal?
In mid-June, the owners of 5295
College Avenue submitted a pre-ap-
plication checklist to the City of
Oakland seeking to redevelop this
multi-building site into a mixed-use
project comprised of 88 units of
housing, including 18 low- and mod-
erate-income units; a 72-room hotel;
office and retail uses, 110 parking


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page 6
SEPTEMBER 2024

Support for High Density
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor: Happy National Night
Out! I enjoyed hanging out with
my Rockridge neighbors and, as
we do each year, pledging to get
together more often. I was a little
disappointed to hear people asking
neighbors to oppose, prior to any
discussion, the proposed Rockridge
Tower development for 5295 College.
I think that’s a great spot for higher
density housing and I’m inclined to
support it. We all talked about how
much we love our local small busi-
nesses and restaurants, but we can’t
keep them afloat on our own. Bring-
ing in new residents and possibly
hotel guests to enjoy College Avenue
sounds like an excellent idea to me.
Housing or Highrise?
Dear Editor: I was pleased to learn
that the owner of the large parcel
of land on 5295 College Avenue is
planning to build new housing there,
including 70 market rate, 18 affordable
units, and a hotel (see artist rendering
on right). But why 15 stories? This mas-
sive structure would be surrounded by
a neighborhood of single-family homes
and small apartments on both sides of
College. It’s one thing to support the
YIMBY cause (Yes in My Back Yard)
because Oakland does need much
more housing, but how would you
feel if a 15-story building appeared
across your backyard and those of your
neighbors?
It doesn’t have to be a question
of either no housing or a highrise.
Something in between, that doesn’t
overwhelm neighbors, that is human
scale, that enhances the sense of
community, would be welcomed. It is
also shocking to me that the City is
no longer required to give any public
notice of such a proposal.
We heard about it from a newslet-
ter distributed by Upper Broadway
Advocates. If you want to be informed,
apparently the only way is to sign up
for newsletters at ubaoakland.org/
take-action. Their last newsletter
outlined seven violations of existing
Oakland codes, including a 170-foot
building in a 55-foot zone. You can
also visit the developer’s website at
5295collegeavenue.com. Is there no
way the developer could be persuaded
to modify this proposal?
Abigail Pollak & Helen Brainerd
Rockridge Blvd.  n
Emily Cronbach
Manila Avenue  n
Letters, see next page
A Coyote Killed My Cat
Rockridge, west of Claremont, and
have never seen a coyote in 32 years,
but now we hear that they’re every-
where. Caution: very small dogs are
also vulnerable… even on a leash.
We miss Tobywan very much, he was
beloved by the whole neighborhood.
Dear Editor: My cat, Tobywan-
Kenobi, liked to sleep in our front
yard. It looked like, late one night
while he was sleeping, a coyote
grabbed him by the throat until dead,
ate his entrails, and walked off with
everything below the rib cage.
We live on Hermann Street in lower
Aparna Ewing
Hermann Street  n


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SEPTEMBER 2024

Letters, cont'd
New Project A Nightmare
Dear Editor: I have been a resident
of Rockridge for over 41 years. I love
rolling around in my wheelchair
through this quaint, friendly neigh-
borhood, admiring the landscape
and the well-kept houses and yards.
I’m appalled that developers would
even propose building a highrise
in this neighborhood. It would be a
monstrosity, and a traffic and parking
nightmare. I hope the idea is perma-
nently shelved.

According to Jake Allen, son of the property owner, five buildings will be removed
at 5295 College Avenue. Most of them have been rebuilt or redone within the
last 50 years, and, as such, are structures of “little or no importance.”

