California Cotton Mills Company Factory
Also known as: California Cotton Mills
Why it's listed
Rising four stories beside the railroad tracks in Oakland's Jingletown neighborhood, this brick factory was built in 1917 as an addition to the California Cotton Mills complex, which dates to the 1880s. Architect A.C. Griewank designed it, and it measures roughly 250 by 125 feet with clock towers at two corners. Thin corbelled brick pilasters, bands of steel sash windows and white-painted concrete lintels let in abundant light, while wood columns and composite timber-and-metal girders carry the floors. The east tower still holds a working clock mechanism. A 1940s warehouse addition adjoins an original 1880s mill wall. The mill closed in 1954 after construction of the freeway cut through the site. The building has since been converted to live/work studios. It is recognized for its engineer-designed daylight construction, which sits between older brick bearing-wall mills and later concrete-framed factories, and for its link to the neighborhood's industrial and immigrant history.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues local significance under Criterion C as one of the most important surviving examples of early twentieth century 'engineer's industrial' construction in Oakland. It combines brick masonry, precast concrete and composite timber-and-metal girders to get open floors and glass-dominated walls without reinforced concrete. It also reflects the mills' economic role in Jingletown and the importance of rail lines to Oakland industry.
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 12001234, listed January 30, 2013. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1091 Calcot Pl., Oakland |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | January 30, 2013 |
| Reference number | 12001234 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | A.C. Griewank (architect) |
| Architectural style | OTHER / Daylight Factory |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated as 74 live/work residential studios, with the attached warehouse serving as a parking garage. |
| Acreage | 1.3 |
| Coordinates | 37.77972, -122.23693 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 12001234.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q123232243
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.