Tag: Oakland

Garavaglia Staff in the News!

Garavaglia Architecture, Inc.’s Architectural Historian Sarah Hahn makes it into the news coordinating a Heritage Young Preservationists Network event. The event included a walking tour of the Oakland and was part of the monthly group gatherings. Heritage YP is a group based in San Francisco, geared for preservation minded people under 40.

Garavaglia Architecture, Inc.’s Marketing Manager and Oakland Heritage Alliance President, Dea Bacchetti was also quoted in this article of the importance of this group and raising awareness of the preservation field.

For more information on HeritageYP: http://heritageyp.wordpress.com/

Click here to read the full article.

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!