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Overview

This two-floor residence with some Neo-classical detailing occupied its site at 716 Castro Street between 1890 and about 1980. It was removed to make room for the US Highway 980 interchange with US Highway 880.

Building History

This two-floor residence was one of a number that were removed from this site when US Interstate Highway 980 was built through this southern part of Downtown Oakland, c. 1980. In 1979, the house at 716 Castro was to be moved to the Oak Center redevelopment area.

Building Notes

In preparation for its removal, the Historic American Buildings Survey documented 716 Castro Street in 1978. (See HABS CA-2058; HABS CAL,1-OAK,8-6ph.) Architectural historian Mary Beth Betts described the 716 Castro Street House in 1979: “Wooden frame with novelty siding and plaster cast trim, three-bay front, two stories, gable roof, paneled bargeboard with brackets at either end of gable, on bay entrance porch with Tuscan columns, three-sided one-story bay projection with Ionic pilasters between windows, denticulated cornice across top of first story, plaster cartouches between second story windows, attic window flanked by bracketed panels with incised sun rays, button molding below and cartouche above; original wrought iron fence around yard. Built 1890; plans to move to Oak Center redevelopment area, 1978. (See Mary Beth Betts, Historic American Buildings Survey, HABS-CA-2058, file card documentation, written 1979, accessed 07/22/2024.)

Alteration

A second-floor addition may have been added to the dwelling's rear. In the back, first-floor siding matched that of the front of the house, although rear's second floor siding did not. Often, houses of this era had projecting rear service porches on their first floors.

PCAD id: 25367