Denise Sherer Jacobson
Clifton Avenue  n
are more naturally affordable to build
than these glass and steel skyscrapers.”
At the CCA site at College and
Broadway, we advocated for 7-8 sto-
ries instead of 19, and for 20 percent
affordable units instead of the 10
percent offered by the developer. We
strongly supported the conversion of
the former CCA dormitory into hous-
ing for the homeless, and for housing
at the Safeway site at Pleasant Valley.
The most recent housing/hotel pro-
posal for 5295 College Avenue includes
70 market-rate apartments and only 18
below-market units in a 15-story sky-
scraper. There is a possibility that this
could be approved despite the gross
violation of Oakland’s zoning and
land-use codes. State Law 423 passed in
2023 allows exemptions and incentives
to build highrises, over-riding some
local laws, due to a certain percentage
of the units designated as "affordable.”
Let’s advocate for a building that is
human scale, respects the surrounding
neighborhood, and provides more
badly needed affordable units in
Rockridge. On a larger scale, let’s
ask our representatives to amend SB
423 to recognize the advantages of
moderate-scale buildings in developed
neighborhoods to incentivize their
construction.
Join UBA in this effort. Sign up at
UbaOakland.org/take-action.
Housing, Yes; Highrises, No
Dear Editor: The plan to build 15
stories of housing and a hotel at 5295
College Avenue reprises a familiar
struggle. Upper Broadway Advocates
(UBA) has been a consistent propo-
nent of new housing in Rockridge and
a consistent opponent of highrises.
We like to quote Brian Hanlon, the
President of California Yimby, in
a 2018 interview with KPBS in San
Diego, who said, “But if you look at
what we’re really asking for, we’re
not saying we want skyscrapers
everywhere. That is not the agenda
at all. We’re saying we want the cities
to build these more traditional forms
again, these sort of two-to five-story
buildings that are human scale, that
UBA Steering Committee:
Janis Brewer, Steve Cook,
Leslie Correll, Joe Johnston,
Nicole Lazzaro, Jennifer McElrath,
Kirk Peterson, Myrna Walton.
Janis Brewer
Coronado  n
Letters, see next page
ROCKRIDGE LIVING AWAITS!
5 2 2 7  M A N I L A  A V E
5 5 3 9  B R O A D W A Y
Coming Soon
Just Listed
Call Daniel
for details
510.843.6400
DRE # 01221457
DANIEL STEA
O V E R  1 0 0  H O M E S  S O L D  I N  R O C K R I D G E


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page 8
SEPTEMBER 2024

nia’s residential energy conservation
requirements (Title 24) are based
on all residential designs ultimately
meeting Zero Net energy require-
ments. These are not just insulation
standards, but also require windows
that let in sunlight, and roofs with
solar panels. Allowing the adjacent
residences to be significantly shaded
is a significant taking. Thou shalt not
steal thy neighbor’s sunlight and solar
power access. Additionally, health
studies on the effects of sunlight on
human physical and mental health
clearly support the need to have direct
light for a healthy life. Landscape also
needs light to survive.
This project also conflicts with
California's SB 330 (Gov. Code sec.
65905.5(c)(1)), which states, “Receipt
of a density bonus including any
[associated] incentives, concessions
or waivers ... shall not constitute
a valid basis” for finding a project
inconsistent with applicable plans and
standards. Any waiver or incentive
that is not clearly and objectively
defined, is subjective and in conflict.
This is one of many building sites
here and in Oakland that are available
to provide housing. Building in con-
formity with residential setbacks still
allows a very large building for this
site. With the new 55-ft. height limit,
it would still be the tallest building on
College Avenue.
Welcome the Spirit of Progress
Letters, cont'd
Dear Editor: Rockridge should wel-
come the application for 88 residential
units (20 percent affordable), plus
retail, office, and hotel space at 5295
College Avenue. This is an opportunity
to address historic exclusionary zoning
and redlining practices that have lim-
ited so many from living and thriving
in our wonderful community. It is a
chance to add vibrancy and diversity
to Rockridge.
Contrary to what a recent “oppose”
flyer claimed, the building is going
through the proper process to request
waivers to local height limits under
the State Density Bonus program.
There are options to build higher
under current law. And height is
desperately needed to keep people in
our urban core and near environmen-
tally-friendly transit. We can’t keep
pushing people of lesser means further
and further into sprawling suburbs.
Forcing them to spend more money
and burn more carbon to access the
opportunities that Oakland offers is
not in the spirit of our progressive,
climate-conscious community.
I welcome a taller building in my
neighborhood (two blocks from my
home) — more homes for people
and more opportunities for small
businesses — accomplished with less
land. And this will not turn Rockridge
into Manhattan. There are few other
opportunities to build tall buildings
among mostly single-family homes.
Let’s make our neighborhood a place
where everyone can thrive. I urge my
neighbors to support this project.
5295 College: Why No Setbacks?
Dear Editor: Setback Requirements:
The 170 ft. high wall adjacent to the
residential zone does not conform
to Oakland’s Planning Code Section
17.33.04, Table 17.33.04, where it states
that “Buildings in the CN-zones shall
have a thirty (30) foot maximum
height at the setback line associated
with any rear of interior side lot line
that abuts an RH, RD, or RM-zone; if
the principal building on the abutting
lot has a height of 30 feet or less, this
maximum height shall increase one
foot for every foot of distance away
from this setback line…” The adjacent
residences are one and two stories, so
this section applies.
Recent residential construction
nearby on Broadway of the six-story
Merrill Gardens and Baxter Apart-
ments adjacent to residential zones are
examples of buildings that meet these
setback requirements. At 5295 College
Avenue, rear and south interior lot
lines abut the RM-zone, and setback
walls over 30 feet high are required to
set back at a 45-degree angle. The res-
idences on Manila Avenue in the rear,
Clifton Street on the side, and even
residences on the other side of College
Avenue at Bryant are all dramatically
affected. A 170-foot-tall wall would
significantly block their sunlight and
seriously affect solar panel output. As
a result of global warming, Califor-
Glen Jarvis
Benvenue Avenue  n
Sam Fishman
Coronado Avenue  n


