What are they building in Oakland? (Pittsburgh, Lincoln: apartment, condo, designs)

[Copanut]

I hate it when you urban types erect cookie cutter buildings.

[andyt4579]

Originally Posted by Copanut

I hate it when you urban types erect cookie cutter buildings.

Does look like the sibling to that 'meh' building they put up at the corner of Forbes and Boquet a dozen years ago.

[Impala26]

So is the old Jewish Community Center building (now Lamar Building I believe) going to demolished in the process? If so, that's a shame, but aside from the facade it doesn't appear like it has anything else going for it that's worth saving--it has a rather awkward orientation. Also, that whole area at this location between Fifth and Forbes has been CRYING OUT for a makeover.

Maybe one day they'll make a better "portal" out Oakland's Bates Street entrance as well...
(seriously some of the slum-iest looking houses are on Bates Street right above the Boulevard of the Allies. City Planners can do better)

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Impala26

So is the old Jewish Community Center building (now Lamar Building I believe) going to demolished in the process?

Probably. At various points they talked about trying to preserve the facade in some way, but it was never a recommended option and I suspect won't be done.

Which I agree is a shame.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Geeo

I like the look. Blends in pretty well with other Oakland architecture.

I like it for the same reason.

[PreservationPioneer]

I was **** that the Historic Review Commission recommended demolition of the University Place building. Why do we have an HRC, if not to preserve historic buildings in historic districts?

I'm also not happy that the Lamar building will probably be torn down.

I'm even more unhappy that most of the historic architecture in the Bluff is sitting in ruins or has been turned into parking lots.

Are the facades downtown at Wood and Fifth being preserved, or are we losing those, too?

Oh, and count Spring Garden as another historic neighborhood that will probably not survive.

The demolition of the Produce Terminal is some more icing on the cake.

[nuwaver88]

Here is another article on Oakland Portal with a hard to come by rendering of an apartment building. Oakland Portal project underway, 47-unit apartment building, office towers and hotel

The apartments resemble Linclon at North Shore.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

Are the facades downtown at Wood and Fifth being preserved, or are we losing those, too?

They have been carefully removing the facades, so it looks like they are salvaging that material. Previously they suggested maybe something from the facades would be incorporated into the design, but I haven't seen any details since then.

I'm not happy that is the outcome, but I viewed it as inevitable when I saw that the main preservationists in town weren't willing to take up the cause of leaving a continuous line of historic facades in place.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by nuwaver88

Here is another article on Oakland Portal with a hard to come by rendering of an apartment building.

Ugh--that's an extremely dated design.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Ugh--that's an extremely dated design.

I agree. Blech!