CASTRO VALLEY FORUM A COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER SERVING CASTRO VALLEY SINCE 1989
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 2025
YEAR 37
MAC MEETING
INSIDE YOUR
FORUM
Updates From Sheriff’s Office, Fire Department
DECA Club
CV students win big at business competition and conference
PHOTO BY MIKE McGUIRE
All things aviation at Center for the Arts this Friday and Saturday
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New commercial building that recently opened at 21634 Redwood Road in Castro Valley, right by Interstate 580. It was built by the Castro Valley family company that once pioneered and popularized mini-storage units.
CV Storage Pioneers Open New Building By Mike McGuire
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
Senior Q&A
Is there a program that provides financial help for elder care at home?
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INDEX Classified Ads ........ 8 Events .................. 4 Homes .................... 6 Obituaries ............ 11 Opinions .............. 11 Our Town ................ 3 Seniors .................... 5 Sports ................... 12 Weather ................ 2 Women in Business 6 WWW.MYCVFORUM.COM
new station is being built adjacent to the existing station. CASTRO VALLEY FORUM Fire Station 25 is at 20336 The Castro Valley Munici- San Miguel- at this location pal Advisory Council (MAC) the existing fire house (built received updates this week in 1966) will be razed and from Alameda County Fire a new one will be built in Department as well as the its footprint. The proposed Sheriff’s Office. replacement Station 25 will be a 10,000-square-foot and Deputy Fire Chief Eric Moore spoke about the recon- two-stories with housing on struction of two fire houses in the top floor and fitness, locker Castro Valley--the first phase of room, and office space on the the project involves Stations 7 first floor. and 25, both of which will inThe ACFD estimations that clude an element of public art. construction will span between Station 7 is at 6855 Villareal November 2025 and October see MAC on page 11 Drive in Palomares Hills. The By Amy Sylvestri
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Plane Excitement
NO. 12
Castro Valley’s Knuppe family invented the mini-storage unit over 50 years ago, and the family firm just opened a new commercial building in one of the city’s most visible spots. Plans have taken since 2016 to get approved, and the building was built at 21634 Redwood Road, right next to the on-ramp to eastbound Interstate 280 from northbound Redwood Road. Many a local driver has gazed upon the building as they wait for the light to change at the I-580 off-ramp across the street. According to realtor Mike Tanzillo, the building on Redwood Road has 11 conventional office units and eight that could be used for more creative commercial purposes. Some units have freight or passenger elevators. Michael Knuppe said many changes were made to the original plans due to the building’s proximity to a residential neighborhood. He said initial tenants would likely be professionals like psychologists and dentists. Anyone interested can call him at MTC Commercial Real Estate at (510) 889-9157.
FROM 5A TO RENT-A-SPACE There had always been warehouses, but according to the company history on its website, 5A Storage Company founder Jim Knuppe introduced several innovations that made smaller storage units appealing to families and individuals. Knuppe started as a homebuilder, constructing some 3,000 houses and condominiums locally in 1960. Those stopped selling, however, when interest rates jumped in 1969, and he was looking for different uses for property he owned. His son Michael, who is now CEO of the family business—renamed R-A-S (RentA-Space) Management—said his father got the idea for mini storage after seeing a large apartment complex near Houston where the many enclosed carports were ready ahead of the apartments, whose construction had stalled. “Somebody said to dad someone should make them into ski cabins or the like, and dad got home and thought of storage units,” his son Michael recalled. The elder Knuppe founded 5A Storage in 1971. It grew to 13 locations, with each “store” having 2,000 to 3,000 units, some see STORAGE on page 3
Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi Retiring in July By Michael Singer
CASTRO VALLEY FORUM
After 10 years leading the Castro Valley Unified School District (CVUSD), Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi announced she will retire on July 1, after thirty-six years in public education. The announcement came during the Board of Education meeting last Wednesday, followed by praise from the five-member Board, former Board member Jo Loss and Castro Valley Education Foundation president Suresh Bhat. After 36 years in education, see AHMADI on page 10
Superintendent Parvin Ahmadi to retire after 10 years leading CVUSD