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SEPTEMBER 2024

Friends of the Rockridge Greenbelt
for the range of businesses along the
street. The streetscape will become
similar to the projects such as those at
Broadway and Pleasant Valley Road.
There will be very little pedestrian
traffic — no strolling to enjoy the
neighborhood because the only ten-
ants who can afford the space will
be chains, and they mostly require a
denser population. There will be lots
of empty storefronts for many years.
If it can’t be stopped, we should
fight this project as hard as possible
and require that it meets every single
code and law such as the 55-foot
height limit. It is criminal to ruin one
of Oakland’s most charming neigh-
borhoods for potentially 18 affordable
units. Most of the relatively affordable
housing units on top of the current
retail space will be lost during con-
struction, never to return. And lastly,
who are the proposed developers?
Letters, cont'd
FROG
Highrise is Wrong for Rockridge
Dear Editor: As a Rockridge resident
on Hermann Street, I am adamantly
against the proposed Rockridge Tower
at 5295 College Avenue. In my career,
I was a licensed architect, real estate
developer, and commercial real estate
broker, frequently representing non-
chain stores.
This project is the wrong scale, the
wrong location, the wrong design, and
blatantly and permanently harmful to
the neighbors who currently use and
support the businesses and live on
College Avenue. The length of time,
noise, dirt, and traffic disruption for
construction for a project of this size
will drive every single small business
off the entire block where it is to be
located, including most of the south
end of College.
The new retail space will be far less
welcoming and totally unaffordable
Creek to Bay Day at
Frog Park
by Alison Drury
In celebration of “Creek-to-Bay Day,”
we are planning a clean-up of Little
and Big Frog Park. This is our chance
to be part of the International Coastal
Cleanup Day — a global effort to
make our planet’s waterways health-
ier. When we clean up debris, not only
does our park look better, but it also
keeps litter out of Temescal Creek, the
Bay, and the Pacific Ocean.
Date/Time:
September 21, 9am to 12pm
Margaret Christoffer
Hermann Street  n
Location: Frog Park, meet at the big
oak tree by the Big Frog play structure
(near Hudson and Claremont) to sign
the waiver to participate.
BART can adequately fund itself for
the future and if BART will continue
as it did pre-pandemic. With San
Francisco office space vacancies near-
ing 40 percent and remote/teleworkers
continuing their work arrangements,
how will BART ridership and reve-
nues increase to support BART into
the future?
I’m encouraged to read any further
development for Rockridge BART has
been delayed. The question of BART
sustaining itself into the future has
challenges. Thus, if BART patroniza-
tion does not increase rapidly, what
sense does it make to pursue Transit
Oriented Development (TOD) at
Rockridge BART? Not to mention
disrupting the support structure to
Rockridge BART and Highway 24 in
any potential construction process
could be catastrophic.
While it is clear Oakland needs
affordable housing, it seems evident
that TOD is not the most prudent
solution to pursue at this time.
Thank You “History Corner” for
Article Regarding Rockridge BART
Tasks include weeding, pruning,
trash pickup, raking, and sweeping.
Families and groups are welcome. Stu-
dents needing service hours for school
can receive a signed letter verifying
their participation.
Volunteers should bring a water
bottle and gardening gloves; we will
have some gardening gloves on hand,
so please bring disposable gloves if
you’d like to borrow a pair. We will
provide tools, but if you have your
own, please feel free to bring them.
In addition, we will be applying a
non-toxic waterproof sealant to our
wooden play structures at Frog Park,
so will require some volunteers (ages
13+) to help. The structures will
be closed that day to allow for the
application and drying of the sealant.
FROG will supply latex gloves.
Coffee and snacks will be provided
to volunteers. If you are part of a large
group interested in participating,
RSVP to: info@frogpark.org no later
than September 15 so we can get a
headcount. See you there!  n
Dear Editor: I’d like to thank Annette
Floystrup for researching, remem-
bering, and writing on the past and
future development of BART
(see July 2024 Rockridge News). It
was ironic to learn the initial BART
planning and development proposed
a high-density/“mini downtown”
development within a quarter-mile
radius of the Rockridge BART station.
How many more classic, architec-
turally interesting Craftsman homes
would have been lost, not to mention
Claremont Middle School? How many
residents of Rockridge would not be
here, as those additional homes would
have been lost and unavailable?
Other questions include: Would
Market Hall have been developed?
Would Trader Joe’s, Zachary’s Pizza,
Ramen Shop, Maison d’Etre, etc. exist
today? Would Rockridge have flour-
ished into what it is today or would
the commercial vacancies and blight
from the 1970s continue today?
Today, the question is whether
Reginald Hammond, III
Rockridge resident  n


