In the News

Wareham Renovating Piece of Music History

By Brian K. Miller -- GlobeSt.com

February 13, 2007 --Work is underway to revive the house that Creedence built. Wareham Development recently acquired for upward of $20 million the Saul Zaentz Media Center here and is now busy remaking the entrance and lobby. The property--2.64 acres holding two buildings totaling 130,000 sf--remains the home of Fantasy Records, the country’s largest indie label, and Saul Zaentz Co., one of the world’s top recording studios in the 1970s and 80s.

A two-story building which still contains recording studios was constructed on the site in 1971. In 1980, a seven-story tower equipped with two theaters and a sound stage was added to the property, which is located between Tenth and Parker at 2600 Tenth Street.

For Wareham Development principal Rich Robbins, the building is more than investment real estate. "This property became known as the house that Creedence built," says Robbins. "John Coltrane, Bill Evans, Neil Young, they all recorded here. It’s an essential part of Americana to our generation."

In addition to a remodeled entrance and lobby, Wareham’s immediate plans include new security systems and an infrastructure in line with the needs of the industry as well as a landscaped courtyard. Robbins’ plan is to improve and expand the campus in order to catering to the substantial changes that have occurred in the music and film industry. His goal is to modernize and equip the buildings such that they once again become a world-class center for the creative arts and entertainment technology industries.

In addition to Fantasy and Saul Zaentz Co., the center’s current roster of tenants include Concord Music Group; Steven Okazaki’s Farallon Films; Firelight Media, Berkeley Digital Film Institute; Berkeley Sound Artists; Enough Said Products; and Paradigm Productions.

Robbins says an improved Saul Zaentz Media Center will complement the other media companies that have settled in the East Shore of San Francisco Bay. The list includes Pixar Animation Studios, Electronic Arts, Tippett Studio, Ex’pression College for Digital Arts and The University of California’s Pacific Film Archive.