"As the Oakland Heritage Alliance embarks on its 25th year, we decided to highlight the organization's events, publications and pressing issues," said current president Naomi Schiff. "We are looking forward to an active year, with tours, programs, and our ever popular 'Partners in Preservation' awards."

The nonprofit group, 1,000-members strong, is looking to add new folks to the rolls who have an interest in heritage, local history and community revitalization.

"Our members tend to get involved, and we always have things for volunteers to do, whether signing up to speak at meetings, sending in comment letters, researching and leading summer walking tours or helping to prepare landmark nomination forms," said Schiff.

"There is always something going on," she said. "We look to our administrative staffer, Stacy Stern, to keep things organized. She can be found most afternoons at our 17th Street office."

During their recent move to their new location (after several years as tenants at the historic Camron-Stanford House), Schiff and other board members came across some terra cotta building fragments from a long ago demolished building. "I believe they were rescued when the old Dalziel Building on 15th Street was torn down to make way for the new city administration center. Oakland has such as wealth of terra cotta trimmed older structures, and it is a shame when they cannot be saved."

Although the Dalziel Building is no more, other important landmarks remain in need of OHA advocates' support. "We are closely following the fates of the Ninth Street Cargo Terminal (in the midst of potential residential waterfront development) and the landmark 16th Street Train Station," also destined to be surrounded by new housing if project proposals in the pipeline receive approval, she said.

"The 1925 cargo terminal, constructed with voter approved bonds, has the highest survey rating — based upon its historical and architectural significance. It would most likely qualify for federal preservation tax credits, so we feel the development team needs to evaluate its reuse potential very carefully.

"Similarly, the train station, if restored to house a possible museum and community center — as project developers are proposing — holds great promise. We are urging that the entire complex be retained, for the sake of its overall historic integrity."

Maintaining the station's eligibility for the National Register hinges on keeping the structure intact to the extent possible. A letter to that effect from the National Trust for Historic Preservation was submitted to the Planning Commission at its recent public meeting on the project, Schiff explained.

OHA's web site, www.oaklandheritage.org, contains information on the group's position on the Ninth Avenue Terminal, as well as references to other pending issues relating to landmark buildings.

"We will have the dates and descriptions of our upcoming walking tour series posted shortly," Schiff said.

There is also a reference on how to research the history of a building, links to other organizations and a gallery of rare and fascinating historical postcard views of Oakland.

The OHA display at the State Building is on view through April.

"Stay tuned for Preservation Month, coming up in May," Schiff said. "More activities will be forthcoming."

To contact the Oakland Heritage Alliance, call 763-9218.

Oakland Tribune
401 13th Street
Oakland, California 94612
(510) 208-6330 Switchboard
(510) 293-2709 Online Content
www.oaklandtribune.com