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Anchor The Radio Central Facade Project Update

 Radio Central Continues To Expose History 
New Pictures Below 
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A Dream Comes True…
It Only Took A Decade And A Day!
CHRS Radio Central
Returns To Its 1900 Facade 

On April 23, 2014, CHRS closed escrow on the purchase of 2152 Central Avenue in Alameda. We were extatic about finding our forever home. We knew that under the 1950s flat and cinder block, ‘modern’ facade, exists a gem of a building. It was built in 1900 as the first telephone exchange in Alameda. The original architectural style was California Mission Revival. We thought it would be so cool to restore our building back to its original style. What a dream!…
Now, one decade and one day later, on April 24th, 2024 CHRS was approved, for the building permit from the City of Alameda to demolish the 1950s false front, built by the owners at that time, the Church of the Nazarene, and restore our Mission Revival style building to its original glory.

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This is our last large project at Radio Central. It’s taken us 10 years to plan, raise financing and execute this dream. It took about a year to create the set of plans and drawings we needed. They were created by our own Resident Engineer John Stuart and our Structural Engineer Vincent Wu. With approval of architect Mark Hulbert. We have had some major donations for this project. Most recently we received a $30,000 facade grant from the City of Alameda through their Facade Improvement Grant Program. Thank you to Alameda and to our E.D. Rachel Lee who applied for the grant. Alameda has proved again that this is a great location for our permanent home.

932Cbce3 019E 0A4E 4084 Da8Bde7631532152 Central Avenue, April 24, 2024

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Yuri Builds Missing Dentils Using 124 Year Old Vintage Teeth

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Once Painted They Will Look Original… Because They Are!

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Radio Central Today October 17, 2024

 Recreating 124 Year Old Architectural Details 

 By Steve Kushman, CHRS Project Manager 

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2152 Central 1900 – 1960

CHRS was fortunate enough to be able to purchase the building at 2152 Central Ave. in Alameda, CA in 2014. It was the first telephone exchange building in Alameda built by the Sunset Telephone and Telegraph Company in 1900 and is now known as CHRS Radio Central. It was built in the California Mission Revival architectural style.

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2152 Central 1960 – 2024

In about 1960, the building was owned by the Church of the Nazarene. And in those ‘modern’ times ‘old fashioned’ things were sometimes looked upon unfavorably. So, the Church hacked off most all of the original façade details including the stairway and erected a flat, cinder block decorated false front. When CHRS bought this building 10 years ago we knew what was under the false wall. And 10 years later CHRS is restoring our building to its 1900 classic style.

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Today

Many processes are involved in this restoration, but we will now focus on one. All of the missing façade details were originally made from brick covered with stucco which is a process that is prohibitively expensive today. For some years now, much of this vintage detailing has been made using laser cut high density styrofoam, covered with sticky mesh and then covered with stucco. The finished product looks, feels, paints and weathers like the original but is much more inexpensive, lighter, easier to work and will last 100 years!

The picture essay that follows is the 12 step CHRS program for recreating a 124 year old building style, missing for 60 years. Watch for more updates.24Acab10 F476 3E98 Ba4C 3Cd8493B9B68

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 Construction Update

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 The Last Two New Windows Being Installed

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Chunks Of Belly Band Missing For 70 Years Being Replaced
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Main Elements On Radio Central Side Complete

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Lots Of New Light Inside!

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September 19th, 2024
KRE Door Trims In Place

 

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Last Concrete Pours In Front – New Brick Pad

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New Slab For Car Charger

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New Version Of 124 Year Old Window Going In

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Looks Pretty Good – Identical To Original

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Yuri & Miguel Chek Out The View Not Seen For 70 Years!

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Scaffolding Back Up For Finish Stucco Work
Note New Light Posts 

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Night View Of Radio Central

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September 12th, 2024
Stucco & Foam Work Continues

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Concrete Stairs Just Poured

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Working The Concrete

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Nice Stairs! Note Safety Grooves

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Reforming Our Brick Pad 
Space Added For 10 More $250 Bricks

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Check This Out… One Window Is 124 Years Old…
One Is Brand New!

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Yuri Reinstalls The Original Window

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September 5th, 2024
Note New Foam Column Bases

Construction Update

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Forms Removed And High Density Foam In Place.
Foam Fills The Space Under The Stairs.

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Doweling & Tying Rebar

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Steel In Place & Tied. Stair Forms Complete.