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SEPTEMBER 2024

Elevate Your Kitchen:
Easy Upgrades with
Big Impact
by Samantha Moss
a paint color you love. Neutral hues
are usually best for kitchen cabinets
since these are more expensive than
walls to repaint. Another of my
favorite design shortcuts is to switch
out cabinet hardware for a different
style or finish. (Tip: Stick to the same
center-to-center hardware sizes to
minimize the need for drilling and
filling holes.)
(and stay true to the home’s Crafts-
man character, if that’s your style) by
using simple but beautiful ceiling fix-
tures instead. In a larger kitchen, use
multiple flush or semi-flush fixtures
to ensure ample light.
I encourage my clients to install
dimmers everywhere, and the kitchen
is no exception: Turn them up at
mealtimes for cooking and cleanup;
turn them lower in the mornings and
evenings for a softer glow. Lightbulbs
have a surprisingly strong effect too.
Replace overly yellow or too-blue
bulbs with more balanced ones; 2700k
or 3000k bulbs provide a clean yet
warm effect.
Perhaps the easiest kitchen upgrade
to overlook is decluttering. If the
crockpot on the counter hasn’t been
getting much use, tuck it away to
create more usable space. Bring pretty
cookware out of hiding and onto a
pot rack, and take cookbooks that you
don’t use or love to a neighbor’s little
free library. Finally, make the most of
the organic elements that you already
use every day — a basket of lemons,
wooden cutting boards in different
sizes, a small herb garden by the
window — to create natural beauty
and make this space as warm and
welcoming as it is functional.
Aas always, the Rockridge Kitchen
Tour on Sunday, October 13
will be filled with inspiration to
reimagine your space. And while a
full-scale remodel is not on the menu
for most, making a few small but
mighty upgrades can help you love
where you live.
Kitchen cabinets, for example, don’t
need to be rebuilt to be reinvented.
Replacing dated doors and drawer
fronts with new ones in a more
streamlined style can help bring your
space into the present. If refacing isn’t
an option, transform cabinets with
Never underestimate the
power of good lighting to
elevate your kitchen
Changing up your wall color is
another high-impact way to lift
the mood. When you choose your
color, factor in the undertones of
fixed elements like countertops and
backsplash, pairing creamy or wood
elements with warmer wall colors, or
Carrera marble and gray with cooler
wall colors. While popular wisdom
once dictated a shinier satin finish
on kitchen walls for easier cleanup,
today’s much-improved paint form-
ulas let you use a more stylish matte
or eggshell finish to match the rest of
your home. Cole Hardware on College
is a wonderful place to buy paint
samples.
Never underestimate the power of
good lighting to elevate your kitchen.
While many kitchens already have
modern recessed lighting, you can
easily get the same high-quality light
Samantha Moss is an interior
designer and color consultant
who lives on Manila. Visit her at
samanthamosscolor.com or email her
at hello@samanthamosscolor.com. n
RECENTLY SOLD
7916 Greenly Drive
Oakland
Represented the buyer
Sweet 2BR/1BA bungalow on an expansive lot
with raised beds and mature trees. Sold over
asking with 5 offers.
Anne D. Brandon, Realtor
510.682.6644 | 510.339.9290
Anne.Brandon@corcoranicon.com
AnneDBrandon.com
Lic# 01877719
© 2024 Corcoran Icon Properties. All rights reserved. Each franchise is independently
owned and operated.


