Berkeley: Skating Out of the Picture

There will be many Berkeley citizens who are already mourning the loss of Berkeley Iceland.

The ice rink, which dates back to the 1940s, is slated to shut up shop on March 31 and this will have come as bittersweet news to local homeowners. Many will doubtless have enjoyed honing the finer points of their synchronized pirouettes there (or at the very least gained the satisfaction of staggering around the rink without taking an ignominious fall).

The rink has a distinguished history — it was the official practice facility for the California Golden Seals hockey team and nurtured several Olympic champions in the past — and it’s always sad to see the death of a well-loved institution.

But close neighbors may feel differently. There have been several accidental leaks of toxic ammonia from the rink’s refrigeration system over the years.

The site, which is on Milvia Street, is not likely to see the development of new homes as it zoned for commercial use. It is being listed by property agent John Gordon. Properties currently for sale in the area, which is close to downtown Berkeley, include this second floor triplex in a brown shingle on Howe Street, and this remodeled three-bedroom ranch house in Ward Street.

STATS:
Price: $650,000.
Location: 1644 Ward Street, Berkeley, CA 94705
Last sale price: $260,000 (in 1999)
Square footage: 1,390 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 2, Baths: 1

STATS:
Price: $579,000.
Location: 2323 Howe Street #2, Berkeley, CA 94703
Last sale price: $475,000 (in 2006)
Square footage: lot size – .09 sq. ft.
Bedrooms: 3, Baths: 2