Ribbon Cutting: Oxford Center Building
Remarks by Mayor Shirley Dean
June 14, 1995

"It is indeed a privilege to stand here today in Pasqua's to cut this ribbon at The Oxford Center Building, with Pasqua Cafe and the other businesses here and are excellent and beautiful examples of the type of quality infill development that are making a significant and outstanding contribution to the vitality of our Downtown. They are defining the wonderful future that lies ahead for Berkeley.

I want to commend Soheyl Modarressi, the General Partner for the Oxford Development Group, for his vision, his commitment to design excellence and his faith in our future. I also want to commend Robert Nebolon, the Architect responsible for the design of this building.  While looking to the future and designing a modern building, he incorporated the historical attributes of the origin building and added these high ceilings that give us this glorious sense of height and space. Good buildings make good spaces, and good spaces mean good business and a good future for the City of Berkeley.

I am extremely pleased to welcome Pasqua (ed. note: Starbucks,  as of November 1999) to our community today. This lovely and inviting cafe makes a wonderful contribution to Center Street. It warmly welcomes people to come in, enjoy themselves, spend time here in this attractive setting - a marvelous place to enjoy coffee, great food, talk or just read and relax - what more could anyone want, rain or shine? Fun and attractive places to eat and drink add to the strength of our Downtown. I want the Nay-sayers, the Pessimists of Berkeley, to take full-note that the pre-leasing of this building is proof positive that quality development has a strong market in Downtown Berkeley. Pasqua's will serve office workers, students campus faculty and staff, theater goers, shoppers, the Mayor, you can be absolutely sure, City staff, residents and visitors. It will be a strong link between Downtown and the campus.

It should also be noted Pasqua is a company with a heart. It has hired seven people through Berkeley's employment program, including one from the Jobs for Homeless consortium and one from the Vera Casey Center, our school district's program for teen parents. This is a real Berkeley company that we al need to support!

The future of Berkeley is bright indeed with new businesses like Pasqua. I am told the developer of the project is working on fixing up the facade of the neighboring building to the west from here to the theaters. Next year the City will bring physical improvements to Center Street through a grant from Cal-Trans. This will include improvements to the sidewalk and installation of pedestrian lighting and new tree wells from here to Shattuck Avenue, and on the horizon is Berkeley's new Arts and Theater District and the expansion of Harmon Gym with its concerts and events. Berkeley indeed is on the move!

This project is an excellent example of what happens when there is a partnership between the private sector and the City. Welcome Pasqua-- I am looking forward to spending time here. I am looking forward to spending my money here. I am looking forward to your unparalleled success."