Features

Commission Delays Nexus Vote, Looks at West Berkley Proposal: By RICHARD BRENNEMAN

Friday September 17, 2004

Large contingents from the arts community and supporters of the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society turned out for the airing of a proposal to landmark two vintage West Berkeley buildings owned by the humane society and occupied, in part, by the artists. 

Both sides now say they want to preserve the structures, including a 1924 unreinforced two story brick building constructed by the Austin Company, the same firm that built two other Berkeley landmarks, the Heinz and Sawtooth Buildings. 

The real issue is the fate of the Nexus Gallery and Collective, a well-respected artist community which has occupied much of the site for nearly three decades. 

The artists want to stay, but the humane society needs more space. 

Mim Carlson, executive director of the humane society, had requested a two-month delay on the landmark application. “We are definitely going to be doing a retrofit, and we are not contemplating demolition,” she said. 

Though the commission heard comments from Nexus supporters, including some of the original founders, they accepted Carlson’s request and postponed a formal hearing on the testimony until their November meeting. 

The commissioners also got their first look at plans for a four-story condominium development that would take up most of the entire 700 block of University Avenue. 

Appearing before the panel was Dan Deibel, director of development for the Urban Housing Group—the San Mateo firm promoting the project that would fill almost the entire block between University Avenue and Addison Street and between Third and Fourth streets. 

Originally proposed as a five-story complex, Deibel presented the commissioner with plans for a more modest four-floor structure. 

The proposal falls within the commission’s purview because the site also includes the old Berkeley train station. 

Deibel said Brennan’s restaurant, one of two eateries now located on the site, would be relocated to the train station. The plans do not include new quarters for Celia’s, a popular Mexican restaurant at 2040 Fourth St.