Berkeley Iceland Landmark Designation to be Appealed - AGAIN

Berkeley Iceland is once again in need of our community.  The Berkeley City Council is being forced by the current owners, East Bay Iceland (EBI), to review and possibly overturn the Berkeley Landmark designation made by the Landmark Preservation Commission in 2007.  As settlement to a suit filed by EBI in October 2009, the Landmark designation will be on the agenda of the City Council meeting on 19 January 2010.  Our community needs to make our voice heard in support of Berkeley Iceland.

Berkeley Iceland's landmark designation was upheald on appeal to the City Council in July 2007.  The owners have stated in their court filings that since these legally constituted bodies did not agree with their contentions, there must have been something wrong with the process.  They choose to believe that only their opinion on the value of the evidence of the historical, architectural, and cultural value of Berkeley Iceland should have been used by the LPC, ignoring the hours of expert and community testimony to the contrary.  

Rather than try to work with the community to return a much needed recreation facility, the nonresident owners have choosen to fight the designation for their own benefit.  After years of "delayed maintenance" and hundreds of thousands of dollars in dividends, the owners hoped to further cash in while leaving a hole in the community.  Arguing that Berkeley Iceland is not a landmark mystifies most Berkeley residents for whom it was a special community gathering place.  These are the same customers who supported these owners for decades to whom EBI feels they owe nothing but distain.  

The owners do have the right to appeal the landmark designation.  They should not have the right to insult the processes simply because they do not agree with the outcome.  SBI agrees that they should be compensated but that compensation should be based on the value of Berkeley Iceland, which IS a landmark.  SBI's experience with the owners was that of reluctant cooperation and little negotiation on key contract elements, including price - which is still listed at the same price set at the height of the property boom.  This lack of negotiation led to SBI not continuing the contract.

We need to let the City Council know that Berkeley Iceland is a landmark and that designation needs to be upheld again.  Call, write, email Mayor Bates and the City Council members.  Keep an eye on the Save Berkeley Iceland website for petitions and meetings to organize the response.  Watch for SBI supporters at the Farmers Markets and holiday events.  

SBI is a community organization - not just a "skaters group."  The support of the people of Berkeley and beyond has achieved a lot.  More will be needed to Save Berkeley Iceland and to return this important asset to the City, expand the outreach to underserved youth, and promote a healthy lifestyle in a fun environment. We look forward to being part of that comeback.