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SEPTEMBER 2024

Bill and Kathy Garcia
Need Your Help
by Susan Montauk, Rockridge News
Distribution Manager
Sincere thanks go out to Bill and
Kathy Garcia for their service to
the community over the decades.
They have been Rockridge News block
captains of Rockwell for over two
decades and served as docent volun-
teers for practically every Rockridge
Kitchen Tour since its inception in
1995. Kathy and Bill are moving on
and would be grateful, as would we,
for someone to take over their route.
•  Route 04E: Both sides of
6200 Rockwell to 6400 Mystic,
and both sides of 6000 Rockwell
The bundle of newsletters is deliv-
ered to your doorstep on Saturday or
Sunday of the first weekend of each
month. We ask you to deliver papers
that same weekend. It takes only 10 to
15 minutes to do, and it’s a great way
to know your neighbors better.
To get that good feeling that comes
from serving your community please
contact Susan at 510/547-3855 or
smontauk@gmail.com. n
Thank You, Dan Kalb
Dan Kalb, District 1 Councilmem-
ber for the last 12 years, will
not be seeking re-election this
November. Running for the open seat
is RCPC Board Member and Oakland
firefighter Zac Unger, along with
Edward C. Frank and Len Raphael.
Before leaving office, Kalb has
announced additional funding
for artist murals (up to $10k). Grant
applicants may include a District 1
neighborhood organization, com-
munity-based organization, business
association, or a combination thereof;
or an individual artist or pair of art-
ists working with a property owner in
North Oakland.
Interested artists and neighborhood
groups should send in drawings of
their proposed mural to dkalb@oak-
landca.gov. n

Dogs of Rockridge
Ziggy is a 3-year-old rescue Bluhuahua (Blue
Heeler/Chihuahua) who lives in Rockridge with
his people, Jacob and Annie. He was a street
dog in Tijuana until he was about a year old
when he was rescued by a Los Angeles-based
organization. He spends quality time at his
grandparents’ house, also in Rockridge, where
he is dedicated to squirrel patrol. Whenever
he sees his dog friend, Elliot, they get excited
and run in circles for an hour straight.
Maggie is a friendly and adventurous
three-year-old English Labrador
Retriever. She lives on Hillegass, and
when she is not hiking in the Berkeley
Hills she can be found walking to Peet’s
Coffee with her humans (George, Susan,
and Miss Phoebe, a third-grade teacher
at Peralta). Maggie loves making new
best friends with every dog and human
she meets.
Does your furry friend live in Rockridge? If so, send a photo of your four-legged companion
with a short commentary to: editor@rockridge.org.


