Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 36

1 i 36 Oakland Tribune, Thursday, Jan. 5, 1961 OAKLAND'S Planners Approve Coclttail Lounge 6-0 Commission Vote OKs Facility for Apartment House 5 Joe Reich for a conditional use permit to construct a 13-unit apartment house at 360 45th APPLICATION HELD a ref sn Decision on Rezoning Pica Pos The Oakland City Planning Commission has delayed a decision on a "problem" re-zoning application in the West Oakland redevelopment area pending a meeting with the Redevelopment Agency, The meeting date not set-will discuss 'difficulties arising from conflicts between the agency's long-range plans for redevelopment and current plans- of owners to develop their property. An application from William Taylor to rezone 882 20th St. from multiple dwelling to light industrial in order to construct an addition to a public garage triggered the meeting, OWNER AGREES Taylor's property is in an area schedulei for redevelopment as residential property. Taylor agreed to the delay yesterday after Elmer J.

Schmitt, agency chairman, wrote the commission asking for an early meeting. Schmitt the agency "sympathizes with and shares the commission's concern that long range plans extending into the future do not unduly inhibit the normal and proper improvement, expansion or exchange of private property and particularly healthy new investment in the community. "We are equally concerned, however, that we enjoy a harmonious understanding and cooperation in our recommendations to the city council concerning proposals which despite their seeming worth in investment are clearly substantial departures from the intentions of both the General Plan and the General Neighborhood Renewal Plan." said the two, agencies should periodically keep abreast of one another's thinking in the development of the community. FEDERAL FUNDS In other action involving redevelopment the commission yesterday satisfied a requirement for federal funds by agreeing to "initiate possible rezoning and make a recommendation to the city council in accordance with the rezoning map for the Acorn Redevelopment Project area." The commission action is necessary to support the agency's final project report to the government on the Acorn prqject. boned The addition of a cocktail lounge to the Hill Castle Apartments at 1431 Jackson St.

has been approved by the City Planning Commission. The commission voted 6 to 0 yesterday to recommend to the City Council that an exception to use of property regulations be granted to permit the lounge in a multiple-dwelling district" It will be before the council next Thursday. City Planning Engineer Cortfin-R. Mocine recommended approval. said the facility, formerly an apartment hotel, is being converted to an apartment house operation.

Rapid development of new large apartments in the area creates a demand for such services, Mocine said. NEW ENTRANCE The only exterior change in the building will be a new entrance at the front. In other action the commission approved and sent to the council for decision conditional use applications for construction of a -s i i apartment building at 3101 Curran and for a seven-unit building at 9426 Hillside Ave. It recommended to the city manager denial of a request for a permit to operate a rag and paper baling machine at 422 29th Ave. as part of a salvage operation.

After public hearings the commission referred to staff for study and report Jan. 18 applications from: 1 McArthur and Buttles to rezone property on the southwest corner of High and Pen-niman Streets from multiple dwelling to commercial in order to build a new service station. 2 Dee Wade to rezone the southwest corner of 31st and Market Streets from light industrial to commercial to construct a building housing two stores and five apartment units. f. 3 Manuel Griffin for an extension of a non-conforming use in order to continue conversion of a two-unit building at 2422 Myrtle St.

into four-units. 4 C. H. McCaslin for a conditional use permit to. remove two vacated buildings and add three new dwellings to bring the total of living units to 17 at 2737-51 Humboldt Ave.

A DESTRUCTION BALL SHATTERS A LONG-TIME TEMPLE OP DREAMS AT 40TH AND TELEGRAPH The Fox Senator Theater, a one-time favorite movie palace, succumbs to progress 17TH CENTURY PAINTING VANISHES FROM HOSPITAL 'Final Study1 Scheduled on Museum Site Curtain Rings Down on Old Fox Senator BERKELEY, Jan. 5-The theft of a 17th Century oil painting at $750 from Alta Bates Community-Hospital was reported to police here today The painting, The Virgin Mary and -The Saviour by an unknown French artist, disappeared sometime between 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and.6 a.m. yesterday morning. It was taken from the What is hoped will be-the study of a site or a 4 proposed new museum center be conducted by the City Planning Commission in conjunction with the Library and Museums Commission.

r. Following a city council directive the two agencies met together yesterday to discuss the new. survey which they The end js almost in sight for the Fox Senator Theater, which over the decades has played host to hundreds of thousands of celluloid fans. Radio dealt a mortal blow to the family movie theater and television finished it off. Six months ago the Senator, located at 3856 Telegraph was sold to Bischoff's, Oakland surgical company.

They're now tearing it down. Campanella Wrecking Company began demolition on Dec. 27, crashing a ball against the building's 900,000 pounds of concrete and 350 tons of steel. Clearance of the site is expected by Feb. 27.

