But this is Chico, too

Here’s another block anchored by a single exquisite building. As you walk the block, you will go from the ridiculous to the sublime and back again.

The Bank of America building, on the southwest corner of Broadway and Fourth Street, is the site of Nichols Hardware, a landmark business that burned down in 1950. Decades ago, Bank of America occupied the vacant building that most recently was the home of Chevy’s Restaurant.

I suppose it’s an exaggeration to call the current Bank of America building ridiculous, but it’s far from sublime. Its neighbor to the south, the Silberstein Park building, comes close to being that, however. One of the best things about the building, which will turn 100 next year, is that it looks good from both the front and back, as you can see by the photos.

Although it was designed to be an office building, Silberstein Park spent most of its life as the La Grande Hotel. At one time, a movie theater, called The Lyric, occupied the ground floor.

The hotel closed in 1982. Local developers Bob Fortino and Bud Tracy refurbished the building in 1984.

Next door to the Park Silberstein is Taco Bell. It vies with Jack in the Box across the street and the 7-11 at First and Main streets for the distinction of being the most inappropriate building in downtown Chico. Taco Bell’s predecessor, a building that stood for 50 years and housed such businesses as Hannah’s Grocery and Betty’s Dress Shop, was torn down in 1966.

Turn right on Fifth Street. All that’s left of this block is the Bank of America parking lot. But here I pay homage to the Italianate style Crew Canfield house, which stood at the northeast corner of Fifth and Salem streets from 1883 until it was torn down in 1966 to make was for the expansion of the bank’s parking lot.

It was built by Alexander Crew, who established one of Chico’s first banks in 1872.

I haven’t lost hope for this block. One day, the Bank of America and Taco Bell buildings may be torn down and be replaced by successors that are more worthy of this setting. But I’m sure the parking lot wil be with us forever.