Alumni News
USCA Celebrates the Grand Opening of Hillegass-Parker House
By Jennifer Heller
Communications Coordinator
On Friday, October 7th, the USCA welcomed the community to the official opening of the Hillegass-Parker Co-op, the USCA’s newest addition housing 56 graduate and re-entry students.
The evening began with an assortment of hors d’oeuvres, sparkling apple cider, and tours of the completely transformed house. Guests gushed, “It’s beautiful!”, “So lovely!” and, “It looks great!”
A few bemoaned the loss of traditional murals, but on the whole, all were pleased with the freshly painted walls, refinished floors and tasteful furniture, décor and landscaping.
The program began with a welcome from the current USCA president, Johnny George. He thanked everyone for coming and for all the community support. “After everything we’ve been through, it’s a great new start for an old house!”
General Manager George Proper acknowledged several in attendance, including neighbors, City and University officials. Among those was Berkeley Police Chief Douglas Hambleton, who lived in four different co-ops when he was a student at Cal.
The program concluded with speeches by Graduate Division Dean Mary Ann Mason and City Council member Kriss Worthington. The two joined in the cutting of green and white ribbon to symbolize the house’s official grand opening.
Mason said, “I began meeting with George [Proper] years ago, thanks to Judi Sui (Hoyt Hall, 1969-71 and UC Graduate Division manager), who told me about the co-ops potentially housing more graduate students. First we talked about Rochdale, then Cloyne, but nothing ever panned out until one day this past spring when he called me and said, ‘Mary Ann, I think it’s finally going to happen.’ I had never heard of Chateau, but this place is amazing.”
Worthington added, “The fact that the USCA was able to maintain this property as a student co-op is the best news of all. It could have been sold and turned into condominiums, but thanks to the USCA, that didn’t happen. It took a lot of time, hard work and money, but the USCA remains the largest provider of low cost housing in the City of Berkeley.”
UC Director of Community Relations, Irene Hegarty said about the renovation, “You don’t see this type of drastic turnaround very often in my line of work. This truly is amazing.”
Former USCA president Nick Hamilton was also present. Hamilton saw the co-op through one of the most difficult years in USCA history, presiding over the organization as the USCA finally decided to renovate le Chateau. He said, “My goal was for the USCA was to continue operating the house as a co-op, and I’m happy that we were able to achieve it. This house raises the bar for quality, low-cost housing, and I hope it will start a trend as we restore the level of service that the co-ops traditionally have had. The residents are bringing in new energy, and all will have the opportunity to contribute and define the future of the house.”
Neighbor Randy Fish said he was “really impressed with [the residents’] brightness, heart, and maturity. The houses are now a credit to the neighborhood, and the best thing that’s happened to this area in a long time. That co-op has never been so quiet.”
Willard Neighborhood Association president and neighbor George Beier presented a gift of a wooden bench adorned with a plaque reading, “Welcome, a gift from the Willard Neighborhood Association: With the building of something new brings the promise of something great.”