At least 5 homeless people have died in Berkeley in the last 4 months
Advocates say the closure of encampments has led to displacement and worsened the existing drug overdose and COVID-19 crises.
Housing & Development
Top Stories
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.
Homelessness
Alameda County gears up for major homeless count
Canceled last year for COVID-19 safety concerns, this year’s Point-in-Time assessment “counts more” than any before it, organizers say.
With $6.6M grant, homeless youth in Alameda County will design programs for their community
Young unhoused people in Berkeley and surrounding cities will lead the decision-making process about how to use the federal grant.
Grayson Street proposal could add to West Berkeley’s life sciences boom
The project is planned for the site of Berkeley’s Grayson Street homeless shelter. City officials have long known the site was only temporary.
Commercial development
Council seeks $15M state earmark to help revive Berkeley Marina
The marina has $113 million in unfunded infrastructure needs.
Apartment building could rise at former site of Albatross Pub
The proposed 44-unit project aims to take advantage of Berkeley’s move to eliminate parking requirements at new apartment buildings.
16-story Residence Inn to open this October in downtown Berkeley
The Marriott-branded hotel will become the third-tallest building in Berkeley and include 331 extended-stay suites, 15,000 square feet of meeting space and a rooftop bar and restaurant.
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.
Ferry service, new hotel, pier rebuild among ideas to revive Berkeley Marina
Large-scale ferry service could begin in 2026 under the current timeline. A community survey about the future of the marina runs through March 12.
Housing at BART
Planning Commission on BART housing: 7 stories is not enough
The EIR comment period runs through Dec. 1. Learn how to weigh in.
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.
Affordable housing
‘No real options’: Last tenants agree to leave rent-controlled building, clearing way for UC Berkeley dorm
Cal can now tear down 1921 Walnut St. and the $300 million Anchor House project can proceed.
Mayor: Tenants’ ‘first dibs to buy’ policy on hold until fall due to feasibility, timing
Mayor Jesse Arreguín received pushback from supporters and opposition of the Tenant’s Opportunity to Purchase Act during the months-long process.
Rent board votes in support of Palestinians facing evictions in Israel
It was a welcomed political statement by some but reviled by others who think the board overstepped its boundaries.
In historic vote, Berkeley puts $53M toward affordable housing at BART
It is the single largest investment in affordable housing Berkeley has made, the mayor said Tuesday night.
Student housing
The end of the 1960s? Regents vote to put housing in People’s Park.
About 1,100 students will be housed in two buildings in the long-contested park.
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.
4 stories shorter: UC Berkeley drops height of People’s Park student housing complex
But construction won’t start until the 50 or so people living at People’s Park have been housed or offered services, chancellor says.
New developer eyes controversial site downtown for student housing
The project would rise on the downtown Berkeley block where another developer planned an 18-story building.
Zoning Adjustments Board
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.
Neighbors fight proposed Verizon cell site in North Berkeley — again
A group of local residents celebrated three years ago when plans for a Verizon cell site in their neighborhood were dropped. Now, many of them are back at it.
Urban planning
City looking for feedback on electrification blueprint
The meeting drew about 100 people who raised concerns about equity and affordability.
Berkeley votes for historic housing change: an end to single-family zoning
The unanimous vote kickstarts a 2-year-long process which would see about 9,000 more housing units at various income levels built over the next several years.
Berkeley denounces racist history of single-family zoning, begins 2-year process to change general plan
Council unanimously approved a resolution that will work toward banning single-family zoning.
Interested in plans for housing at BART? Take these surveys by Feb. 22
The city is collecting community input on affordable housing, land use, building form and public space as part of the public process around plans to build housing at BART.
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.
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.
Berkeley’s most ambitious homeless housing project ever breaks ground
The project also includes 89 units of affordable housing, at 50%-60% of the area median income, that will be available to the general public on a lottery basis. It is slated to open in 2022.
Related stories
Berkeley rent board appoints DéSeana Williams as new executive director
Williams will make a starting salary of $200,366 on an initial three-year contract.
Berkeley’s only landmarked gas station gets a sorrowful goodbye
The 1930s era brick garage at 1952 Oxford St. is slated for demolition to make way for a 772-bed UC Berkeley student housing project.
After failed landmarking, Berryman triplex to become 4-story townhouses
The home was built 132 years ago but wasn’t deemed worthy of landmark status.
2-story backyard homes approved in Berkeley flats; rules in hills will take more study
Homeowners outside the hills could get quick approval for accessory dwelling units up to 20 feet tall under new regulations.
City grapples with housing crisis, fire danger as it writes rules for ADUs in hills
New state laws require swift approval for many ADU projects. Should those rules be more strict in areas facing wildfire risk?
