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A neighborhood eyesore

By Chris Nichols Special to the Daily Planet
Saturday August 03, 2002

Dozens of residents in south Berkeley are burning mad about two vacant buildings on the bustling 3000 block of Telegraph Avenue. Gutted by fire earlier this year, the structures have since become a haven for graffiti and the homeless. 

“[The site] screams do something,” said Thomas O’Connell, a resident who lives across the street from the scorched buildings. “Anything to expedite the blight of the burned-out buildings would be an improvement.” 

O’Connell might just get his way. The city manager’s office said this week that property owner Edward Dair, who lives in San Francisco, is close to reaching an agreement with a non-profit developer about a new project for the site. 

Though Dair could not be reached for comment, Jim Hynes, an assistant to the city manager, said the new project would likely consist of a few housing units and a small business. 

Before the fire on Jan. 26, Milt’s Coin-Op Laundry and Avenue Liquor operated at 3055 Telegraph Ave. 

In the past seven months, however, neighbors say the site has been repeatedly covered in graffiti and attracted a number of transients who now urinate and defecate there. 

“We’re working aggressively on this [problem]. The longer the site stays as it is, the worse things will get. We’re using every tool in our disposal to find a solution,” Hynes said. 

Dair has been warned by city officials that fines will be imposed upon him if the condition of the site is not improved. At this point, though, no penalties have been assessed.  

 

The city has also erected a chain-link fence outside the buildings to prevent trespassing. Additionally, the city has painted over graffiti at least five times and removed trash frequently from the premises. 

But the problem remains, residents say. Neighbors want graffiti and the homeless presence to be eradicated and, secondly, they want the vacant structures appropriately replaced. 

Dair has pledged to paint over all graffiti on the site this week, according to Hynes. New locks will also be placed on the chain-link fence, Hynes said. 

City Councilmember Kriss Worthington, the city representative for the south Berkeley neighborhood, says leaving the graffiti sends the wrong message to both residents and visitors. 

“It’s such a prominent location and major eyesore. Leaving the graffiti there tells people that this person doesn’t care about this building,” he said. 

In the long term, residents want the laundry mat that burned down to return. Many, however, hope the adjacent liquor store will not come back. Neighbors say that the liquor store perpetuated crime in the area. 

“I’d be glad to see [Avenue Liquor] go,” said Nancy Carleton, co-chairperson of the Halcyon Neighborhood Association.  

“[But] we need to get the laundry mat back as quickly as possible,” O’Connell added. “It was like a social institution. People actually met other people there. It’s good to know your neighbors.” 

Tuesday night, members of the Halcyon Neighborhood Association are scheduled to discuss the future of the site during the neighborhood’s annual rally National Night Out Against Crime. 

“It was a huge tragedy that the fire happened to [Dair]. It was a huge tragedy to the neighborhood. But he’s got a responsibility to the community. It’s becoming a blight,” said Douglas Burnham, a local resident and architect.