Central Station

Welcome Galatea Cafe!

2009-06-29T09:42:00.000-07:00

Just open on Wood Street between 15th and 16th in West Oakland, Café Galatea is a new café bringing life to the area surrounding the Central Station community and its new neighbors at the Pacific Cannery Lofts.
Owner/artist David Ghadini is the friendly face behind the counter serving up an array of expresso drinks, teas, cold drinks, muffins, fruit, cookies, bagels and a breakfast croissant egg sandwich. This is a place where you can meet, sit, eat, relax, and surf the web (internet is free with a purchase). There are also board games including chess and scrabble for a friendly nerd tournament. Café hours are 6:30 am to 2pm but the plan is to extend hours to 4pm as the business grows.

The atmosphere here at Café Galatea is very pleasant, quiet and artful. The walls are hung with paintings by artist Sabrina Fadial and David displays his sculptures throughout. When sipping your coffee, make sure to look up and check out the light that was designed by David. Very Cool!

How Far Would You Travel for a Waffle?

2009-05-13T13:27:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Gold of Gourmet Magazine, a self proclaimed waffle snob, has admitted to traveling miles to taste many a good waffle but states that once he tasted the waffles at Brown Sugar Kitchen it was like he had never tasted a waffle at all. Jonathan describes the yeasted cornmeal waffles at Brown Sugar Kitchen as so light and so crisp that they are almost a different species. We are lucky to have Tanya Holland, brilliant chef and owner of Brown Sugar Kitchen, right here in the neighborhood, a stones throw away from the Pacific Cannery Lofts. Jonathan on the other hand had to travel 400 miles for his waffle. To read more about Jonathan Gold's experience at BSK click here.

KGO Covers Gracie Madden's Home

2009-05-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

The story of Gracie Madden’s home aired Thursday, May 14th on the KGO 5pm news.

Click here for the video; Holliday Development folks are seen in the background working …

Here are some excerpts:

Cannon Constructors stepped up to finish the project with the help of an all volunteer crew, including some who are unemployed.

"It's very heartwarming. Again, we do it because we can. We have the opportunity to take care of somebody else," said Ken Kuhn from Cannon Constructors.

This is one of 40 homes being repaired by the non-profit group Rebuilding Together Oakland Nationally, rebuilding together rehabilitated 4,000 homes and non-profits in April.

"It's wonderful how we're able to leverage the resources that are out here and able to do the work at no cost to our homeowners," said Kym Luqman from Rebuilding Oakland Together.

Good feelings were all around.

"There's is good people still out here and it just overwhelms our hearts," said Edward's mom Leora Clay.

For some history, check out “Contractor abandons family mid-projec t”

A thank you note from Marie and Gracie

2009-05-08T18:47:00.000-07:00

Marie and Gracie live in the Oakland house that we worked on with Cannon Constructors in conjunction with Rebuilding Together. (See previous post)
Below is the text from a thank you note they sent 5-7-09.
Marie and Gracie....it was our pleasure to work on your house!

To the Holliday Sponsors...Angels you are!
My family and I can't thank you enough. We are so pleased with our new home. You are so appreciated for your donation and love and work put out for my family. We haven't smiled in 3 years because of a disaster to our home. (referring to the unscrupulous contractor who ripped them off). But we now know there really are beautiful people willing to come into our lives and change everything. Again thanks just doesn't seem to say enough for your support. God bless you all.
Marie and Gracie
And mon looks forward to looking at her flower bed.

HD & CANNON work on Rebuilding Together house

2009-04-27T21:25:00.000-07:00

For the past couple of years Holliday Development and Cannon Constructors have paired up to sponsor and work on a house in need for Rebuilding Together Oakland. RTO is nonprofit and primarily works with elderly and disabled people in Oakland who can’t afford to fix their homes. This year we worked on a “Heavy House” meaning it needed lots of skilled work to bring it up to snuff. With months of preparation, planning and dedication, the house was completed in two days, April 18th and 25th. Here is what we did:

A handicapped ramp was erected in the the back of the house so the thirteen year old paraplegic boy who lives there could come and go without assistance. When the ramp was completed and the young man first descended down the ramp there were tears in everyone’s eyes.