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page 12
SEPTEMBER 2024

Kitchens for The
Way We Live
by Rebecca Amato, Amato
Architecture
This kitchen was recently redesigned
at a home on Clemens Road.
Rockridge is one of Oakland’s most
exciting neighborhoods, not just
for the great amenities and walkabil-
ity, but for the historic charm of its
early 20th-century homes. A great
kitchen remodel should preserve
the rich character of the home while
updating it for the way we live a cen-
tury later — when the kitchen is the
centerpiece of home life.
1900 vs. 2000: The Kitchen Comes
Into Focus
make their own drinks and socialize
outside the cooking zone. A small
under-counter refrigerator and a bar
sink can just as easily be a place for an
espresso machine or smoothie making
as would be for making cocktails.
kitchen is a gathering place after a
long day at work and school; it’s a
place where people want to socialize
with friends.
A kitchen remodel should take into
account the many ways the kitchen
functions as a center of home and
family life. Ideally, your architect will
create zones in which different activi-
ties can occur while maintaining an
open floor plan in which people can
gather and interact.
Homes in Rockridge were built in
the 1900s and 1920s when families
hired servants to prepare meals;
kitchens were small and often set at
the back of the house, sometimes as
part of “maid’s quarters.” Today the
The Drop Zone
In homes where people enter
through a back door near the kitchen,
it’s great to have a “drop zone.” This is
the place where you can come in and
drop keys, groceries, backpacks, and
shoes — with a designated space for
everything, so the stuff of daily life
doesn’t take over the rest of the house.
Particularly in open-plan spaces, it
can be challenging to keep surfaces
clutter-free. With a drop zone, a
remodel can be beautiful and stand
up to real life.
Island Living
In many families, one person does
most of the cooking; the other may
enjoy sipping a glass of wine at the
end of the day and chatting with
them. A kitchen island allows family
and guests to be in conversation
with the chef while staying out of
“the cooking zone.” For families
with children, an island can also
designate a pathway from the kitchen
to the backyard that doesn’t require
running in front of the stove. Inten-
tionally designing pathways through
an open space is critical to keeping it
functional.
What Makes a Great Kitchen Remodel
A kitchen remodel should take
into account all of the ways you use
that space. The kitchen, after all, isn’t
only a place for cooking and eating.
It might be your home office or the
place where your kids do their crafts
or their homework. Outlets tucked
into drawers can make sure you
have a place to plug in your laptop;
dedicated supply drawers can keep
office supplies handy but out of sight.
Whatever your goals for your space,
a great kitchen remodel is one that
makes your space more beautiful and
functional — with a design that is
customized for you. n
Go with The Flow
Many Rockridge homeowners enjoy
entertaining. To allow socializing
with guests, a plan should provide an
open flow between the dining room,
the kitchen, and the outdoors. A bev-
erage station set between the dining
room and the kitchen draws people
to a dedicated place where they can


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page 13
SEPTEMBER 2024

Oakland Walk to
Prevent Suicide
by EML
S

Claremont Middle School Unveils Multi-Purpose Room

A celebration for Claremont Middle
School was held at the school on
Saturday, August 17, to unveil the new
multi-use space. As reported in the
April 2024 Rockridge News, the school
needed to replace its cafeteria due to
fire damage. The newly built structure
houses a kitchen, a stage platform
for theater performances, several
classrooms, and updated landscaping
outdoors. n
eptember is National Suicide
Prevention Month, and all month
long, mental health advocates, preven-
tion organizations, survivors, allies,
and community members unite to
promote suicide prevention.
Support the American Foundation
for Suicide Prevention’s “Oakland Out
of Darkness, Walk Oakland Walk” by
participating on Saturday, October 19,
at Snow Park near Lake Merritt.
Register online at afsp.org/oakland
by 10/19/2024. On-site registration at
6:30am; program at 7am. Location:
Snow Park by Lake Merritt. Email:
afsp.oaklandcawalk@gmail.com. n
Pictured (right to left): Claremont Middle
School Principal Tremain Moore;
Claremont Middle School student; 
and Claremont Middle School Community
School Manager Edana Anderson
Photo: Oakland Unified Facilities and Planning
Management Division; and Kristin Eaves
of Rockridge
COMING SOON
IN ROCKRIDGE!
Ain't Normal Cafe:
Jammy Egg
5701 College Avenue
arugula. What makes the Ain’t
Normal rendition to die for? Like
everything at Ain’t Normal, it starts
with high-quality ingredients; the
flaky biscuit stands on its own. The
jammy egg is consistent and brilliant
in that it allows these sandos to be
pre-prepared and taste wonderful at
room temp. The aioli and arugula
balance the whole thing out while
completing the trifecta of essential
ingredients (bread, egg, dairy) and
a unique ingredient in the form of a
green leaf (which is blasphemous in
some breakfast sandwich cults, but
not mine). n
— by Galen Wilson
The first published recipe for a
breakfast sandwich appeared in 1897
according to Heather Anderson’s
landmark book, Breakfast: A History.
For more than a century, breakfast
enthusiasts have been iterating,
deconstructing, and reconstructing
on this classic. However, it wasn’t
perfected until recently when Ain’t
Normal Cafe combined a jammy
egg with a flaky biscuit and added
just the right amount of aioli and
348 GLENDALE AVENUE
Delightful, bright and spacious
Craftsman bungalow with
detached office and garage and
all-new landscaping!
Coming after Labor Day...
Contact me for more details!
MAXI LILLEY
510.919.8997
maxi@redoakrealty.com
The Rockridge Realtor®
with a Designer’s Eye
DRE #1919653
*per tax records
Send your favorite bite or beverage in Rockridge to: editor@rockridge.org