Looping Streets Are Here to Stay --agreed will first evaluate r-three downtown sites proposed TRAFFIC TOLL At This DM Kill Inlurti "i960 26 This Year 21- DANGER ZONE 76th Avt. and E. 14th VIOLATION Pedestrian right-of-way. 3 Clinton Park mi I Churches nan Open Houses Three churches which have decided to face the challenges of the rejuvenated Clinton Park area will hold open houses for, three successive Sunday afternoons beginning this Sunday. They, are St.

James Episcopal, 12th Ave. and Foothill Wesley Methodist Center, Eighth Ave. and' East 17th and Brooklyn Presbyterian, 1433 12th Aye. AIT open houses will be from 4 to 5 p.m. Each church will have displays recalling glories of other eras and each will make known its plans for new beginnings in the future.

CHALICE DISPLAY The Rev. Frederick Latti-more will be the host for the open house, this Sunday at St. James Episcopal. On display will be several historic chalices. Ladies of the parish will conduct tours and serve coffee.

The Rev. Magee Wilkes will be the host pastor at Wesley Center on Jan. 15 and the Rev. Hovey Hovaglmiam will be the host at the Brooklyn Presbyterian open house, Jan. 22.

Brooklyn Presbyterian will celebrate its centennial Feb. 19. A 100-year-old pipe organ will be featured during its open house. These century old churches have been literally snatched like brands from the burning. Not many months ago all three were destined to be scrapped by wrecking crews.

RESPONSIBILITIES Each came to the conclusion that instead of seeking greener pastures it had a responsibility to serve and accept the opportunities the areas presented. Each has invested several thousand dollars in reconstruction and remodeling. After these individual decisions, the leaders of each congregation began to meet and as a result they are working on cooperative ways of attacking common problems. Fire Sweeps Auto Shop Here A spectacular three-alarm blaze swept through Anne-reau's Auto Upholstery Shop, 3050 Brook last night and completely gutted the single-story structure. Fire Chief James J.

Sweeney estimated damage to the brick building and seven cars parked inside at $50,000. Flames in the combined upholstery and paint shop erupted into the early evening sky and were visible for several miles. Several minor explosions, apparently caused by cans of paint and lacquer, were heard by witnesses shortly before firemen arrived. Five persons, including an elderly couple, were evacuated from an adjoining apartment house at 3054 Brook St. when it appeared the fire might spread.

John Soloman, 19, a garage employee who lives at 210 Ridgeway noticed the fire shortly before 6 p.m. and had a fellow employee call the fire department. Firemen arrived to find the building completely engulfed in flame and immediately turned in two more alarms that summoned a total of 60 firemen and 11 pieces of equipment. They fought the stubborn blaze for more than 45 minutes before bringing it under control. Heavy commute traffic xn, Broadway was backed up for several blocks while drivers slowed to watch the fire a block away.

Police finally rerouted the cars over side streets. Chief Sweeney, vho said the of the blaze js still undetermined, theorized it started in a loft near the front of the building where the uphol-sterihg materials are stored. Only the charred brick walls remained' after the fire was, Dut out. by the museums group. The oneninff meeting was complicated by a lack of un After a 3 to 3 vote failed to decide the matter, an applica tion from Saul Pearce for an exception to, use permit for construction of a two story, eight-unit apartment building at 3070 Pleitner Ave.

was held for a full seven-member commission vote. Another application from Pearce for construction of a two story, eight unit apart ment building at the southeast corner of Nicol Ave. and Capp St was held over for redesign of the building. An application from' Herbert A. Bonner for rezoning of 449-51 West MacArthur Blvd.

from multiple dwelling to commer cial was held over to allow him to change his request to an exception to use. Held for two eek was James Claymore's application for an exception to use to con struct a three-story, six-unit apartment on the east side of 34th Ave 120 feet south of Salisbury St. A request from several property -owners that a pedestrian path connecting 61st St. to Howell and 60th Streets be closed was rejected oh grounds that is not the method to cor rect alleged juvenile mischief problems. And Mocine was directed to inform' Mark J.

McDonough that a problem detailed in a letter from him is being considered as the commission develops a new set of zoning laws. McDonough, of 7121 Saroni Drive, complained that "speculative builders" are being permitted to build homes on narrow hill area streets without providing off-street parking. Katanga Orders Newspapers Seized ELISABETHVILLE, The Congo, Jan. 5-tf The Katanga Province information ministry has ordered all copies of yesterday's edition of Essor du Katanga seized. The ministry said the local newspaper printed "an article with subversive tendencies." The article carried greetings from an exiled leader hostile to the secessionist Katanga regime.