The team completed the lath and then plastered and painted the house inside and out. Some light electrical and carpentry work was also performed, in addition to sloping and tiling a bathroom floor making it wheelchair accessible.

No one knew at the time that the homeowner had worked with an unscrupulous contractor who was picked up by KGO – 7 On Your Side. They went after the contractor, but the homeowner, Gracie Madden, still did not get her issued addressed. KGO followed up with her to see how see was doing, and she told them that “RTO is fixing my house”. KGO plans to cover this event as a “happy ending”. Regardless if the TV crew shows up or not…it IS a happy ending. Check out the picture of Gracie and her daughter. I must say that it was a pleasure working with them. The sweet potato pie these ladies baked for us was “to die for”!

We got it!

2009-04-06T12:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Cal Inman, project manager at Holliday Development, we now have the final CO for the Pacific Cannery Lofts. CO stands for Certificate of Occupancy and is a document issued by a local government agency or building department certifying a buildings compliance with applicable building codes, indicating that it is ready for occupancy. (a TCO or temporary certificate of occupancy, grants the same rights as the CO but for a limited amount of time) Cal Inman joined Holliday Development in 2005 after studying real estate finance and entrprneurial studies at USF.
He jumped right into project managing the Pacific Cannery Lofts program and has done a fabulous job. Thanks Cal!

KQED SPARK airs

2009-04-06T12:00:00.001-07:00

KQED's arts program, SPARK, recently aired featuring Katherine Westerhout photographing the light in the abandoned Oakland Train Station. If you missed it you can still view the segment and read the copy by clicking here, and searching Oakland Train Station.
ENJOY!

THE QUESTION

2009-03-30T14:10:00.000-07:00

In Dave Newhouse’s Sunday, March 29th, 2009 Good Neighbors article answers THE QUESTION “Oakland's wonderful despite warts”

Excerpts from that article:

THE QUESTION, of course: How can you live in a place like Oakland?

I quickly grew to like Oakland because of this cultural diversity, which has increased over the years. More than any other Bay Area city, Oakland resembles a pocket-size United Nations in its citizenry. Fascinating, indeed.

A fact that's often lost because of Oakland's crime figures, but its residents do get along as a rule. And you can have a good time in Oakland because it's hospitable, not haughty.

People eat well here, too. Oakland has the best soul food and — sorry, San Jose — the best Mexican food. Oakland has the Bay Area's premier ice cream parlor in Fentons, the best pizza at Pizzaiolo, the best bakery at Bake Sale Betty's, and the funkiest watering hole (now that the Kingfish is closed) in Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon.

Yoshi's of Oakland is the best local jazz club, intimate with great acoustics. However, Oakland is a phantasmagoria of international music in its wide-ranging sound. While the Oakland East Bay Symphony isn't as wealthy as the San Francisco Symphony, it isn't as staid either. OEBS director/conductor Michael Morgan is willing to experiment with new composers, and successfully.

And Oakland has restored — count them — two classic vintage theaters in the Paramount and Fox. Name another town where you've seen this happen.

When it comes to sports, Oakland tops San Francisco in world championships with eight (A's four, Raiders three, Warriors one) to five (all 49ers). No major-league city has anyone like Al Davis, who has been a coach, general manager, owner and commissioner, plus he moved his franchise out of town and then, uniquely, moved it back. Only in Oakland.

Oakland has much to offer, including fantastic hiking trails in its hills. And College Avenue, as I've stated before, is the greatest street in America — even before it hits the Berkeley city line — because of its incredible diversity.

Add the quaint European village-like atmosphere of the Montclair district, and that's yet another reason THE QUESTION doesn't bother me quite like it does some outsiders.

Repost from POPNA site

The Velo Lounge at PCL is Full of Bikes!

2009-03-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

Today the Holliday Development staff strapped on their bike helmets and shuttled more than 20 bikes from storage at the HD offices to the Velo Lounge at the Pacific Cannery Lofts. The bikes were purchased from Backroads Active Travel Company based in Berkeley and had to travel from Utah where they were being used and stored for cycling vacations. Any resident at Pacific Cannery Lofts is more than welcome to use a bike for commuting or pleasure. Bike locks are provided and you can get the combination to the locks from the sales staff. For your safety please where a helmut when riding.

