FRIENDS OF HISTORIC CITY HALL

Summer/Fall 1998 Newsletter, Issue No. 6

Julie Machado, Editor

PARTIAL DEMOLITION WAS THREATENED

After a year long battle to save the Historic City Hall from "facade-ectomy" and a vote by the Council not to demolish the entire building, it became clear that the City intended to demolish the entire top floor of the building as part of repairing the roof.  This included the Historic City Council Chambers, the Mayor's Office, irreplaceable Art Deco filigree and pilasters, beautiful woodwork and doors, and marble walls. 

Once this was discovered, the Friends activated all their resources to convince the City Manager and City Council that this demolition was unnecessary and ill advised.  However, the process was so rushed and secretive that this effort failed.  The City did not fulfill its promise to keep the Friends informed of developments, and, to top it all off, claimed that it was "exempt" from State laws requiring an EIR because, the City claimed, destroying the entire top floor was a "minor repair".

LAWSUIT FILED

After all other efforts failed, the Friends were forced to hire an experienced preservation law attorney, Susan Brandt-Hawley of Glen Ellen, to file a Petition for Writ of Mandate in Alameda County Superior Court on May 21, 1998 to protect Hayward's Historic City Hall on Mission Blvd. from this substantial demolition.  Quick action was required in order to save the City from potential liability due to accepting a construction bid and thereby entering into an enforceable contract.

The Friends disputed the City's contention that destruction of the entire top floor was a "minor alteration" to the building, and sought to have the City follow the legally required EIR process.  The Court's peremptory writ would have required the City to conduct CEQA (EIR) review prior to consideration of alteration of the City Hall.  We believed the writ was urgently needed to serve the public's interest in protection of Hayward's invaluable historic resources.

THE CITY BACKED DOWN

After the lawsuit was filed, the City backed down from plans to demolish the third floor, claiming that the construction/demolition bids came in too high.  They now plan to create a linear park around the building.

OF COURSE, THIS FORCED US TO SPEND $

About $1,700 was spent on the lawsuit, and we would greatly appreciate your continued financial support.  Please send in anything you can now--donations are now tax-deductible.  We will be holding fundraisers soon, and please watch for them.  In the meantime, Friends of the Historic City Hall continues to hold fundraisers and educational activities promoting preservation of local heritage.  We believe that understanding and respecting the past is a key for developing a successful future for Hayward.

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Please clip and return to: Friends of the Historic City Hall, 22248 Main Street, Hayward CA 94541.

THANK YOU!