bi_admin's blog

When the community, owners and city agree to get something done, it is amazing what can happen.  After a fire decimated the historic Sacramento Iceland structure, the Kerth family, which owns Sacramento Iceland, decided that they owed it to the community to reopen the rink.  Working with the community, hundreds of volunteers have been cleaning up the remnaints of the fire with the goal to open the rink, without it's roof, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Sacramento Iceland's opening, 4 November 2010 [Sacramento Iceland opened three days after Berkeley Iceland].  There is a report in the ISI eNews that the City of Sacramento is providing a grant of $25,000 to help restore the original facade of the Iceland building. 

SBI salutes all the folks working to restore Sacramento Iceland to its community -  it will be worth a trip to Sacramento to skate there when it opens.  When you have a special place in your community, it is important to work together to preserve it.  This, more than anything else, is what has kept the Save Berkeley Iceland project going. 

Quick news from Sacramento, Berkeley Iceland was found eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.  Details when we have them.  This makes official something that most of us already know, Berkeley Iceland is an historic place that deserves to be preserved.  Everyone, owners, community, city leaders, need to figure out how to make this happen - SBI remains committed to working with all parties on what should be a winning project for everyone!

On the last Berkeley City Council meeting before the Summer break (13 July, 2010), the Council voted 7-2 to adapt the City Manager's recommendation to withhold comment on the application for Berkeley Iceland to be listing on the National Register of Historic Places.  The alternative option, approval of a letter of support prepared by the Berkeley Landmark Preservation Commission, was not accepted.  The reason sited for not commenting was the status of the Berkeley landmark designation which is subject to a new review by the City Council as part of a settlement of a lawsuit brought by the current owners.  To quote the manager's recommendation:

"The City Council agreed to reconsider its previous approval of Berkeley Iceland as a
local historic landmark. Therefore, it would be premature to comment on the proposed
National Register listing."

The action by the City Council does not affect the process for National Register listing.  The hearing at the State Historic Resources Commission (SHRC) is scheduled for 30 July at the Sacramento City Council Chambers in Sacramento.