The Besler Building at 4053 Harlan Street is a tangible link to Emeryville's ambitious industrial past and the early dreams of the American automobile industry. Originally built in 1923, the concrete factory was constructed by Abner Doble to manufacture the Doble Model E, widely considered the most advanced and exotic steam-powered car of its era. While the cars were technological marvels capable of 95 mph, material shortages and the onset of the Great Depression forced the company into bankruptcy by 1931. The building was then purchased by the Besler brothers, who used the space to keep manufacturing innovative steam engines, even powering the world's first steam-powered airplane flight out of the Oakland airport in 1933. In 1979 the three-story factory was converted into 51 live/work spaces, becoming one of the first industrial loft conversions in the Bay Area. Today the Besler Building offers massive, open-concept lofts that preserve the building's 14-foot timber ceilings, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired columns, and massive industrial windows, anchoring the heart of Emeryville's Park Avenue District right next to Pixar Animation Studios.
After buying the bankrupt plant, William and George Besler used the facility to build a lightweight 150-horsepower steam engine. On April 12, 1933, they used it to fly a Travel Air 2000 biplane out of the Oakland airport, the first airplane flight ever powered by a steam engine.
These details come from public records and are approximate while Auguste confirms them. HOA dues, pet rules, and parking change over time, so verify against current HOA documents before writing an offer.
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