Folks from SBI will be making the rounds of the Berkeley Iceland to spread the message that we needed places for healthy fun more than another big "shopping experience." Our message is simple, Skating not $hopping! With the goal to save the building itself accomplished, the discussion now focuses on the appropriateness of replacing a beloved community ice rink, with all the health and culltural benefits it brings, with a 71,000 square foot big box retail operation.
Thursday started the new public phase for the future of Berkeley Iceland. Sports Basement presented its plans to Berkeley's Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) in the first public step to gain the permits and exceptions they need. These plans include a number of items which will have significant impact on the surrounding community - particularly parking, traffic and use. We will be providing our view on the plans in another post along with alternative views which could restore and expand the community center. We encourage everyone with a view on the project to contact the City, current owners and Sports Basement (contact information is available on this list) and let have your voices heard.
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At the last Zoning Board meeting, the attorney for Sports Basement made what I think was a remarkable assertion. He effectively said that, while Berkeley Iceland was built with community support and funding, the fact that it was privately owned and charged admission meant that it should not be considered a public facility. Somehow, the fact that the Zamboni family bought many of the shares in East Bay Iceland from the shareholders in the community changed the nature of the ice rink. The implication seems to be that being privately held and charging entry fees disqualifies Berkeley Iceland history as a community asset. That is a unique interpretation of how ownership defines a places value to the community.
Seventy One years ago this month two ice rinks with the moniker Iceland opened in Northern California - one in Berkeley and, three days later, one in Sacramento. Both were built to bring to the community ice sports and healthy fun. Over the years, in spite of the wear and tear, both were special places in their communities. In recent years, one suffered a devastating fire and the other was closed by its owners. Only one was open to celebrate its 71st anniversary - Sacramento Iceland - thanks to owners committed to community skating.
For more than 67 years, Berkeley Iceland was a healthy, fun community center based on the Big Ice, When it closed, another part of Berkeley's cultural history was endangered. Sports Basement proposes to turn Berkeley Iceland into a big-box discount sporting goods store, 1-1/2 to 2 times the size of the Berkeley REI, in the middle of a quiet, mostly residential neighborhood. If successful, the return of the beloved and much needed community ice rink will be lost forever.
