-andrew.

At the time the City acquired it, it was called “Peralta Park,” a tidal marsh that filled up with a foot or two of water everyday. The City finally acquired the property back in 1907 at a cost of $45,000. It was one parcel among several in a large park bond election. Called the 1907 Park Bond, it passed by 80%-20% margin (the same as Measure DD, btw). The park bond raised nearly a million dollars and purchased 10 areas throughout the city. The park land purchased included what are now Lakeside Park, Bushrod Park, DeFermery Park, and the strip of parkland where the Boat House sits. Back then, the Boat House area was called “the Willows.”

The borders of Peralta Park were 12th Street, the Estuary Channel, 10th Street, and Fallon Street. Fallon is the little short street at the main steps of the Alameda Court House where the media vehicles park. A lot Fallon Street was taken over by the museum construction.

Back in 2001, Mayor Jerry Brown proposed leasing the Auditorium parking lot to the Catholic Church. The idea was to place a huge elevated platform over the parking lot and 12th Street and then build fancy cathedral on top of that. It was during this time that the history of Peralta Park became better known – along with the fact that the City of Oakland couldn’t sell or lease the park land without having another election. As we know, the cathedral moved elsewhere.

In fact, in response to an RFP from the City for the parking lot then, the first conceptual drawings to remove traffic lanes from 12th Street lanes were proposed. The proposal to remove traffic lanes at 12th Street and reclaim park land there led to Measure DD. And, of course, the on-going history of the Lake is being written as we speak…

I have to agree that the Main Library is a much better program for the Kaiser than an event and performance space. With neighbors live Laney College, OUSD and the Oakland Museum, 10th Street has the potential to become a major civic/educational axis for the city. Large Live Nation style events would bring huge surges of concert-goers into the area, but despite the high accessibility of this location, there isn’t a lot to support these sort of crowds. There are no bars or restaurants like in Uptown. It might be convenient, but its probably not appealing to the Symphony crowd.

I live just off 10th a few blocks east of the Kaiser and would love to see foot traffic pick up and the area become more lively. But I don’t see it becoming any sort of nightlife destination for Oakland anytime soon, especially when Uptown is thriving just a mile or so away. At night this whole stretch is nearly desolate after working hours. Either way, I am really excited about something/anything happening with this building. But I would rather see it get daily use and be open to the general public.

Speakeasy Theaters is signing off.

Thank you for 14 amazing years. What a long, strange trip it’s been. We are proud of what we’ve built and are looking forward to whatever is next. We’ve built community, lovingly restored two beautiful theaters, met some wild and wonderful people and learned a lot along the way.

Our public demise has been glowingly at hand and we are here to bear witness, rejoice and mourn. It has been a fitful, exciting, exhausting and eventually frustrating tenure but it was a true representation of us. Catherine and I had a blast in the process and through the guidance of our genius shrink, learned much about our real selves.

Catherine and I are mulling over our next adventure. We need to walk the beach, clear our minds and let the universe speak to us. That’s how we found Speakeasy Theaters, our publishing company before that and the neighborhood pub. The beach heals what ails. Thanks to all of you who have enjoyed what we have offered, who have shared in our vision and who love the idea of building and sharing community.

It is awesome and often extremely embarrassing to have your life play out in such a public manner. But you learn that you must strive to be bold in attempting to be true to your realest self. For better or for worse this has been an expression of our essence and people will judge us as they choose. Hey – whatever. We are at the same time amazing and flawed. Life is a great teacher. Rejoice.

Kyle and Catherine
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When I say a well defined arts district – I mean I want a permanent theatre company like DTC. I want more than 2 venues. I would like to see Shattuck Ave on Broadway. There should also be an oppty to bring a house that presents avant-garde work. The Uptown can be more than what it is was my point.

Regarding this story – why in the world would the Symphony and Ballet be interested at all in leaving the Paramount? There’s finally some places to eat before a show, and a sense of life on the streets that would be impossible at the Convention Center. Personally, I would be much less inclined to go to the Symphony there than downtown. The library made so much more sense and I wish those 2755 people had been able to see the bigger picture.

Sorry, just read the comment above – that well defined arts district with (two) performance houses is at 20th and Broadway!