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The Berkeley Iceland has been chillin’ for almost a year in development limbo, but keep crossing your fingers for a wealthy donor to make it rain on our favorite crusty skating rink. The once-popular recreational palace just took one big leap toward making a comeback, Nancy Kerrigan style.
In 2007, the Berkeley Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) declared Iceland a landmark, a move that acted as a barrier against the housing developers who intend to pave over the beloved Berkeley watering hole. Today, however, the non-profit group, “Save Berkeley Iceland,” announced a key move–a contract that essentially tells the developers to go screw themselves. In other words, “Save Berkeley Iceland” now possesses the exclusive rights to buy and reinvigorate the property. The estimated cost of a Berkeley ice renaissance is $12 million, however, which will most likely take years to accumulate.
Peeps better hurry up with the fund-raising, though. Incoming UC Berkeley freshmen and children of Cal-degreed yuppies are itching for a nice place to make memories. The Oakland Ice Center and the Yerba Buena Ice Skating and Bowling Center just aren’t the same! Then again, Iceland may not be, either–not unless it also rebirths those endearingly grimy hot chocolate and chili dispensers. Mmm.
Berkeley Iceland, we miss you.
Image Source: WATA5 under the GNU Free Documentation License
Grassroots group in contract to buy closed Berkeley skating rink [Inside Bay Area]
Save Berkeley Iceland [Website]
Earlier: Iceland Saved … Kind Of, Maybe, We’ll See
Comments:
Mar 3, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Considering the abuse the owners suffered at the hands of the city on behalf of Save Berkeley Iceland, it’s actually more of a Tonya Harding-style comeback.