Real Estate News & Market Insights:
- Beloved longtime home of activists Lyle "Butch" Wing and Jean Yonemura Wing, who hosted Rev. Jesse Jackson.
- Zen-inspired design features include custom fir millwork, master-crafted shoji screens, a tranquil Zen garden with bamboo and river rocks.
- Architectural integrity preserved with original built-ins, stunning hardwood floors, multilight windows, skylit bathrooms, and light-filled living spaces.
- Residence embodies civic legacy: Butch Wing's coalition work and Jean Yonemura's influential education equity scholarship.
On a quiet, tree-lined cul-de-sac in Berkeley, CA’s iconic Elmwood district stands a beautifully preserved 1929 Craftsman home that boasts not just an incredible architectural legacy but a close connection to the Bay Area’s history of activism, social justice, and educational equity.
The four-bedroom, two-bedroom dwelling was once home to Lyle “Butch” Wing and Jean Yonemura Wing, two of the region’s most respected advocates who hosted some of the world’s leading civil rights activists—including Rev. Jesse Jackson—inside the property.
On the market for the first time in 22 years, with an asking price of $1.8 million, the zen-inspired abode has come a long way since it was built nearly 100 years ago.
The home spans 2,266 square feet and sits on a 3,212-square-foot lot; it’s promised to be “the best of Berkeley” by listing agent Jodi Nishimura with Kai Real Estate.
The craftsman residence shines with original built-ins, stunning hardwood floors, multilight windows, and picture rails, all complemented by recent custom fir millwork and shoji screens meticulously crafted by a master woodworker.
All of these elements come together with a Zen garden to give the home a sense of peace and space, according to Nihimura, which is what makes it stand out.
“Craftsman with a Japanese, Zen twist. Shoji screens crafted by a master woodworker, custom fir built-ins, even the original architecture, I imagine coincidentally, has an Asian-inspired roofline,” she said.
The home’s flow, from the spacious, updated kitchen to the formal dining and living rooms, and onward to the family room that opens onto a sunny deck and backyard, creates a sense of warmth.
Skylit bathrooms, generous natural light, and upper-level bedrooms with serene views of the Berkeley Hills enhance the sense of calm throughout.
In the home’s landscaped backyard, bamboo, maple, and river rocks form a tranquil garden perfect for reflection or entertaining. Every detail, from the Japanese-influenced roofline to the custom woodwork, speaks to thoughtful craftsmanship and an eye for harmonious design in a sought-after location.
“This is prime Berkeley. Great shopping district, beautiful tree-lined streets and architecture, close to transportation options including BART, Bay Bridge, trails, water. The upper bedrooms have views of the Berkeley Hills,” Nishimura explains.
But the story of 3033 Regent St. goes far beyond its architecture. Butch Wing was a lifelong Asian-American activist and coalition builder who helped bridge communities across race and class.
As founding co-chair of Asian Americans for Jesse Jackson in 1984, and an early member and founding board member of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, he worked to increase participation of people of color in political and civic life. He even met Nelson Mandela shortly after Mandela’s release from prison.
Jean Yonemura Wing, his late wife, was a celebrated educator and researcher recognized as a “warrior for education equity” by the San Francisco Chronicle.
She pioneered research on racial achievement gaps in urban schools, particularly through her work with the Berkeley Unified School District. She co-edited “Unfinished Business: Closing the Racial Achievement Gap in Our Schools” with Pedro Noguera, a landmark exploration of race, achievement, and schooling that continues to influence education reform nationwide.
Jean’s father, Mas Yonemura, was an activist figure in his own right. Interned during WWII, he went on to graduate from Boalt Hall, UC Berkeley, served in U.S. Army Military Intelligence, and became a lifelong advocate for Japanese-American civil rights.
He represented internees who had been coerced into renouncing their citizenship and helped restore their legal status, earning the Order of the Sacred Treasure from the Emperor of Japan for strengthening U.S.–Japan relations.
The Wings purchased their Berkeley dwelling in 1993 for just $335,000 and it remains in a trust linked to Butch’s name.
Together, the Wings cultivated a home that reflected their values: a place of balance, beauty, and social purpose. Hosting leaders like Jackson and welcoming other figures in the civil rights movement, the home was a hub for dialogue, advocacy, and change.
Beyond its historic legacy, the home’s location is optimal Berkeley. Elmwood is beloved for its charming historic commercial district, shops, eateries, and the Julia Morgan-designed live performance theater.
The neighborhood has a rich history of political activism, once home to notable figures like Fredrika Newton, wife of Black Panther Huey P. Newton, and even Jane Fonda for a time.
At 3033 Regent St., the combination of architectural grace, serene outdoor spaces, and a legacy of activism makes this home uniquely compelling.
As Nishimura notes, its Craftsman elegance with a Zen-inspired twist is “a rare find, one that offers not just a residence but a living piece of Berkeley’s progressive history.”
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