SAVE HAYWARD'S
HISTORIC CITY HALL!
March 1997, Issue No. 4
Edited by Julie Machado
The Friends of Historic City Hall ("Friends") continue to actively work toward saving Hayward's Historic City Hall from destruction. We are working to preserve the structure in two phases: initially, as an Urban Monument with surrounding Park; and in the long-run, as funding is located, to have it rehabilitated for inhabited (non-governmental) use.
UPDATED ENGINEER'S REPORT
On January 21, 1997, the Hayward City Council voted to spend $24,500 to retain EQE International, Inc. to update a seismic report on the Historic City Hall and the nearby Veterans Building. This Council action was a mixed blessing for the Friends, as it is a move toward obtaining the information that is needed to preserve the building.
However, the Friends would have preferred the Council to choose the structural engineering firm of Nabih Youseff & Associates. We had been working with Mr. Youseff, a premier structural engineer with expertise in both seismic engineering and historic preservation, and he had already reviewed the 1983 URS report on the building, seen the building plans, visited the site, and was drafting a preliminary report on behalf of the Friends. Unfortunately, the City did not solicit competitive bids, since it is not required to do so for amounts under $25,000, so the only firm considered for this work was EQE International, Inc.
EQE International, Inc. was also involved in evaluations, which resulted in closing the last City Hall on Foothill Blvd. The Friends hope that EQE International, Inc.'s latest report, due in April, will be more positive. At the urging of the City Council for City Staff to work closely with the Friends, Hayward City Manager Jesus Armas has committed to including Friends' representatives in preliminary meetings with EQE International, Inc.
We do anticipate that there will be a high estimate of funds needed for the structure, so we continue to raise funds, pursue grants, and look for non-governmental interest in this project, as we are aware of the City's financial limitations (although we would like to see the city support preservation at least as much as they were ready to support destruction and "facade-ectomy" of the building to the tune of at least $700,000).
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Preservation of Hayward's Historic City Hall continues to elicit support from all corners of the community. Recent support came from The Daily Review, which stated in an Editorial on January 24, that, "Though high costs surely are to be predicted, the council and Hayward residents should treat this issue as an investment in the very soul of their city. These buildings represent memories and tradition, items in short supply in the race to the next millennium. It is the duty of our generation to preserve them for the next. The next question the council should ask of this project is not "whether" but when and how. They have a responsibility here not to treat this as an annual budget inconvenience, but a down payment on our history." Bravo for the Review!
HISTORICAL STATUS
The Friends also continue to pursue an application for the Historic City Hall to be designated a State Point of Historical Interest. This state application requires multiple pages of research and documentation supporting the designation. Such designation would allow more access to grants for preserving the Historic City Hall.
FUNDRAISERS
Our next fundraiser will be a WHITE ELEPHANT SALE on Saturday April 26 from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at another Hayward gem, the historic Linekin Building at 22248 Main Street. Tours of this beautiful, partially restored Queen Anne Victorian, built in 1893 by the second Mayor of Hayward, will also be available. Donate your Spring Clean Up items to raise funds for preserving the Historic City Hall! Find treasures galore! Put it on your calendar NOW. Items can be donated by calling either Shari at 538-8649 or Julie at 581-7850. Rain cancels.
We continue to accept individual donations to "Friends of the Historic City Hall" at 22248 Main Street, Hayward 94541. $10 or more would be greatly appreciated.
Future fundraisers currently being planned include a "Whodunit Mystery Party", an "Elder Talk" by community historians recalling their early memories of Hayward, and participation in the 1997 Hayward Zucchini Festival. If you're interested in these or other ideas, please contact us.
HOW TO FIND OUT MORE
We are a volunteer organization. If you have ideas, questions, would like to donate a particular skill toward this effort, or would like to get (more) involved, please contact any of the following people: Linda Bennett 881-5805; Kevin Dowling, Treasurer 264-0340; Frank Goulart 581-9666; Julie Machado 581-7850; Tim Tivoli Steele 633-1573; or Lore Warren 783-2072.
PLEASE GIVE THIS NEWSLETTER
TO A NEIGHBOR OR FRIEND!