2024 Radio Central Facade Restoration Project

Anchor The Radio Central Facade Project Update

 Radio Central Continues To Expose History 
New Pictures Below 

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.

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.

2152 Central Avenue, April 24, 2024

 Restoration Update 

 Radio Central Update 


CHRS Super Gardeners Paul & Edit Bourbin
Replanting One Of Our Front Garden Plots
With Native California Plants


Our Front Landing Mosaic Artist, JaYing, Checks The Sample She
Created Against The Mock Up Of The Original 1900 Mosaic.The New
Mosaic Will Be Built As Close As Possible to the Original,
Using Broken Marble Pieces. Looks Pretty Darn Good!


Here’s A Shot Of Our Late Friend Norm Leal Way Back At KRE. In About
2010 Norm Created And Seeded Our ‘Building Fund’. At The End Of 2013 Norman, With Another Major Donation, Put Us Over The Top In Our
Effort To Purchase 2152 Central Avenue. As Is Fitting… The Bronze
Plaque Dedicating Radio Central to Norman Leal Was Unveiled A Few
Weeks Ago. We Are Honored And Proud To Be Able To Name
The CHRS Building For Our Friend Norman.

 CLICK HERE TO SEE THE DEDICATION VIDEO 

 

 


Todays Gardening Crew –
Paul & Edith Bourbin And Nathan Rudnick
Attaching Edging Bricks & Weed Cloth

Our 124 Year Old Oak Front Door Arrives

It’s In Great Shape! The Dentil Matches Our Windows

Radio Central At Night

 

 Restoration Update 

 Interrupted For Voting 


November 5th At Radio Central… A Very Busy Day 


CHRS Great Room Becomes An Alameda Polling Place  


Dedicated Voters Still In Line After Sunset


Paul & Edith Bourbin Heading Up Our Gardening Crew

Preparing For Our Gardens Reblooming

 
Radio Central November 7th, 2024
Front And Side Painting Complete. Bricks In Place. Still Room For More. Order Your’s Today! Garden Restoration In Progress. Still To Come: Vintage 1900 Front Door, Terra Cotta Tower Top Tiles, Facia Board, Basement Windows And Iron Grilles. 10 Years In The Making. A Dream Comes True For CHRS! Thanks To All That Made It Happen! Building Dedication On December 14th.


Super Gardeners Paul & Edith Bourbin Measure One Of
Our New Front Garden Spaces In Preparation For The
Garden Restoration Work Beginning Saturday.


Dave Martens Tidys Up Some Wiring


Our Vintage ADA Entrance Door’s Port Hole & Lightning Bolts
Now Adorned With Original KRE Blue


New Mail Slot In Place On Right Of Front Door


Raymond Grinds Out Old Stump In
Preparation For Garden Restoration 


Radio Central November 7th, 2024
Front And Side Painting Complete. Bricks In Place. Still Room For More. Order Your’s Today! Ready For Gardening Saturday. Still To Come: Vintage 1900 Front Door, Terra Cotta Tower Top Tiles, Facia Board, Basement Windows And Iron Grilles. 10 Years In The Making. A Dream Comes True For CHRS! Thanks To All That Made It Happen! Building Dedication On December 14th.


New Front Sash Window In Place With Vintage Style Rippled Glass


The Windows On The Right Are 124 Years Old
The Windows On The Right Are New


Views Of Central Avenue Not Seen From Inside For 60 Years! 


The Stucco Is Done
The Scaffolding Is Gone
And The Painting Has Begun… Yay!


Radio Central Today October 24, 2024
Loking More Like 1900. Note Decorative Details Up On Our Towers…
And Primer. Stay Tuned For Finish Colors. 


Yuri Builds Missing Dentils Using 124 Year Old Vintage Teeth


Once Painted They Will Look Original… Because They Are!


Radio Central Today October 17, 2024

 Recreating 124 Year Old Architectural Details 

 By Steve Kushman, CHRS Project Manager 


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.


