Comments on: Railroad Avenue Live-Works Reinvigorated

By: Waterfront Watch » Station Design Reaches Major Milestone

Waterfront Watch » Station Design Reaches Major Milestone — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:22:31 +0000

[...] latest Alternatives 1 and 4 are so well done, either will beautifully reflect the character of the waterfront neighborhoods in which they [...]

By: Waterfront Watch » Times: Hercules council rezones commercial block

Waterfront Watch » Times: Hercules council rezones commercial block — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 02:32:07 +0000

[...] last Tuesday evening which allows for a wider variety of commercial uses. This decision followed a neighborhood meeting on the issue. Similar posts:Times: Hercules hopes rezoning will spur business growth along Railroad [...]

By: Waterfront Watch » Cury-Owned Live-Work Units On Railroad Avenue

Waterfront Watch » Cury-Owned Live-Work Units On Railroad Avenue — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:55:05 +0000

[...] are fifteen live-work units on Railroad Avenue. David Cury is the owner of seven of them: units 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 12 [...]

By: Waterfront Watch » Planning Commission Meeting on Monday

Waterfront Watch » Planning Commission Meeting on Monday — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:28:25 +0000

[...] meeting on Monday — 7pm at City Hall. The first is for the City’s plan to allow for expanded uses in the Railroad Avenue live-works, and the second will allow for an automotive center to be developed at the vacant lot att he [...]

By: Mike Bowermaster

Mike Bowermaster — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:10:39 +0000

@John – I encourage you to reread the article, it’s intent wasn’t to criticize any of the tenants. I thinks it’s very valid and compelling information that the two end units (one is Viktor’s and the other is the Powder Keg) are designed to be food service spaces while the rest of the live-works are not.
That to me is interesting, the juicy morsels of life, if you will. Market realities sometimes have nothing to do with an architect’s original intent.
Viktor is a good neighbor, just like Spring Life Acupuncture (if we’re naming names)
http://www.springlifeacupuncture.com/
so let’s focus back on the exciting new uses we could have in the empty live-work units!

By: John

John — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:59:54 +0000

There is one unit available for rent right now. How come no one is renting it? And by the way, SAKAMOTO has his office there for affordable housing. How’s that? Viktor Manrique is bringing good and quality homeowners to these foreclosed homes in Hercules. Why blame space him for renting that space. Besides its a 600 sq. foot space. That is too small for a restaurant. A kitchen will take up most of that space. Leave Viktor Manrique alone. He does so much for our community. There’s more fish to fry. And by the way, these units are PRIVATELY owned. They permitted these units to be rented out to whoever they want. IF YOU’RE THAT CONCERNED, then buy those units and rent those to whomever you want.

By: Mike Bowermaster

Mike Bowermaster — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:04:37 +0000

@Jeff Boore - Thanks for bringing this back on track. This article is not meant to attack any tenants, but is meant to explain this building's intended uses as it was designed and constructed. The future business here will be a great benefit for the neighborhood.

By: Jeff Boore

Jeff Boore — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:45:31 +0000

Presumably the city still has the phone numbers to the barber, baker, ice cream maker, etc. I wonder if anyone is calling them up to tell them that a rezoning appears likely.

By: Susan

Susan — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:44:55 +0000

BTW, Viktor does not live in Promenade, but is a big waterfront booster. Helped with the waterfront initiative and with National Night Out.

By: Jeff Boore

Jeff Boore — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:43:08 +0000

Many people blame Victor Manrique for our not having a restaurant there, and I think this is unfair. He’s just renting a nice space that he was offered (and is a very nice guy, by the way). The blame falls squarely on the people who own that unit. They knew that this was designed to be a restaurant, but then bought it anyway and then thumbed their noses at the community by declaring that they would not lease it to any restaurant. The blame is squarely on them, but we don’t even know their names. I say let Victor off the hook for just taking an opportunity to get a nice office. If not him, it would have been some other non-restaurant tenant, because the owner says that he won’t live above a restaurant.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:56:28 +0000

Maybe so, does that changed anything?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:13:23 +0000

Mike,
It is my understanding the realtor also lives in Promenade.