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 August 28th, 2024
Concrete For Stairs Coming Tuesday

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Concrete Arrives At Radio Central

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Busy Morning! Concrete Being Pumped.

Paul And Edith Bourbin Trim Our Hedge To Make Room

For One Of Four

Vintage Style Light Posts To Be Installed. 

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Balustrades Being Filled…
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And Smoothed…
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 August 22nd, 2024
Stairs To Be Built Next

 Construction Update

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Dan Long’s Crew Forming Balustrades

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Lots Of Heavy Forms To Hold Lots Of Concrete

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 August 14th, 2024
Ready To Pour Concrete!

 Construction Update

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Dan Long & Crew Prepare To Build The Front Stairway

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Digging For Stairway Foundation

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Pouring Concrete

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Balustrade Forms Being Built

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CHRS Radio Central – August 8th, 2024
Our Progress Is Very Exciting!

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The KRE / American Graffiti Door Installed In Radio Central. It’s Our ADA Entrance And Will Have Glass Sidelights. The Brick Area Around The Door Still Has Remnants Of The Old Church Entrance Structure That Was Removed.

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But, A Little Sandblasting…

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And Some New Paint…

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And Wow… Our Bricks And Quoins Cleaned Up Very Well.
Nice To Bring Back The Original Look.
And Nice To Personalize RC With Our Radio Door.

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CHRS Radio Central – July 31st, 2024
Note The Two Roof Towers Being Rebuilt. Progress Since Last Week

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Check This Out!
The Reliefs And Trims Are Ready To Adorn The Building Again.
Missing For 70 Years… They Have Been Recreated
From High Density Foam Covered With Stucco.
These Should Last About 100 Years!

Dentils & Arches Have Standard Stucco Finiish.
The Korbels Are Made To Look Like 124
Year Old Wooden Beams… And They Do!

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Yuri Frames In Opening For New Window

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The Steel For Our ADA Entrance Door Ready To Be Installed

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Steel Craftsmen From Bob’s Iron Erect The Frame

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Support Frame In Place
KRE Door To Be Installed in Lower Opening
Another New Window To Be Installed In Top Opening

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June 13th 2024. Rebuilding Continues!

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Takes Our Model To The factory For Reproduction
5Eddc472 1551 631A A9D7 B088D34C18CaWorking On Front Door Framing34B40Da7 C792 E9Df 2C1B B7C83C60A69B4108239A Ce6F Fb65 9616 A905B6F2D4FcLooking Out Our Front Door Opening0B1121Ba D6B6 83Bf Bbac 9508993Dcbc26″ x 8″ Door Header In Place72Ccaa92 7854 A4F2 9238 83Ce01A17De0Framing For New Window Begins0F111401 2538 A564 1694 98F84A606593

The Fancy Top Portion Of Our Existing Window Removed
And Sent Out For Duplication. The New Windows Will Be Made Using Vintage “Wavy” Glass To Match The Original.
The Lower Decorative Panel Also Being Reproduced.

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June 5th 2024. 2152 Central Avenue Being Reborn.

 Progress Since Last Week In Pictures

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We Have Created A Full Scale Model Of The Details
That Were Removed About 70 Years Ago.
This Model Will Be Scanned And New Reliefs Made
From High Density Foam Covered With Stucco.

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Model Complete

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Eaves Framed. Soffits Below Eaves Now Have Beadboard.

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Soffits Being Primed

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New Old Style Eaves And Soffits
Awaiting Facia Trim And Korbels
Note Cool New Radio Day Flag & Signage

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Last Of Old Half Round Windows Removed And Replaced

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Nice View!

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Work Has Begun On New Front Entryway

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End Of The Day – May 30, 2024
Next Steps Are New Front Entry
& New ADA Side Entrance

Progress Since Last Week In Pictures

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Many Irregularities Repaired In Preparation
For Missing Details To Be Recreated And Replaced

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Just The Outline Of The Original Details Remain

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We Are Recreating A Full Scale Model Of The Details That Were Removed About 70 Years Ago.

This Model Will Be Scanned And New Reliefs Made From High Density Foam Covered With Stucco.

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The Heavy Equipment Is Here To Work The Heights

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Extensions Of The Original Roof Rafters Installed To Form The Eaves That Were Removed Many Years Ago.

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End Of The Day – May 23, 2024.
Eaves Almost Framed. Soffits Below Eaves Will Have Beadboard And New Korbels Made From An Original Building Sample.

