Comments on: Old Lehmer’s building in Concord, now completely demolished

By: WESTPITTSBURG925

WESTPITTSBURG925 — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 08:20:47 +0000

CONcord is just an ugly city period!! Tear the whole city down.. So much meaning to it’s name when it comes to Pro’s and Con’s of a city. ProCord just wouldn’t work!!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:25:07 +0000

Now if only we could get the city to tear down the ugly over priced apartments/condos.

By: anonamom

anonamom — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:19:09 +0000

Concord Historical Society as per tax filings has about $501,000.00. And annual income has been pretty much cut in half from what it was 5 years ago. They’re going to have to work hard and fast if they hope to save that building in under 3 years.

By: anonamom

anonamom — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 22:33:44 +0000

I’m with MO on this one. The Historical society is active, and I applaud them for trying to save the Masonic Hall. I’ve been through all of it several years ago. It is worth saving. But, and a BIG But it is; The block around the square is nice, but the row upon row of cramped, overpriced apartments and condos are an eyesore. The average family in concord could not afford them, even if they could fit into them, and the area is being concentrated on by the city at the expense of services to the outlying neighborhoods. Concords budget for sidewalk repair even refers to “lower income areas” where they will just sand and fill in broken concrete rather than replace it. Tells you why we have some real crappy looking neighborhoods even where the citizens work hard to keep their own properties in good repair.

By: Ian

Ian — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:03:12 +0000

Mo, I agree that many of the newer buildings are an eyesore, but in my opinion, so is the Masonic building. I just don’t see it.

By: radar

radar — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:22:44 +0000

MO, the Concord Historical Society in Concord is alive, well and very active. The apartments are the result of poor planning not by an extinct historical society. Concord’s Historical Society raises funds and I’ve covered a few of those events for the Concordian paper that I freelance for. They do have big job ahead of them with the moving of the Masonic building and then refurbishing it when its moved to the Galindo house property.

By: Mr. Mayor

Mr. Mayor — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:17:22 +0000

I think they raise funds.

By: Monte Katt

Monte Katt — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:59:32 +0000

The Concord Historical Society is that flush with money, or do they have to raise the funds? A big big job ahead. Good Luck.

By: Mr. Mayor

Mr. Mayor — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:53:32 +0000

I believe it costs about $500,000 to move it. It’s all financed by the Concord Historical Society.

By: Monte Katt

Monte Katt — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:52:44 +0000

What would it cost to move that large building? Where is the $$$$$ money coming from, which pocket do they use?

By: MO

MO — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:17:20 +0000

I knew the Lehmers. And, an eyesore or not, what a plethora of history that area is. And The Masonic Bldg is beautiful. One of the most beautiful..ever in Concord.
In the last 40 years the younger generation has been too quick to bulldoze and rebuild.
And some the newer bldgs are ugly.
The High Rises of the 80s and the Town House Apts for example on Willow Pass … cheap structures stretched to the sidewalks to squeeze in as many people as possible.
The whole mess shows there has been no planning.
That’s my opinion…but the eye of this generation is far less sensitive to beauty than it is MONEY.

Historical Societies and Preservationists are extinct in Concord.
But the current generation pays the taxes so they deserve what they get.

By: A non

A non — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:42:24 +0000

Lehmers was an eye sore.

By: nova7

nova7 — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:42:51 +0000

The Masonic Bldg currently houses the California Watercolor Association (CWA). The CWA is very active and it has a growing membership of over 700 artists. Their Gallery is open Thurs-Sun from 11am–4pm, and their juried art is top notch. So if you want to see great art, or the Masonic Bldg. before it’s relocated, stop by (it has high ceilings and nice natural light, and an “early 20th century ambience”).

The CWA holds an annual National Exhibition at the Presidio Officers Club. This year it’s running July 14-Sept 19. Hours are: Wed-Sun. 11am – 5pm (Free). See: http://www.presidio.gov/calendar/

Artists (and Concord redevelopment entities) check out the CWA website at: californiawatercolor.org

By: radar

radar — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:21:45 +0000

The Masonic building is beauitful in its own way that’s for sure. Should be interesting to watch the building being moved.

By: jtkatec

jtkatec — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 17:09:26 +0000

I love the Masonic bldg, the old tile work on the stairs. I sure would like to look at the upstairs.

Concord Historical Society should offer tours. I would be willing to buy a ticket.