American Bag Co.-Union Hide Co.
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Why it's listed
Standing at Third and Harrison Streets in Oakland's warehouse area near the estuary, this three-story brick building was constructed in 1917 for Kalman Gluck's American Bag Co. and Union Hide Co. Leonard H. Thomas designed it, and J. Sockoler built it. Dark red brick walls are enriched with cream and polychrome brick in gauged and paneled patterns, segmentally arched windows, a belt course and a deep corbeled cornice. Loading docks face the Western Pacific tracks, which had recently arrived on Third Street. The Gluck family used the building until the late 1980s, which left it remarkably intact, including its painted signage and rooftop flumes and bins from burlap bag cleaning. A 1995-1996 renovation turned the upper floor into a residence and the lower floors into commercial space while preserving the historic character. It was listed for its architecture as one of Oakland's half-dozen most outstandingly embellished early twentieth century industrial buildings.
Significance in brief: It is presented as one of Oakland's most outstanding examples of early twentieth century utilitarian brick warehouse architecture. Its polychrome and cream brickwork and rhythm of arched windows set it apart from nearby warehouses. A 1983 city survey called it the most decorative of the surrounding warehouses, and it retains unusual integrity because the original user occupied it until 1987.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 99000896, listed August 13, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 299 Third St., Oakland |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | August 13, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000896 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1917 |
| Architect / builder | J. Sockoler, builder; Leonard H. Thomas, designer |
| Architectural style | Late 19th/20th Century Revivals |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Renovated in 1995-1996; the third floor is a residence and the first and second floors are leased as commercial space. The original freight elevator, scale, windows and signage were kept. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Oakland Waterfront Warehouse District |
| Coordinates | 37.79524, -122.27212 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 99000896.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q123232222
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.