For information on routes, rules, safety, commuting and more check out the bicycle section of 511.org. and the East Bay Bicycle Coalition.
A special thanks to BACKROADS for their assistance and generosity.

KQED SPARK program features Westerhout, photographer, at the Oakland Train Station

2009-03-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

Spark follows photographer Katherine Westerhout inside a forgotten West Oakland landmark -- the 16th Street Train Station. Once the terminus of the Transcontinental Railroad, this Beaux Arts gem located just down the street from the Pacific Cannery Lofts is part of the Central Statio n development of West Oakland.

Westerhout's photographs are a selection from an ongoing series of urban landscapes that focus on interior spaces of abandoned buildings in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. For more information and a preview of this episode please check the Spark site.

You can view the spark episode at the following times:

KQED TV9/HD
Wed Apr. 1, 2009 -- 7:30 pm
Thur Apr. 2, 2009 -- 1:30 am
Fri Apr. 3, 2009 -- 11:30 pm
Sat Apr. 4, 2009 -- 5:30 am

KQED Life
Sat Apr. 4, 2009 -- 2:00 pm
Sun Apr. 5, 2009 -- 11:00 am

Produced by KQED Public Television, Spark is about Bay Area artists and arts organizations -- it is a weekly television show, an educational outreach program and a website. More than a showcase for art objects and the artists who make them, Spark takes the audience inside the creative process to witness the challenges, opportunities and rewards of making art.

The Grove at Pacific Cannery Lofts

2009-03-09T13:30:00.000-07:00

The linear garden at The PCL Grove connects the cannery building to the new Cooling Shed Townhouses. Musa basjoo, Banana trees, Papyrus, Bamboo, and Chinese Lantern border a 250-foot long permeable crushed stone walk. Groundcover plantings of Rubus, and Anenome can also be seen in this area. All ground floor living units facing the grove have semi-private outdoor terrace areas where residents may embellish their own homes with individual plantings and furnishings. Yet another beautiful outdoor space created by the Miller Company in conjunction with Holliday Development.

History in the Gardens

2009-03-02T11:57:00.000-08:00

Throughout the project, Miller Company has sited historic elements saved from the original cannery building into the garden areas. In the western entry area historic cast iron wheels, magnificent survivors of the industrial age from the ice making machinery, have been mounted as a sculptural reminder of what once was at the heart of the building. At the eastern end of the Entry Dining Courtyard the factory's original industrial scale, originally used to weigh cans before being loaded onto trains, is placed at the building entrance. Miller Company also incorporated antique switchgear, valves, and gauges now repurposed throughout the project marking underground pipes. Finally, electrical panels from the original cannery are placed at the end of each courtyard. Take a stroll through the grounds and enjoy!

What's with all the MUD!

2009-03-01T16:27:00.001-08:00

It's hard not to notice all the mud on the sales office side of the Pacific Cannery Lofts, especially now that it is being worked and evened out. Curious about what is happening there? We again look to the fine work of Jeff Miller and his Landscape company who are preparing that entire area for a burst of color in the spring. The now primed soil will be peppered with California wildflower and native plant seeds. In this mixture are blossoms that will spring forth at different times throughout the year. So what are they waiting for?....a dry spell... to spread the seed mixture. If the soil is too wet the seeds will rot instead of grow. So keep you eye on the mud. Once the seeds are sown it won't take long for the color to bloom.

Brown Sugar Kitchen News!

2009-03-01T15:52:00.000-08:00

Did you see the food section in today's (March 1) Chronicle. If not, take a look and you will see an article about the fresh spin on soul food featuring Tanya Holland and the bustling Brown Sugar Kitchen. Tanya's delicious dishes are based on specialties from African American kitchens but use local free range poultry and California grass fed beef along with yams and other produce from local organic farms. This application of French culinary style and a more polished presentation is taking the West Oakland community and beyond by storm.
Brown Sugar Kitchen has also just been voted Best Soul Food in Oakland, in the upcoming May issue of Oakland Magazine's "Best of" issue. BSK has truly become an anchor in the budding community of West Oakland. If you haven't already indulged..........need I say more!