It was Katanga's first move against the press. Tritun thoto jt derstanding as to how the wants the survey to carried out and if it is to 4go further than museums and incompass a long-range plan ithi a complete cultural com a plex including music and other facilities. THREE SITES They did agree the study will -include the three sites which the museums commis- 'v slon last week said would be acceptable individually or in anv combination, hey are 1 The site of the public museum at 14th and Oak Streets. The Snow Museum site at 4 19th and Harrison Streets. i-The block bounded by 11th.

Oak and Fallon "Quiet Room" just off the front entrance of the hospital, at Regent and Webster Streets. Last seen by a cleaning painting is by 12 inches and is mounted on a wooden panel in a gilt frame. Police are investigating the theft, which was reported this morning by Harry D. Cranston, assistant administrator at the hospital. 431,606 grant to execute the renewal project providing the entire plan remains in ef feet at least 20 years.

Yesterday City Engineer John A. Morin said: "Very frankly, I don't like them," referring to the loops and other do-dads. "The traffic en gineer doesn't like them either. And the Fire Department was 1 a he added. "But we built two as a pilot project and got no complaints," he admitted.

Jack Taylor, city building and housing administrator in cnarge ot the renewal program, said he doesn't like it either. He took over since the circulation plan was adopted. But he said he's had no direct complaints. In fact he knows several large developers in the area who like them. 'JUST A LOAN' He pointed out the only way the plan can be changed is for the council to apply to the government.

"But if we don't complete the project well, the $1,431,060 is just a loan until we finish the job." Overwhelmed by that prospect, Bilotti said: "OK, but I'm still on record as op posed." Mocine urged the planners to withhold judgement until the full plan is completed. The idea is to educate drivers to use the Wide unobstructed streets for through traffic. The loops and corner extensions, which either divert traffic or slow it down at intersections, are designed to protect pedestrians and retain the residential atmosphere on streets not i for through traffic. Completion, along with tree plantings and other landscaping, is expected this fall. day nursery at 9710 Walter Avenue.

Held for submission of more detailed plans was Robert J. Hannah's application for a use variance to construct a medical-dental building with 12 offices at 1419 Seminary Ave. After a public produced three E. L. Buttner's use variance application to establish a parking lot at 557-61 23rd St.

was referred to staff for study and report Jan. 18. Streets. -The planners also will con A lot of city officials now say they-don't like them, but the unique loop intersections and corner extensions under construction in the Clinton Park Urban Renewal Area are here to stayfor at least 20 years. The loops and other street treatments came under attack last month by several members of the City Planning Commissionparticularly Anthony Bilotti, who lives in the area just east of Lake Mer-ritt.

Bilotti complained he has trouble finding his way out of the project area. Everytime he starts out one street he's diverted off at a 90-degree angle at the next intersection. ASKED REPORT Bilotti asked for a report on the history of how and why the unusual arrangement was approved. He got it yesterday and the only person who rallied in support of it was Corwin R. Mocine, planning engineer, who must have had a hand in it from the start.

No one else would confess. Mocine reminded the commission the traffic circulation plan was prepared by the Urban Renewal Department in 1957 with the cooperation and assistance of other city de-. partments and commissions-including planning. It was approved by the street and engineering, traffic engineering, police and fire departments planning commission, city council and more important, the Federal Government. $1 MILLION GRANT The plan was a condition of the contract whereby the government gave the city a sider anv other sites which they may think would be ap Still to be resolved are it if- Ir ajwZS i i i i mi -i i ii i ii whether the two groups are to make a joint survey and give the council One report, or whether the planners are to act alone and Berhans brine in a recom- different from the museums group.

Wording of the council directive led to the confusion It referred "selection of a site for a cultural center to tne planning commission to work with the library and museums commission on the matter." The museums commission made its decision for a downtown site last week after re- ceiving results of a six-months study by the Oakland Museums Association. UP TO COUNCIL -f The privately-financed as- sociation submitted reports of its study committees without recommendation. Other studies by a variety of com- and official agencies go back several years. A firm Adjusters Turn Down Plea For 3 Snake Road Homes A controversial proposal to make three Snake Road lots out of two and build three small homes on them has been rejected by the Oakland City Planning Commission board of adjustments. J.

W. Silvena wanted to re- subdivide the lots on the north side of the street about 70 feet northeast of 6429 Snake Road. The board also denied Na than Horn's application for a use to establish a site has never been picked. Final selection is up to the 7.A multimillicn dollar bond issue will require voter ap-'l proval before any museum -can be builti The April -muni- cipat election has been dis-- cussed as target date for(the bohd issue. y.

Several planners said yes ierday they didn't see how the new survey can be completed and a choice made by the council in time. FIREMEN BATTLE SPECTACULAR THREE-ALARM Fire tangled Broadway traffic, caused an estimated BLAZE AT OAKLAND AUTO UPHOLSTERY SHOP $50,000 damage to building and car? parked inside.