THE
page 14
SEPTEMBER 2024

7:1 Faculty-Student Ratio | Max Class Size of 13
DARE to be DIFFERENT
DARE to be DIFFERENT
GRADES 8-12  OrindaAcademy.org

SEPTEMBER Events at
Rockridge Library
5366 College Avenue at Manila
510-597-5017
For Children 
Storytime: Thursdays and Saturdays; 10:30am.
Chess Club: Wednesdays at 4pm. All ages and
skill-levels welcome.
Read to a Dog: Thursdays at 4pm every week.
Origami for All: Join Megan for paper folding
practice every third Tuesday at 4pm, starting
9/16. All ages welcome.
For Teens ages 12 – 18
Teen Advisory Board: Wednesday, 9/11; 4-5
pm. Join the Rockridge Branch Library Teen
Advisory Board (TAB) and take an active 
role in creating, planning, and implementing
programs and services you want to see at your
local library.
For Adults 
Ask Your Area Home Experts: Every 2nd
Friday, noon-2pm. Get answers, tips, and
connections from a Senior Loan Advisor and a
Realtor, both Rockridge locals. Have questions
answered about home ownership, maintenance,
finance, investing, ADUs, downsizing, moving,
and more.

Market talk: Expect market activity to increase this fall with more inventory and lowering rates! Contact me for a specific
valuation on your property.
NEW:
Heart of Rockridge: 309 63rd St @ College Ave (Adjacent Cole Coffee). FULLY VACANT 4-plex, roughly $120k/year gross
income. Expansion potential. Listed @ 1.695M
COMING:
Glen Highlands: 4+ Bd 3+ Ba 3,300+ SqFt 1990s beauty across Hwy 13 from Upper Rockridge - Listed @ $2.1M
September is Awareness Month for:  Hispanic Heritage, Blood Cancers, Library Card Sign-up, Suicide Prevention,
Alzheimer's, Forgiveness, Food Bank, Grandparents, Encouragement, Positive Thinking, Self-Care
HAPPY AUTUMN!

Shop ROCKRIDGE
law office of
dave karlinsky
725 washington st., suite 313  oakland, ca 94607
(510) 788-5700    www.davekarlinskylaw.com
Practicing exclusively in the area of trusts and estates:
• Estate planning

• Probate / trust administration

• Dispute resolution
• Special needs trusts
Please contact me during regular business hours to
      schedule an appointment.

Rockridge Staff Art Show: on view through
September 26th. Come see our creative side.
— Meet the Author —
Wednesday, Sept. 18, 6:30-7:30pm
Naturalist and writer, Obi Kaufmann will dis-
cuss his newest book, The State of Fire:
Why California Burns. Mr. Kaufmann will be
signing copies of the book, available for pur-
chase from A Great Good Place for Books.
This event is sponsored by
Friends of the Rockridge Library
Who is Telling Us the News in
Oakland: A Forum on the State of
Local Journalism.
September 28th, 1-3pm
Meet the voices behind your community’s
stories. Learn how to evaluate the trustworthi-
ness of your news and how to access unbiased
local information. Explore who’s supporting
and funding the news and understand the
new dynamics shaping local journalism. A
panel discussion with representatives from:
Bay City News Foundation, El Timpano,
Oakland Post, and San Francisco Chronicle.
Moderated by Tasmeen Raja, Editor-in-Chief
of The Oaklandside in partnership with the
American Association of University Women,
Oakland-Piedmont Branch.
ROCKRIDGE BOOK CLUB
Meets every 2nd Saturday, 3:30pm to
4:30pm at the Rockridge Library
Please call (510) 597-5017 for
info and to get a copy of the book.


