Berkeley Iceland Remains a Berkeley Landmark

A major milestone has been passed. Berkeley Iceland retains its full landmark designation with the Berkeley City Council voting 5-4-0 to uphold the LPC's action. My
thanks to everyone in the community for their support and good wishes and the hard work of the core team, especially Caroline, Cyril, and my long time cohort, Elizabeth.

While important, it does not mean we get the building now. The owners are still in contract with the current developer who still has the first call on the building. He will need to decide his next action. If he chooses to drop out, it is then up to East Bay Iceland to decide to give us a chance. Once we are in contract with them, should that be their decision, then the real work begins.

We have been underestimated all along and at times not taken seriously. That even continued tonight with some of the comments by concerned council members. Our organization should not be taken for granted any more and we will make sure that our treasure gets the treatment it deserves if we are given the chance.

I am disappointed that we had to be put in the position of advesary to the current owners. From the beginning of the landmark process last year, Elizabeth and I tried to work with the local manager as much as possible. We believed that we were working to the same goal - preserving the ice rink and the building that contained it. It was not until the January LPC meeting that we had indications they would oppose the designation. I truly regret we could not work out a mutually a beneficial solution. We will continue to attempt working with them to achieve such a solution.

Again, thank you all for the help, support and contributions. We are one step closer to skating on the Big Ice again.

- Tom K.