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.


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.

 Construction Update


 The Last Two New Windows Being Installed


Chunks Of Belly Band Missing For 70 Years Being Replaced


Main Elements On Radio Central Side Complete


Lots Of New Light Inside!

September 19th, 2024
KRE Door Trims In Place

 


Last Concrete Pours In Front – New Brick Pad


New Slab For Car Charger


New Version Of 124 Year Old Window Going In


Looks Pretty Good – Identical To Original

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


Scaffolding Back Up For Finish Stucco Work
Note New Light Posts 


Night View Of Radio Central


September 12th, 2024
Stucco & Foam Work Continues


Concrete Stairs Just Poured


Working The Concrete


Nice Stairs! Note Safety Grooves


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


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


Yuri Reinstalls The Original Window


September 5th, 2024
Note New Foam Column Bases

Construction Update


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


Doweling & Tying Rebar


Steel In Place & Tied. Stair Forms Complete.


 August 28th, 2024
Concrete For Stairs Coming Tuesday


Concrete Arrives At Radio Central


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. 


Balustrades Being Filled…

And Smoothed…


 August 22nd, 2024
Stairs To Be Built Next

 Construction Update


Dan Long’s Crew Forming Balustrades


Lots Of Heavy Forms To Hold Lots Of Concrete


 August 14th, 2024
Ready To Pour Concrete!

 Construction Update


Dan Long & Crew Prepare To Build The Front Stairway


Digging For Stairway Foundation


Pouring Concrete


Balustrade Forms Being Built


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


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.


But, A Little Sandblasting…


And Some New Paint…


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.


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


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!

Yuri Frames In Opening For New Window

The Steel For Our ADA Entrance Door Ready To Be Installed

Steel Craftsmen From Bob’s Iron Erect The Frame


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


June 13th 2024. Rebuilding Continues!

Aquilles Of Bay Area Foam Shapes & Designs
Takes Our Model To The factory For ReproductionWorking On Front Door FramingLooking Out Our Front Door Opening6″ x 8″ Door Header In PlaceFraming For New Window Begins

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.


June 5th 2024. 2152 Central Avenue Being Reborn.

 Progress Since Last Week In Pictures


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.


Model Complete


Eaves Framed. Soffits Below Eaves Now Have Beadboard.


Soffits Being Primed


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


Last Of Old Half Round Windows Removed And Replaced


Nice View!


Work Has Begun On New Front Entryway


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

Progress Since Last Week In Pictures


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


Just The Outline Of The Original Details Remain


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.


The Heavy Equipment Is Here To Work The Heights


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


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.


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

 

Progress Since Last Week In PicturesYuri Watches A Pair Of Alameda Trotters
Checking Out Our Construction
Removing More False Front Framing

View From The Roof
Our Towers Now Exposed – Shortened 70 Years Ago
They Will Be Rebuilt
Window Removed To Be Duplicated
2 Sides Of Our Fancy 124 Year Old Window
Squaring Up Brick For Our New Steel Door Frame
And Smoothing Out Parts Of The Belly Band
To Accept The New Stucco Coated Foam Band
End Of The Day, May 16th, 2024
2152 Central Avenue, 1900… Our Soon To Be New Old Style
Project Manager Thinks…
Are We Sure About This?… You Bet!

 Progress Since Last Week In Pictures 


Ancient Details Revealed


First Light Coming Through Window In About 90 Years!


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


Covered For Rain


A Large Animal Has Been Sleeping In Our Back Yard


Say Good Bye To 1950s Modernization!


OOPs… It’s Too Late Now!


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

 

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.


We Are On Our Way Back To 1900!
Construction Manager Tidys Up After Cutting In 2nd Opening

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

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.

Seth Arp Removes Stucco & False Facade

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.

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:
E.D. Rachel Lee, Dylan & Mike Morrison – contractors, John Stuart – draftsman, Mark Hulbert – architect, Vincent Wu – structural engineer… And Zoey 🙂

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.