Fourth Street Lofts Web Log

Hey, look what I found on the web today! Click on the image below and reload the popup (Press CTRL-R or F5) to see a different mix of characters. Cool!

Mix your own words here.

Oh - and the answers to my most recent post are here.

Posted by Jim Pire at 1:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The more I think about it, the more convinced I am that the third and fourth floors should have artwork a similar shape to the third floor panorama. This makes things a lot easier, actually - just one print to hang, and keeps costs down as well.

The consensus is that the images should also be of or about or at least shot from Oakland. Patti Beadles submitted a cool shot taken from the Port of Oakland. I think I'd like to combine it with a couple other shots - something like this:

This isn't the exact aspect ratio, and of course the images can be changed and/or shuffled around. This is the direction I'm heading - I think.

I did a photographic experiment today that did not turn out exactly as I hoped it would. I thought I'd build the word "Oakland" out of characters photographed on buildings in the Jack London District or on other historic Oakland landmarks. So, I went out this afternoon and did some shooting in the 'hood. Unfortunately, I could not ever get the results to look like I imagined it might, although there were some fun moments while assembling the characters in PhotoShop.

Can you guess where these images were shot?

Posted by Jim Pire at 4:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Not to be outdone by Simon Waddignton's excellent JLDA calendar, I added a calendar to our blog.

There isn't much there yet - just a schedule of the HOA meetings planned for 2006 in the default template. Let me know when you have an event to add to our shiny new new calendar! If I get a little activity, I'll take the time to customize our calendar's template and stylesheet.

Posted by Jim Pire at 5:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

I have been thinking a LOT about designs for the third and fourth floor lately. I'd like whatever we do to look at least as good as the work I did on the second floor, and that may not be as easy as it sounds. Well, a friendly neighbor has come to the rescue. Patti Beadles has submitted this beautiful image as a candidate for the third floor landing.

I was not planning on another panoramic shot, but this one just might work! The image has an Oakland connection - the image was shot from the Port of Oakland. It contains almost as much image data as the second floor panorama, so it should print nicely at roughly the same size as the Oakland skyline panorama. I would paint the landing the same color as the second floor.

I have ideas for the fourth floor as well. Since the second and third floors will be painted gold, I propose we paint the fourth floor the same color. And since the images on the second and third floor are long, horizontal images, I propose that the fourth floor has an installation the same shape. However, instead of a single image, I am playing with a couple ideas - a collage of Oakland scenes or a series of images taken from historical buildings in the area that spell out "Oakland". Not sure what I mean by that? I'll mock something up as soon as possible.

Thanks, Patti for getting involved with the elevator landing renovations! It would be nice to hear from more of my neighbors on this subject. :)

Posted by Jim Pire at 9:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

1. Call to Order 7:00
2. Guest Recognition / Homeowner Forum
3. Agenda, Minutes
1. Agenda
2. Minutes: November 28, 2005
4. Financial Statement
1. Financial Statement: November, December
2. Bank Reconciliation: November, December
5. Maintenance Report
1. Work Order Summary
6. Correspondence
1. Bay Alarms
7. Committee Reports
1. Architectural Control
2. Building Committee
8. Other Business
1. Window Repair
2. Building Painting
3. Interior Renovations
4. Fast Cable access, is the building capable
5. Fire Sprinkler Inspection
9. Adjourn
10. Executive Session
11. Delinquencies

Posted by Jim Pire at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

WHEN: January 11, 2006
WHERE: City Hall, Hearing Room 4
TIME: 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Please come out for this important hearing if you live in the Jack London neigborhood and have concerns involving late night activity at Mingles'.

If you are unable to attend, you may send a letter to:

Barbara Killey, Hearing Officer,
1 Frank Ogawa Plaza
Oakland, CA 94612

QUESTIONS? CALL Sandra Sanders-West at 510-777-8720.

Posted by Jim Pire at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

NEW NEIGHBORS
We have three new neighbors. Welcome!

MEGHAN CONNOLLY bought #303 in December from Reynolds & Brown, who put the unit up for sale after BARBARA, ANDREW and URSULA JOHNSTONE moved to their new home near Dunsmuir House in East Oakland. R&B no longer owns any residential units in the building, just the two commercial units on the front porch.

Meghan is the Director of Client Relations for Sponsorship Strategies in Novato.

MARK STEPHAN bought #406 in December from SEAN DONNELL and TONY JONES, who moved with Tony's son to Atlanta.

Mark works at People Soft/Intel in San Ramon. He also is a photographer - Mark Stephan Photography.

Meghan and Mark moved into a day apart last month and live/work in their units.

Earlier in the fall, KEN TONY bought #100. Ken has an online motorcycle business in his unit, but lives elsewhere.

