40 for 40: Madison Park Apartments - 1996

The Spice Girls were asking us to “Tell me what you want, what you really, really want,” in their breakout hit “Wannabe” while aliens blew up the White House in summer blockbuster “Independence Day” in 1996.  In the same year, the architecture staff at AND won a prestigious design award for Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Historic Preservation from the California Preservation Foundation for its work renovating the historically significant Madison Park Apts. in Oakland for East Bay Asian Local Development Corp. (EBALDC), one of our longstanding partners.

Built in 1908, the Madison Park Apts. was the largest wooden structure west of the Mississippi.  Heavily damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta quake, the structure remained vacant until EBALDC acquired it and began renovation in 1994 with the help of AND and Brannagh Construction.  On the National Register of Historic Places, the project’s financing included historic preservation tax credits.  Improvements included seismic, plumbing and electrical upgrades, restoration of historical detailing and provision of accessibility for five apartments, all public spaces and entryway. With a total of 98 studios and one- and two-bedroom residences, the Madison Park Apts. are a prime example of revitalized affordable housing close to a rich confluence of cultural resources and public transit.  Conveniently located across the street from the Lake Merritt BART station, the apartments are within walking distance of the Oakland Museum, schools and parks.  The apartments also offer residents and community organizations a large community meeting room and leases space to the Oakland Unified School District, which provides adult ESL and computer classes there as well.