Quote:
Originally Posted by Private Dick
Really? I disagree. Oakland, of all places should ardently preserve as much historic architecture as possible.
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I'll elaborate the points I made before.
1. That portion of North Oakland was originally called Bellefield, and was built out in a very similar vernacular to Shadyside, Highland Park, Friendship, and East Liberty. The vernacular was slowly eaten away by apartment construction between the 1920s and the 1970s. There really isn't much of old Bellefield left aside from the 200 block of N Dithridge, and the 300 blocks of N Craig and Melwood. The neighborhood vernacular has shifted to being apartments - indeed, the neighborhood is one only two real apartment districts in the city, and has unquestionably developed the highest population density of any census tract.
2. These houses are quite nice, theoretically speaking. But due to being in Oakland, as long as they are standing they will quite likely never be anything other than slummy subdivided apartments. Or possibly frat houses, or maybe the offices of nonprofits. They will never be "returned to glory" as single-family houses however. It's also almost as unlikely to see them turned into condos.
3. Ultimately, the trade off in density is worth it. Most beautiful historic houses have been demolished in the name of "urban renewal," or for things like parking lots and autocentric commercial strips. These are going to be knocked down for a residential highrise, with commercial on the ground floor. I have no doubt that the new building won't have as much charm, but IMHO the density boost is more than worthwhile.
Note that these have not been the only houses demolished in Greater Oakland lately. As part of the new apartment project in West Oakland they knocked down
these two. I believe a hotel is being built there now.
CMU is planning on demolishing this building soon as well. I don't think, as Oakland continues to redevelop, it's really tenable that many single-family houses will be retained in the most intense areas of development. And IMHO this is fine, 70%-90% of people are renters, and most of those who aren't own condo units.