Synagogue

1301 Oxford Street is a large lot between Oxford and Spruce streets across from Live Oak Park. It was purchased by Congregation Beth El (CBE) near the beginning of this millennium and the congregation now enjoys a large synagogue building on the site.

Codornices Creek emerges from a culvert in the middle of the north side of the property and flows in a steep ravine to a culvert underneath Oxford Street. Before construction of the synagogue, there were mostly small buildings of the East Bay Chinese Alliance Church on the southeast portion of the property, and most of the rest of the lot was covered with trees and gardens.

The plan originally proposed by CBE had a driveway right over the culverted portion of Codornices Creek, running along the north side of the property right near Berryman Path. Neighborhood concerns included and still include effects on:

• • Codornices Creek,

  • traffic & parking,

  • noise, and

  • excessive lighting.

See also:

• Documents concerning the Beth El Project

• Site descriptions

  • Chronology of the project.

There was also concern over the historic character of the site. This was the site of the Byrne House, built in 1868, one of the earliest structures in Berkeley.

There is now a plaque near the entrance to the site that is a tribute to the historic nature of the property.

See Graphic History of 1301 Oxford Site (Diagrams)

Final Beth El Parking Plan (PDF- 1Mb- May 12, 2005).

Beth El website

For some of the history of this issue, see:

• Letter from Carl Anthony and Karl Linn--April 15, 2001

  • Press Release for Press Conference held on 4/17/01 at 1301 Oxford Street

  • Cartoon by Khalil Bendib (Published in Berkeley Daily Planet 6/4/01)

  • Other relevant documents