About me
My name is Daniel Beckman. I returned to AshbyPlace in the fall of 2020 to care for my mother, who is now in her 90’s and has owned this home for the past 45 years. In my earlier years, I worked as a Xerox copier technician, commuting from this house to my job in San Francisco. After spending nearly three decades away, I was called back to Berkeley to assist my mother. Initially, I planned to stay for two years, but I have decided to remain in Berkeley.
About this Website
My original plan was to create a website to showcase my Japanese grandmother’s writings. However, when I learned that the school project required a 15-page website, I realized I didn’t have enough material to meet the requirement. So, I shifted the focus to AshbyPlace-my current residence. At first, I approached it from a real estate perspective, highlighting the home’s features. But as I dug deeper into its history, I discovered that this house holds a unique and compelling story-one that is closely tied to Berkeley’s rich past and the broader, ever changing landscape of California.
A note…
While this site highlights many positive aspects of AshbyPlace and the surrounding Berkeley area, it’s also important to acknowledge the city’s ongoing challenges. These include social injustice, homelessness, graffiti, crime and others. The high cost of living and limited availability of housing are also pressing concerns.
All of the pictures were taken with the iPhone.
