Dea Bacchetti – Garavaglia Architecture, Inc.

Dea Bacchetti speaks to the First Unitarian Church of Oakland

As President of Oakland Heritage Alliance, Marketing Manager Dea Bacchetti spoke to the First Unitarian Church of Oakland in a speech titled “Affirmations,” about the Church’s efforts to rehabilitation and Oakland Heritage Alliance assistance as a partner in this 28 year venture this past weekend. In her speech she recognizes the Church’s challenging but successful endeavor and its importance:

“Opened in 1891, and built solely with materials timbered, quarried, or otherwise made in California, this superbly crafted Richardsonian Romanesque style building has withstood the test of time. Over 100 years, and two earthquakes later, the structure has gracefully provided a home for Sunday services, hosted thousands of meetings, weddings, and events. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, the church is also a California Landmark and arguably one of Oakland’s more significant historic buildings… Through your actions you have preserved this shining gem and have served as an example to all: how a group of dedicated people can make a difference in preserving our past for future generations.”

Mills Act Passes in Oakland

Oakland City Council voted unanimously to adopt the Mills Act historic property tax abatement as a permanent program. The program had been in a pilot phase for two years only open to residential properties while the City assessed the program. The fully adopted program has been expanded to also include 2 or 3 commercial properties per year.

On December 8, 2009, Oakland City Council voted unanimously to adopt the Mills Act historic property tax abatement as a permanent program. The program had been in a pilot phase for two years only open to residential properties while the City assessed the program. The fully adopted program has been expanded to also include 2 or 3 commercial properties per year. The new legislation allows for larger commercial buildings located in downtown Oakland to be eligible for the program and there is a provision for commercial buildings from other parts of the city if they get special permission from Oakland City Council.

Oakland Heritage Alliance, a local non-profit, lobbied heavily for the program as a way to kick start revitalization and give individual homeowners incentives to become stewards of their historic properties. At least four or five presidents of OHA, and dozens of board members, have worked for years to get this implemented.

Dea Bacchetti, Garavaglia’s Marketing Manager and current President of Oakland Heritage Alliance says: “OHA owes a huge debt of gratitude to JoAnn Pavlinec of the Planning Department and to Betty Marvin of the Cultural Heritage Survey, as well as to Eric Angstadt, Planning Director, for having continued to work on this idea over the past four years. JoAnn and Betty applied for the city’s original National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Johanna Favrot grant that got the pilot program started. It was great to have the Landmarks Board’s ongoing strong support, and the Planning Commission was enthusiastic as well.”

Vice Mayor Ignacio De La Fuente sponsored the legislation and it was supported by the local developers of the Oakland Builders Association, with John Protopappas of Madison Park Financial also putting in a supporting letter. The hope is that in speaking with property owners, realtors, and developers, folks will keep in mind that the best way to keep this program active will be to make sure there are applicants to use it. Spread the word!

Benefit Event for the National Trust for Historic Preservation

Garavaglia Architecture participated in the Sip Some Wine & Walk Through Time benefit for the National Trust for Historic Preservation at the Old Mint.

Garavaglia Architecture, Inc., was invited to participate as an exhibitor for the Western Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s benefit Sip Some Wine & Walk Through Time on October 7th. The event was hosted in the “Old Mint” located at Fifth and Mission Streets in San Francisco.

The Old Mint, sometime referred to as the “Granite Lady”, is a national landmark and was built between 1869 and 1874. Not only was it one of the few buildings to survive the 1906 earthquake, but at one point also produced 59% of the US gold and silver coins and held one-third of the nation’s gold reserves during the great depression. Currently, the building is undergoing restoration for use as home to the San Francisco Museum & Historical Society.

Representing the firm were Mike Garavaglia, Principal, and Dea Bacchetti, Marketing Manager. Sheila Mc Elroy, Principal of Circa: Historic Property Development and longtime collaborator with Garavaglia Architecture Inc., was also present.

Knight Foundry Historic Structures Report

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