TOWNE CRIER #30

PHOTOGRAPHY
if you haven't already seen JIM PIRE's stunning photograph of downtown Oakland on the second floor right opposite the elevator, check it out. It's been up for the last month or so, and is an 'experiment' in updating our hallways.

Jim considers himself an amateur photographer, but his work belies that claim. For other samples of his work, check out our FSL website - fourthstreetlofts.com. Recently, Jim was one of many neighbors who took the Ninth Street Pier Tour conducted by neighbor, GARY KNECT. Jim's photos are at http://thedude.com/images/Ninth_Ave_Terminal_Bldg/

For other photos of the Ninth Street Pier Tour, check out photos by SIMON WADDINGTON, who lives in nearby Tower Lofts http://www.flickr.com/photos/waddy/sets/1505310/

NEIGHBORHOOD/DEVELOPER/CITY MEETING
The next meeting with the neighborhood, City of Oakland and representatives of the four Construction Projects will be Thursday 19 January 2006 at Covenant House, 200 Harrison Street, Oakland. This is the building which used to be owned by Mayor Jerry Brown. The meeting is one place to air our concerns regarding the construction and how it impacts on our lives, such as Saturday construction.

If you have a complaint about the neighborhood construction, the person to call is DON SMITH from the City of Oakland at 510/453-8576, a 24/7 number.

Pulte Homes across the street from our front door is moving right along with eight stories already constructed. Pulte has a Sales Office right down the street, where Design Within Reach used to be. It has a model unit on display.

Signature Homes around the corner is moving at a slower pace, but nonetheless is already four stories tall. Its Sales Office is in Jack London Square, across from Tony Roma's.

MINGLES CABARET HEARING
The Cabaret License revocation hearing for Mingles has been rescheduled to Wednesday 11 January 2006 at 7pm in Room 2 of City Hall, One Frank Ogawa Plaza. Oakland 94612. Mingles is located on Embarcadero at Webster, in Jack London Square.

This is a public hearing and is more informal than court proceedings, those who give testimony will be under oath. Written statements can be submitted to BARBARA KILEY, Administrative Hearing Officer, 1 Frank Ogawa Plaza, Oakland 94612.

NEIGHBORHOOD COMINGS AND GOINGS
JOANNA ADLER of Jack London Mail just celebrated her third year in business. Her establishment is around the corner from us, on Third and Alice. Among the many things she handles in her business, Joanna recycles Styrofoam, so now you have a place to take all the packing from those holiday boxes.

It looks as though eventually there will be tenants in the two empty storefronts next to Jack London Mail. According to the two fellows I chatted up in there last fall, one shop will sell watches, and the other will be a boutique with clothing and art, among other things. There doesn't seem to be much urgency in opening up. They have been working on the shops since last summer.

Down in Jack London Square, across from Barnes & Noble, The Hat Generation is closing down. The few remaining items are on sale now. The shop has been in the Square for a few years.

Next door to the Hat place, the recently opened dress shop has already come and gone.

Ironworks - across the street from Cost Plus and formerly called Whales & Friends - is really closing down. It is in the final throes of selling off its merchandise. The store, W&F, has another location in Alameda at 2060 Lincoln, near Willow, in Alameda.

TV COVERAGE
WENDY TINSLEY of the fourth floor starred in the commercial for Cuckoo's Nest, shown this summer on Cable TV. "Flavors come alive at the Cuckoo's Nest." Wendy is the president of Jack London District Association, whose website is www.jacklondondistrict.org.

Also on TV this summer - Heinhold's Last Chance Saloon. It was profiled on KPIX Evening Magazine. Last Chance is located down in Jack London Square across from El Pescatore restaurant. The Saloon was built in 1880, opened in 1883, and has been continuously in operation ever since. The saloon was built from the remains of a ship, and the ship's carpenter helped build it. Everything in the saloon is original, except the chairs. JACK LONDON hung out there a lot, and wrote about it in his book "John Barleycorn" - mentioned the Saloon 14 times. And according to JOHN HAGAR on the third floor, it is dog-friendly, even carrying dog biscuits.

Speaking of dog biscuits, Cuckoo's Nest also has been known to feed dog biscuits to polite canines who visit the To Go Window.

OAKLAND MUSEUM EXHIBITS
The Oakland Museum is within walking distance, at 1000 Oak Street, Oakland CA 94607, corner of Oak and Tenth Streets. 510/238-2200.

Currently, one exhibit through 22 January 2006 is BASEBALL AS AMERICA. It is part of a four-year, ten-city national tour organized by the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The exhibit will have extended viewing hours: Wednesday-Friday 10am-5pm, Saturdays 10am-8pm, Sundays 12 noon-6pm, and the First Friday of each month 10am-9pm. With it are other baseball related exhibitions.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Lynne Huntting
Loft #103

Posted by at 9:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)