PRIMARY RECORD Page 1 of 6 *Resource Name or #: (Assigned by recorder) Heywood Building P1. Other Identifier: Singer Sewing Machine Company; Plachek Building *P2. Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted *a. County Alameda and (P2b and P2c or P2d. Attach a Location Map as necessary.) *b. USGS 7.5 Quad Oakland West Date 1993 Township & Range No data c. Address 2014-2016 Shattuck Ave. City Berkeley Zip 94704 d. UTM: (Give more than one for large and/or linear resources) Zone 10S; 564325mE/ 4191831mN e. Other Locational Data: (e.g., parcel #, directions to resource, elevation, etc., as appropriate) Assessor s Parcel Number: 57-2025-22; West side of Shattuck Avenue between University Avenue and Addison St. *P3a Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries) *P3b. Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) NRHP Status Code 3S Other Listings Review Code Reviewer Date A rare Venetian Gothic commercial building faced in white glazed terracotta, the Heywood Building is a Contributor to the Shattuck Avenue Downtown Historic District. The design and materials of the two-story building continue today to serve as a clear example of an earlytwentieth-century commercial building in the downtown core. The Heywood Building is part of a setting of mostly historic buildings that form the primary corridor of commercial buildings lining Shattuck Avenue and the transit center that connects the city with the University of California campus. From 1908 through 1938, this block of Shattuck Avenue faced an open square that housed the Southern Pacific tracks and the Berkeley train depot. The Heywood Building was developed when the station was built and active in the city. (Continued on next page) HP6. 1-3 story commercial building *P4 Resources Present: Building Structure Object Site District Element of District Other (Isolates, etc.) P5b. Description of Photo: (View, date, accession #) View facing west, January, 2015. *P6. Date Constructed/Age & Sources: Historic Prehistoric Both 1917, 98 years old, based on Architect & Engineer Feb. 1919. *P7. Owner and Address: John K. Gordon & Janis Mitchell 2091 Rose St. Berkeley, CA 94709 *P8. Recorded by: (Name, affiliation, and address) F. Maggi, L. Dill, & S. Winder Archives & Architecture, LLC PO Box 1332 San Jose CA 95109-1332 *P9. Date Recorded: March 30, 2015 *P10. Survey Type: (Describe) Intensive *P11. Report Citation: (Cite survey report and other sources, or enter none.) Archives & Architecture LLC: Shattuck Avenue Commercial Corridor Historic Context and Survey, 2015. *Attachments: NONE Location Map Sketch Map Continuation Sheet Building, Structure and Object Record Archaeological Record District Record Linear Feature Record Milling State Record Rock Art Record Artifact Record Photograph Record Other (List) DPR523A
Page 2 of 6 *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Heywood Building Venetian Gothic design is notable for its use of Gothic elements in combination with various Classical elements from other traditions, along with white finishes. The Heywood Building is an excellent example of that style. The upper wall and side piers are clad in white-glazed terra cotta. The piers and cornice frame the façade in a continuous Π form. This frame is faced in flat tiles and accented by continuous rope molding. The cornice is Classical, with Italianate brackets, a more modest rope molding band, a deep overhang, and interspersed light bulbs. Within the frame, the upper wall features three round-arched windows surrounded by Gothic detailing. The windows are wood one-over-one double-hung units; the upper sash is arched. Between the windows are small engaged columns; these support lancet arches of terra cotta. Below each column is an engaged pedestal; between the pedestals (beneath each window) is a spandrel panel consisting of three round arches. Spanning the storefront, visually supporting the upper wall, is a full-width multi-lite transom; the design is original, but, based on historic photographs, the small prism-like glass squares appear to be an alteration/restoration effort. Above the transom is a bronze beam decorated with floral patterns; below the transom is a simplified wood cornice, serving as a transom beam. The symmetrical storefront area features a pair of recessed doors that flank a front display window. The display window features butted glass corners, bronze framing, and a marble bulkhead. The marble base also wraps the bases of the side piers. A decorative vent is centered under the display platform. The doors are single-lite wood doors with single-lite upper transoms. Upper façade, viewed facing northwest. (Continued on next page) DPR523L
Page 3 of 6 *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Heywood Building The angle of the display window and the size of the door frames appear to have been altered slightly, and some of the base marble might not be original (although it is similar to historic photographs). Character-defining features include: parapet-topped front wall and party-wall commercial building footprint; the entire white terracotta-glazed façade (including Gothic and Classical elements); cornice lighting; recessed doors and projecting storefront; multi-lite full-span transom; three round-arched wood one-over-one double-hung windows; bronze beam with floral patterns; wood beam supporting the transom; symmetrical recessed wood single-lite entry doors flanking the front display window; display window with butted glass corners, bronze framing, and marble bulkhead; marble base at the side piers; decorative bulkhead vent. There are no obvious alterations; however, the full-width transom glass appears to have been restored, and the angle of the display window and the size of the door frames appear to have been altered slightly. Some of the base marble may have been replaced/restored, as well. The historic elements of the building appear in excellent condition. Storefront detail, viewed facing west. DPR523L
BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD Page 4 of 6 *NRHP Status Code 5B *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Heywood Building B1. Historic Name: Heywood Building B2. Common Name: belli osteria B3. Original use: Commercial B4. Present Use: Commercial *B5. Architectural Style: Venetian Gothic *B6. Construction History: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations) Constructed in 1917. Ground floor renovation and partial restoration in 1994. *B7. Moved? No Yes Unknown Date: n/a Original Location: n/a *B8. Related Features: None. B9a Architect: James Plachek (1917) b. Builder: Unknown *B10. Significance: Theme Commerce and Architecture Area Downtown Berkeley Period of Significance 1917-1958 Property Type Commercial Applicable Criteria A (1), B (2), C (3) (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity.) This 1917 two-story commercial building at 2014-2018 Shattuck Ave. was designated a City of Berkeley Landmark on April 15, 1993, under Berkeley s Landmark Preservation Ordinance. Among the findings, the building was found to be architecturally significant for its elegant Gothic designed glazed terracotta façade by Gladding, McBean Co. (of which it is Berkeley s only example), for its association with the pioneer Heywood family, and for its architect James Plachek. The nomination was prepared by Susan Cerny. The property was initially surveyed in 1978 found eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. This small two-story commercial building was constructed for William H. Heywood in 1917, and designed by prominent local architect James L. Plachek. The ground floor retail storefront was initially occupied by Bradshaw Electric Co., and was later home to the Singer Sewing Machine Co. for many years. The architectural offices of James Plachek were upstairs during his prolific career. The ground floor storefront was restored by Jim Novosel of The Bay Architects in 1994. (Continued on next page) B11. Additional Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) None *B12. References: Architect & Engineer, Buildings in Berkeley designed By James W. Placheck, 2/1919. BAHA, James Plachek s scrapbooks. Berkeley Gazette, Berkeley s Architecture, 2/12/1975 Cerny, S.D., Berkeley Landmarks, 1994. Bruce, A., Historic Resources Inventory form, 1978. B13. Remarks: Proposed historic district *B14. Evaluator: Franklin Maggi *Date of Evaluation: March 30, 2015 (This space reserved for official comments.) DPR523B
Page 5 of 6 *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Heywood Building Third-generation Berkeley resident William Hezekiah Heywood was the grandson of a pioneering resident, Zimri Brewer Heywood. William H. Heywood was born in 1864, one of two sons of William Brewer Heywood and his first wife, Salome. William Brewer Heywood had helped form the Berkeley Land and Building Company while running a lumber mill in Mendocino County that had been established by Zimri. The Heywoods also had extensive real estate holdings in Berkeley. William H. Heywood worked in the family lumber mill as a mechanical engineer and also purchased and developed several Berkeley properties during the twentieth century. He died in 1920, only five years after his father, three years after developing the subject property at 2014-2018 Shattuck Ave. The Heywood Building is primarily defined by its elaborate glazed terracotta façade with double rope molding and Gothic details. The terracotta was handmade by the Gladding, McBean and Co, of Lincoln, California. Gladding, McBean was founded in 1875, and is one of the oldest and longest-running companies in California. The company produced architectural terracotta for buildings across California and the West Coast, and by 1950, was considered one of the world s largest manufacturers of ceramic for commercial use. The popularity of glazed terracotta on commercial buildings increased in the twentieth century since it was considered to be a fire-resistant material while also conveying a sense of elegance and high style. James William Plachek was born in 1885, in Illinois, to Czechoslovakian immigrant parents. At the age of 15, he began an apprenticeship as a draftsman under Chicago architect J. E. O. Pridmore, and then went on to study engineering. Following the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake, Placheck, along with several others, was sent to San Francisco by the Mayor of Chicago to study the effects of the devastation. Under this directive, Plachek worked with William Weeks, the State Department of Architecture in Sacramento, and the City Architect s Office in San Francisco. In 1912, Plachek received his certificate to practice architecture, and he moved to Berkeley to set up his own firm. Until his death in 1948, Plachek was active in Berkeley civic life, and designed and executed a multitude of Berkeley buildings besides the subject building, including the Heywood Apartments at 2119 Addison St., the UC Theater at 2036 University Ave., the Stark and Central Hotels, and the Berkeley Public Library. Integrity The Heywood Building has integrity of location and setting in Downtown Berkeley, integrity of its Venetian Gothic design, integrity of its terracotta tile façade and bronze and marble storefront materials and high-quality local craftsmanship, as well as visual associations with commercial Berkeley design from the late 1910s. It continues to be readily identifiable as a historic building within the greater downtown core. Prior Surveys The property was surveyed in 1978, and found eligible for the National Register and given a status code of 3S by the State Historic Preservation Officer. In 1993, the property was nominated for Berkeley landmark status by Susan Cerny. The property was subsequently designated a Landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in on April 15, 1993. Evaluation The building is historically significant due to its association with important patterns of development in the downtown core, and for its distinctive architecture. It is also directly associated with prominent local architect James Plachek, who s maintained his architectural office in the building, as well as designing the building for William H. Heywood. The property remains an important contributor to the establishment of a historic district in the greater Shattuck Avenue area. The building continues to represent, at the street, commercial forms and materials that were prominent in the downtown during the period of historical significance for this building; from 1917-1958. The form and detailing of both the building and its original commercial storefronts maintain an important link to the past of Downtown Berkeley. (Continued on the next page) DPR 523L * Required information
Page 6 of 6 *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) Heywood Building Early photo shortly after construction, courtesy Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association. DPR 523L * Required information