New life for old Goodwill store

<p>When it comes to major reconstruction, unexpected delays and cost overruns are usually par for the course. The old Goodwill building on the corner of Petaluma Boulevard North and East Washington Street is no exception. It was five years ago this month that arsonists set a sofa on fire, causing more than $400,000 damage, mainly to the building's second floor. The 140-year-old, historically significant structure is just weeks away from its reincarnation as Old Shanghai Home Decor. </p><p>Rick Brereton and Church Hildreth of Architectural Design & Restoration were first brought on board in early January 2008 by the building's new owner, businessman Andrew Tam. </p><p>Tam and his daughters, Tiffany and Renee, own three brick-and-mortar stores on Grant Avenue in San Francisco's Chinatown, as well as Old Shanghai Online. The 10,400-square-foot Petaluma store will be Tam's first outside San Francisco city limits.</p><p>“I have always liked Petaluma because of the small-town atmosphere and beautiful antique shops and delicious restaurants downtown,” said Tam. “This gave me the idea of branching out to this area to showcase something different — Asian home decor and accessories.”</p><p>To the ADR staff, “It's the Tam project,” says Brereton. “To people in Petaluma, it's the Goodwill building, and when we deal with the city, we refer to it as 172 Petaluma Boulevard.” </p><p>The Tam project was originally budgeted at around $1.3 million with an estimated completion in January 2011. Now, says Brereton, “We expect it to be in late August.” As for cost overruns, he declined to give a figure. What caused the delays?</p><p>“We got hung up on some of the welding of the steel,” says Brereton. “The engineer had specified a certain type of non-standard proprietary joint and when the contractor did it, there were some issues with it during the inspection. Construction stopped until we could resolve those issues.</p><p>“Weather was a major factor as well. We didn't get the roof on in time before winter, and we had a very rainy season. Those two events alone could have cost us six months.”</p><p>There were some minor issues as well.</p><p>“The actual construction is being done by a Chinese firm, Kin Wo Construction of San Francisco,” Brereton continued. “There is a bit of a language barrier. It's much easier to talk to them in person than on the phone. But the crew is very nice and very accommodating. We just talk with the foreman, and any problems are resolved to everyone's satisfaction.”</p><p>The structure's second level will accommodate a loft apartment with a view of the Water Street promenade over the river. A space is being set aside in the basement for the possible addition of a café. Both will have access from Water Street.</p><p>Basing its exterior design on a 1917 photograph, ADR is replicating as best it can the structure's transom windows and cornices with corbels, typical of 19th century-style architecture. The photo shows the fire next door that engulfed the Gem Theatre, now Graziano's Ristorante. On the opposite side is a real estate business that was eventually torn down to widen East Washington Street. That made the Goodwill store, which was then an auto supply shop, the corner building. </p><p>ADR and Kin Wo Construction had to overcome several exterior challenges as well. The historic mural on the East Washington wall had to be covered and protected, first with a fence, then with a curtain. Also, the sidewalk sloped to such a degree that there was difficulty meeting current-day accessibility codes. </p><p>“We had to do the best we could,” Brereton explained, “otherwise, we would have had to pour a whole new sidewalk. We also uncovered a retaining wall that had lots of stone that had to be reinforced and extended.”</p><p>During a recent walk-through, one could see the interior's 13-inch masonry walls, along with exposed steel girders and other seismic upgrades that can't be sheetrocked until a city inspection is done.</p><p>“I wish the construction could be much faster,” said Tam. “I am very excited to show everyone our new retail store!”</p><p>So are neighboring businesses like Chelsea Antiques. Store manager Fayrene Settles said, “I think it's wonderful that the building's finally going to be occupied. It's been such a blight all this time.”</p><p>(Contact Bob Canning at argus@arguscourier.com)</p>