Corder Building
Also known as: Shattuck ApartmentS; Whitecotton Building; Witter Building
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Why it's listed
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.
Significance in brief: 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.
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 82002158, listed January 11, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2300--2350 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | January 11, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002158 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | James W. Plachek |
| Architectural style | Classical-styled commercial building |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | 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. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.86714, -122.26823 (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 82002158.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q123120961
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.