{"nrhp_refnum":"82002158","name":"Corder Building","other_names":["Shattuck ApartmentS","Whitecotton Building","Witter Building"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"2300--2350 Shattuck Ave.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Berkeley","county":"Alameda County","state":"CA","lat":37.867140015000075,"lon":-122.26823205799997,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1982-01-11","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Commerce","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A four-story concrete and stucco store and apartment building occupying a full block of Shattuck Avenue frontage (265 feet) in downtown Berkeley, California. It was built in 1921 as a one-story block and raised to four stories in 1925-26.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the building is one of the two most noticeable major buildings in downtown Berkeley, and that its construction helped merge separate train-stop business districts into one continuous downtown. It is also a fine example of the classical-styled commercial work of architect James W. Plachek, and appears to be the only Berkeley building expanded as originally planned by its original architect. Its preserved condition and long continuity of ownership and tenancy are also noted.","narrative":"Occupying an entire block of Shattuck Avenue in downtown Berkeley, this four-story building combines ground-floor shops with upper-floor apartments. It began in 1921 as a one-story reinforced concrete block designed to carry more floors, and architect James W. Plachek raised it to four stories in 1925-26, reusing the same classical ornament. Its 265-foot facade is divided into thirteen bays with octagonal columns, transoms, a balustraded parapet and a dentiled cornice. Thomas W. Corder, an Oakland capitalist, built it as an income property, and it was long known as the Whitecotton Building after its leaseholder. The nomination presents it as a major step in joining Berkeley's separate station-based business districts into one downtown, and as a fine example of Plachek's commercial work. It also appears to be the only Berkeley building expanded as planned by its original architect. Restored transoms and long continuity of use keep it well preserved. Forty-eight apartments retain many original interior features.","period_of_significance":null,"architect_builder":"James W. Plachek","architectural_style":"Classical-styled commercial building","criteria":[],"status_note":"Described as in excellent condition, well maintained and recently refurbished, with shops and apartments occupied and the north third converted to offices and library space for Continuing Education of the Bar.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:31.937531-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_CA/82002158.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/82002158/a497a2c8b3-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/82002158/a497a2c8b3-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 3.0","author":"Sanfranman59","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corder_Building_(Berkeley,_CA).JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">Sanfranman59</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Corder_Building_(Berkeley,_CA).JPG"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123858194","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corder_Building","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123120961"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/california/alameda-county/corder-building-82002158/"}