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) several years ago. 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.

Congregation Beth El purchased the property a few years ago and now enjoy a large building on the site.

The plan originally porposed by CBE had a driveway running along the north side of the property right near Berryman Path, and a parking lot right over the culverted portion of Codornices creek. Neighborhood concerns included and still include effects on the creek, traffic, parking, noise, and excessive lighting.

• Statement of issues for City Council
• Key Elements of the Appeal of the Zoning Adjustments Board Decision of 3/8/01
• 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

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.

See ... Graphic History of 1301 Oxford Site (Diagrams)

In addition to the drawing below, you may see a photo of the original gardens on the property.

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

View from Oxford Street. The residence of HB Berryman was acquired from Napoleon Bonaparte Byrne who built it in 1868. It stood as the Church of the Cedars, the oldest extant structure in Berkeley, until the 1990s when it was destroyed by an arsonist.