Green Thumb Artist

2009-02-24T10:47:00.000-08:00

If you have walked through the Pacific Cannery Lofts you have undoubtedly experienced the beautiful landscaping, courtyards, historic items and seating areas that make the Pacific Cannery Lofts the place you want to live and hang out. Holliday Development has always put serious thought into what makes the difference between a "project" and a "community" and part of that answer is accessibility to inviting outside space where residents, their friends and pets can get to know each other. No one is better at designing and landscaping these spaces than Jeff Miller and his staff at The Miller Company. Jeff is one of the few landscape architects who has explored and mastered landscape design as a way of improving living conditions in urban areas. He has worked his magic on many previous HD projects including the Lofts at 18th and Arkansas in SF, Emeryville Warehouse in Emeryville, and Iron Horse Lofts in Walnut Creek. In the next few blogs I will be covering different aspects of Jeff's work on our gardens and relaying the thought process behind the landscape art. We are so lucky to have Jeff working his green thumb art at PCL.

Jones on "Spin Cycle"

2009-02-23T21:11:00.001-08:00

Jones' first bath at the Pacific Cannery Lofts Laundramutt! The dog washing station is open 24/7 to all residents and their pets. Given the rain we are getting I expect it to be a busy place.
Wear a raincoat if you dog goes on spin cycle like Jones!

Brown Sugar Kitchen Celebrates It's First Birthday

2009-01-14T15:22:00.000-08:00

Just a year ago today (January 15th) Tanya Holland, chef and owner of Brown Sugar Kitchen, opened her New Style Soul Restaurant on Mandela Parkway in West Oakland. Soul is the key word here as it applies not only to the fabulous food served, but the way the food is prepared and served, and the community that dines there. BSK has become this magical melting pot of food and spirit that marks the heart of the West Oakland community. Walk in anyday (or more likely...take a place in line while enjoying a cup of Blue Bottle Coffee) and you will find a buzz from the variety of people who are indulging in BSK culinary delights. The restaurant name, Brown Sugar Kitchen, was explained in last November's Oakbook Magazine article entitled, "Oakland's Got Soul Food" and is worth repeating here. Tanya liked the word "Kitchen" for starters and "Brown Sugar" is a euphemism for an African American woman in addition to being one of Tanya's favorite ingredients. Her hope was to bring something positive to her own neighborhood and a city that she loves. Well Tanya.....you have done it! Happy Birthday from all of us at Holliday Development! We will all be in for some cake soon!

Bookmark it! Prescott-Oakland Point Blog

2008-12-03T15:29:00.000-08:00

I recently went back to check the Oakland Prescott Blog created by Marcus Johnson. I hadn't been there for a while and was amazed at the amount of updated information that is gathered there. From art to culinary interests, from getting around by bus, train, bike or walking, to up to date events in the area....it is all there on this one blog. Easy to navigate and ever growing I would strongly suggest bookmarking this site and visiting it often.

If you have any questions or suggestions, please send a email to blogger, Marcus Johnson and put "POPNA" in subject line.

West Oakland Looks to SoMa's revival model

2008-11-30T20:29:00.000-08:00

The Novemeber 21-27 SF Business Times featured an article paralleling the current changes in West Oakland to the revival of the South of Market area of San Francisco in the late 80's. This neighborhood transformed from an under utilized industrial zone to a booming office and residential district. Rick Holliday had a large hand in the SoMa revival as he developed three of the first San Francisco loft buildings in this area, 601 4th Street, followed by 355 Bryant Street and the Clocktower Lofts on Second Street. Rick and many other developers including Pulte Homes and Bridge Housing believe that West Oakland is on the cusp. Read more

Oakland is Yummy

2008-11-19T09:32:00.000-08:00

With Oakland being the home to brands such as Del Monte Foods, Granny Goose, and Mothers Cakes and Cookies, it has been able to distinguish itself as a city with some serious culinary roots. The epicurean character of Oakland has not only sustained itself, but has expanded to include dozens of other local businesses such as Numi Teas, Revolution Foods and Blue Bottle Cofee. And now, you can experience the "yummy" character of Oakland by taking the Oakland Waterfront Foodtrail, a tour that guides you through Oakland's culinary businesses by bike or foot. Learn more here, and get a real taste of Oakland!