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page 15
SEPTEMBER 2024

RN
Classifieds
Rockridge Dinner Parties
Transform your next Rockridge dinner party
into an unforgettable culinary experience! My
2-hour interactive dinner party for up to 6
guests costs $75pp. Elevate your next event
and contact Tony at 773-844-4655!
Handyman Service:
House Repairs & Remodeling
Dry rot, kitchen, and bath tile refurbishing
or installation, window installation, plumbing,
fencing, deck & handrail repair, electrical wiring,
fixtures, outlets. And much more. Call Juan
341/221-9200 or email 5826.jbv@gmail.com.
List your 36-word message here for only
$22 (phone number counts as one word).
Make check payable to RCPC, and write
“Rockridge News Classifieds” in the memo
line. Mail to: RCPC, 4900 Shattuck Ave.,
P.O. Box 22504, Oakland, 94609-20131.
End-of-Life Support
How might one prepare to die well? Local
death doula Nikita can help facilitate these
sometimes-overwhelming considerations —
offering understanding, companionship, edu-
cation and practical resources. Also available
for grief support. Call 510/877-0544 or visit
ww.belovedandbanshee.com.
Electrical Remodels and Repairs
Is your generator ready for the next power
outage? I can do the wiring.  I’ve been doing
electrical work in Oakland and Berkeley for
over 35 years. Sutorik & Company; www.
sutorikandco.com; Lic #397149; 510/655-3677.
For more information, email Susan at
smontauk@gmail.com.
Deadline for October’s newsletter is:
September 19, 2024 (available Oct 5).
Garden Maintenance,
Cleanups & Design
Experienced team of two dedicated to the art
of gardening. We specialize in garden mainte-
nance, cleanups, and custom garden designs. To
contact us, please email yourgreengardeners@
gmail.com. Check us out at www.yourgreen-
gardeners.com. n
Reward-Based Dog Training
Does your adolescent pup need help with
basic obedience, leash manners or impulse
control? We offer private training customized
to help your dog succeed! Please call 510/646-
9657 or visit dogsquaddogtraining.com for
more information and to get started.
Penelope’s Aesthetics!
It’s warm, Fall is around the corner and your
body is exposed. Oh my, time to wax! Private
cottage salon in a relaxing garden setting. Lash
and brow waterproof tints too! penelopecalef.
com; 510 594-1552.
Handyman for Hire
Multifaceted and well-experienced. Hauling and
towing available. No job too small. Reasonably
priced. Lee Self. 707/223-1298-call and text.
JEWELRY REPAIRS
Formerly of High Strung and Blue Door Beads!
Marilee is now doing repairs as an independent
contractor. Please email her at mjwrepairs@
proton.me for all your jewelry repair needs!
CollegePrep
A private high school in Oakland
HARDWOOD FLOORS
Install, sand/refinish, repair, re-coat existing.
Large jobs or small. Twenty-plus years in Pied-
mont Ave/Rockridge. Bruce Williams Wood-
floors. Please call or text Bruce at 510/652-
8121. CA  Lic # 913727; www.blwfloors.com.
Tucked into a glen in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland, College Prep’s
informal and welcoming campus provides an educational home for a lively and
talented community of students in grades 9-12. Guided by inspiring teachers
and mentors, they create a vibrant community that is rooted in shared values of
kindness, respect, and a willingness to learn from the perspectives of others.
We invite you to visit us and experience College Prep first-hand.

6100 Broadway    Oakland CA 94618   510.652.4364   college-prep.org
ReUp Refill Shop

Every Wednesday
Seniors Get
Ten Percent Off
• 6025 College Avenue •


est.               1967

THE
REFRESHED TEMESCAL CONDOS
STILL
AVAILABLE
SOLD
4811 Telegraph Ave #502
Penthouse Style Unit
3 Bed, 2.5 Bath in 1,726 SF
3 Decks, Bonus Loft
Abundant Storage
2 Car Parking
Fantastic Walkable Location
$1,074,000
414 40th St #202
Sweet Flat w/ New Tile Floor
2 Bed, 2 Bath Flat in 1,002 SF
Balcony, In unit laundry
1 Car Parking
Fantastic Walkable Location
Listed at $599,000
SOLD for $675,000
ANDREW PITARRE
“I know Rockridge”
We look forward to seeing you at the Rockridge Kitchen Tour