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2152 Central Avenue, 1900… Our Soon To Be New Old Style

 

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Checking Out Our Construction
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Removing More False Front Framing
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View From The RoofEeef92A6 3225 B1C9 4997 A49779C46Fc8
Our Towers Now Exposed – Shortened 70 Years Ago
They Will Be Rebuilt
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Window Removed To Be Duplicated3Cb007C4 Ee18 B79E 2578 Fc756Bec9Abc7465F5Fc 3B06 Bf68 8Df4 14Ff6F693460
2 Sides Of Our Fancy 124 Year Old WindowB92Ad1D8 33F8 D49B A29B 811E82Ba9991
Squaring Up Brick For Our New Steel Door Frame1Be3B584 5340 E17B 557C 425397E30Bbf
And Smoothing Out Parts Of The Belly Band
To Accept The New Stucco Coated Foam Band
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End Of The Day, May 16th, 20248Cf91801 D89C 50B1 F135 F39E0F29Df1C
2152 Central Avenue, 1900… Our Soon To Be New Old Style
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Project Manager Thinks…
Are We Sure About This?… You Bet!

 Progress Since Last Week In Pictures 

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Ancient Details Revealed

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First Light Coming Through Window In About 90 Years!

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Central Avenue From Inside Radio Central.
Also First Time Seen In About 90 Years!

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Covered For Rain

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A Large Animal Has Been Sleeping In Our Back Yard

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Say Good Bye To 1950s Modernization!

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OOPs… It’s Too Late Now!

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Aaaah…Today – May 9th, 2024… The Past Is Returning

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Radio Central Facade Restoration Update 

 Exploration Complete 

 NEW  – The Alameda Building inspector checked out our openings in the facade and concluded that the 1900 portion of the building is in very good condition… being 124 years old! He finalized our Exploration Permit so we hope to submit our complete set of drawings and plans to the City for review next week.

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We Are On Our Way Back To 1900!9887B563 C107 B393 481E 17F6B6349Fb1
Construction Manager Tidys Up After Cutting In 2nd Opening705Fb1Cd 8A1F F9E8 1464 19936D34631E

Front Stairs Were Connected Here & A Peek Inside The Building. 

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Close Up Of The Opening – Looking Inside In The Photo Above You Can See The Nicely Preserved Original 124 Year Old Wood Detail,(below). The Yellowish Area Below Is The Original Window Into The Great Room, Painted Years Ago
Exploration Begins! 
 Seth Arp & your editor cut the first of 2 exploration holes into the false facade of CHRS Radio Central. We were pleased with the condition of the original 1900 structure and details that we discovered behind the false front, which was added in the 1950s. From the original photos of the 1900 building, we surmised that the decorative angled panels under the main windows were stucco. This would have been difficult to duplicate, as we have one panel missing. Well, upon inspection, we found the remaining panel is wooden, in place for 124 years, in very good condition and easy to duplicate! We were able to verify John Stuart’s measurements and they were very close to his measurements through the closed wall. We will enlarge this opening and add another in the middle so we can see how the new old central stairway will be attached.
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Seth Arp Removes Stucco & False Facade
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Close Up Of The Opening – See The Thickness Of The False Facade. Looking Inside The Dark Area In The Photo Above You Can See The Nicely Preserved Original 124 Year Old Wood Detail,(below). The Yellowish Area Below Is The Original Window Into The Great Room, Painted Years Ago.1D481E5F 1A4B D384 820D 04E9E6E45B06

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Exploration Begins! 

CHRS & Radio Central has received our Exploration Permit from the City of Alameda. This permit enables us to cut 2, 3 foot by 3 foot holes into the false front to verify measurements, attachments and existing stucco trim underneath. If we find no surprises… we are only days away from filing for the complete job permit. This is very exciting. Exploratory surgery scheduled for Saturday. See our last report:
Well… Nothing is easy… especially if one wants to accomplish a task in the best and most aaapopriate fashion. We learn that there is much more involved with this project than the interior Great Room project. We are very close to submitting our plans to the Alameda Building Department to obtain our building permit. We have a terrific team involved. Pictured below are:
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E.D. Rachel Lee, Dylan & Mike Morrison – contractors, John Stuart – draftsman, Mark Hulbert – architect, Vincent Wu – structural engineer… And Zoey 🙂
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Mark Checks Out Inspection Opening In The False Front Wall.
Below are 5 of the 16  pages of plans and drawings prepared by John Stuart with imput from Vincent and Mark. Hopefully by Radio Day we will have our new facade complete. And you can help.
For our main donation page and select Facade Restoration Fund.
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