South Berkeley elder, business owner wants an accessible home to ‘start over with new beginnings’
After suffering serious falls, Betty Gray hasn’t been able to leave her second-floor apartment to run Alice’s Relaxing Bath and Gift Shop.
Housing & Development
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Top Stories
Proposal for California Theatre would keep facade, add high-rise housing
A proposal to build “approximately 15 stories” of new housing behind the theater’s facade cleared an early hurdle this month.
Berkeley Troll House, where the ‘transcontinental psychedelic elite’ partied, is for sale
Owsley Stanley, famed Grateful Dead soundman and the first person to privately manufacture LSD, lived in the Poet’s Corner cottage during the Summer of Love.
Homelessness
Berkeley’s homeless population dropped 5% during the pandemic, report says
There are about 50 fewer homeless people in the city than in 2019, even as Alameda County’s homeless population rose 22%.
First North Berkeley affordable housing in over 30 years, Jordan Court, opens
Tenants began moving into the 34-unit affordable senior housing project in March after being chosen among 1,000 applicants.
800 homeless people died in Alameda County in 3 years
The main causes of death were overdoses and medical conditions, many “preventable,” according to a county report.
Commercial development
As owners move to sell the California Theatre, fans try to save it
An unidentified prospective buyer has plans to “transform” the 108-year-old California Theatre, one of its owners says.
Photos: Take a first look inside the hotel that has reshaped Berkeley’s skyline
The new Residence Inn by Marriott, which opens Friday in downtown, is the fourth-tallest building in Berkeley and the city’s biggest in half a century.
Council approves $33M Bayer development agreement
The deal paves the way for a building boom at the Bayer campus in West Berkeley, which could add 1,000 new jobs.
Berkeley ponders paid parking to aid cash-strapped Marina Fund
One council member called paid parking “a no-brainer” and others said it would align with the city’s climate goals.
Council seeks $15M state earmark to help revive Berkeley Marina
The marina has $113 million in unfunded infrastructure needs.
Housing at BART
From 7 stories to 12: Commission backs taller height limit for BART housing
The City Council is set to vote on the controversial zoning change, which one commissioner called a “fireball,” later this spring.
Berkeley BART stations set to have much less parking when housing gets built
Under the current proposal, there will be 85 parking spots at Ashby BART and 200 spots at North Berkeley BART, including in a satellite lot.
Berkeley infrastructure, housing measure could top $500M
Street paving, affordable housing at BART could see surge of new funding — if voters back largest-ever ballot measure.
Planning Commission on BART housing: 7 stories is not enough
The EIR comment period runs through Dec. 1. Learn how to weigh in.
Affordable housing
People’s Park celebrates anniversary amid impending UC Berkeley development plans
UC Berkeley plans to build student housing on the park this summer.
Report: As Berkeley densifies, tenant protections needed to avoid displacement
The report argues sweeping zoning changes could worsen gentrification, but others say existing conditions are no better at protecting minorities.
California primed to extend eviction ban — again
A proposal would extend eviction protections through June 30 for Californians applying for funds from the state’s COVID rent relief program.
South Berkeley Black churches are building affordable housing on their properties
The parcels are part of the ongoing Adeline Corridor Plan near Ashby BART.
Student housing
Why hasn’t UC Berkeley built more student housing?
For much of Cal’s history, providing housing for students was not a priority. Troubled finances in the last few decades have hobbled Cal’s efforts to catch up.
Developer pitches 3 buildings in South Berkeley, big downtown projects open
New plans call for nearly 500 new apartments spread across three sites along Shattuck Avenue in South Berkeley.
UC Berkeley finds a workaround to mandated enrollment freeze
By offering remote learning and a delayed enrollment option, Cal won’t need to cut freshmen and transfer admission.
UC Berkeley must slash new enrollment by a third unless high court intervenes
UC Berkeley has been denied relief from a court-ordered enrollment freeze. It may be forced to mail out 5,100 fewer acceptance letters next month.
Zoning Adjustments Board
Berkeley will soon be home to a major research and development center
Developers will construct two modern buildings and add a strolling path with native plants along Bolivar Drive by Aquatic Park.
Proposed development near Aquatic Park could bring in 1,600 workers
Two developers, working in conjunction with the Jones family who own the land, want to build two Class A R&D buildings.
With split vote, Berkeley zoning board approves new ‘group living’ project
A 41-unit “group living” project called Poet’s Place was approved Thursday night by a Berkeley zoning board majority.
‘A mini-urban miracle,’ new Berkeley homeless housing could be model for the state
It’s been a big week for subsidized housing in Berkeley. And it just got bigger.
Urban planning
9,000 homes by 2031? How Berkeley will try to pull it off
The city is making a key update to its housing plans. Here’s how the process works and how you can get involved.
Debate continues over affordability, parking, height of BART housing
What’s happening now is important because it will define the parameters for large new apartment buildings that are slated to replace what are now parking lots at the North Berkeley and Ashby BART stations.
After parking lots turn into housing, how will you get to BART?
BART is seeking input on its plan to help Berkeley residents get to the Ashby and North Berkeley BART stations once housing is built on the parking lots.
City looking for feedback on electrification blueprint
The meeting drew about 100 people who raised concerns about equity and affordability.
Housing Trust Fund
The Housing Trust Fund is the money the city uses to build and support affordable housing projects in Berkeley. The money can be leveraged 4-to-1 to seek outside funding. Money generally comes into the fund when developers choose not to include affordable units within their projects, or who do not include the full number of those units. Rather than building on site, they can pay a fee into the city's Trust Fund instead.
Developer proposes 17-story apartment building across from UC Berkeley
If past attempts to raise tall apartment buildings in downtown Berkeley are any indication, the plans could prove contentious.
UC Berkeley will explore moving 8-unit rent-controlled building as part of $82.6M settlement
The university will also pay $920,000 into the city’s Housing Trust Fund as recompense for the structure.
Berkeley wins $42 million in grants for 150 units of affordable housing
Mayor Jesse Arreguín said it’s the largest amount he could recall Berkeley ever having gotten from the state for affordable housing over his 16 years serving the city.
Related stories
West Berkeley homeless occupants have 3 weeks to find housing
Six of the remaining people at the Ashby-Shellmound encampment have disabilities that make it difficult to find housing.