Rick Holliday Interview in the SF Business Times

2008-10-28T16:35:00.000-07:00

An executive profile of Developer Rick Holliday of Holliday Development was published in the October 17 - 23, 2008 edition of the San Francisco Business Times. The tag line on the front page was..."How Bay Area developer Rick Holliday stays aloft". Many people don't realize that Rick's career roots were in affordable housing and that he was the founder of Eden Housing in Hayward and co-founder of BRIDGE housing in San Francisco where he currently serves as Chairman of the Board. After leaving BRIDGE he became one of the first developers to turn in-fill sites into live/work lofts and residential projects in the South of Market area. Having build 16 residential developments throughout the Bay Area Rick is now focused on projects in Truckee, Sacramento, West Oakland and San Francisco. Read Ricks interview in the SF Business Times by clicking here.

Art @ Pacific Cannery Lofts

2008-10-06T12:44:00.000-07:00

Last Friday night the Pacific Cannery Lofts came alive with activity as 30 local artists displayed their work. The art included sculptures, paintings, metal works, collage, fashion and music. The food was provided by Brown Sugar Kitchen, the new "PLACE TO EAT" in Oakland. Pulled pork and vegetable sandwiches followed by individual pecan pies where examples of the delicious fare. The music touched on both Jazz and fabulous violin music accompanied by drums and guitar. Hardly a foot was able to keep from moving!

We will keep you posted of future events in the courtyards of the Pacific Cannery Loft!

Art @ Pacific Cannery Lofts

2008-09-25T12:18:00.000-07:00

WEST OAKLAND AT THE MOMENT celebrates thirty artists that live or work within a three block radius of the Pacific Cannery Lofts. Exploring the mediums of paint, sculpture, and fashion, these artists express the spirit and diversity of West Oakland through their art.

"West Oakland at the Moment" continues
Art @ the Cannery, a 6 month rotating exhibition of local and regional art. Join us October 3rd for a night of food, drink, art and music to celebrate and discover the artists and entrepreneurs that make-up this diverse community.

6pm Friday, October 3rd at Pacific Cannery Lofts 1199 Pine Street, Oakland

Courtyard to Courtyard

2008-09-25T10:17:00.000-07:00

Last week we celebrated the completion of the main courtyard at the Pacific Cannery Lofts as well as the 20 year anniversary of Holliday Development.

To celebrate the potential of what we believe to be our best work to date, we shined a light on the history one of our past projects, the Clocktower Lofts.

The Clocktower has a similar design, the same development team, and also sold in the face of a tough real estate market almost 20 years ago. The Clocktower and Pacific Cannery also hug opposite ends of the Bay Bridge, located just 5 miles apart from each other. While people originally bought lofts at the Clocktower for $200,000 - $250,000 that are now worth 3-4 times that amount, we are now bringing the Pacific Cannery Lofts to the market from $250,000 as well.

To celebrate the communities and the value, Don Bleu of Star 101.3 who has a personal tie to the Clocktower, joined us to host the event. Shuttles took people between the two projects where parties were going on at each location, allowing people to see firsthand how the buildings are just 10 minutes apart, have similar feels, and how an almost identical loft at the Pacific Cannery is as much as $500,000 less than its Clocktower counterpart.

View a slideshow of the event here, and stop by soon to see the finished courtyards at the Cannery.

The Velo Lounge Revs Up

2008-09-22T13:55:00.000-07:00

The Cannery has been buzzing with excitement as it approaches its final stages: finished landscaping, lights in the courtyard....it just seems like yesterday when the scaffolding was up and humming with construction workers.

And now thanks to our fellow bike enthusiasts at Backroads, Pacific Cannery Lofts has snagged some Cannondale bikes to be housed in the Velo Lounge, and welcomed its first batch this week! Whether going to BART, Whole Foods, Brown Sugar Kitchen or Raimondi Park, these bikes will be available for cruising the scenic roads of Oakland. Already have a bike? Not a problem, the Velo Lounge will also serve as bike storage/maintenance where you can meet other fellow bikers at Pacific Cannery Lofts.