Sunday Streets brought out tens of thousands of people over the weekend. Photo: Nancy Rubin Tens of thousands of people took advantage of a car-free Shattuck Avenue on Sunday at the fourth annual Sunday Streets Berkeley. Cars were banned on the 2-mile stretch from Haste Street to Rose Street, and it was filled instead with musicians, […]
Livable Berkeley
Posted inBusiness
Solano Avenue: The pressure is on for North Berkeley shopping district to up its game
The Oaks Theater on Solano Avenue, photographed in September 2014. The Oaks was for decades an anchor tenant for the avenue, but it has sat empty for nearly five years. Photo: Mary Flaherty By Gill South When French-style bakery La Farine abruptly closed up shop on Berkeley’s Solano Avenue this summer, there was an outcry from […]
Posted inCity
Berkeley zoning ballot language heading to court
Downtown Berkeley: at the heart of a ballot initiative and a lawsuit. Photo: Tracey Taylor Berkeley City Councilman Jesse Arreguín filed a lawsuit against Berkeley on Wednesday seeking to overturn ballot language that will be used to describe a downtown zoning initiative. Arreguín wants an Alameda County Superior Court judge to take up the matter immediately, […]
Posted inCity
Wording of Berkeley ballot initiative headed to court
Downtown Berkeley, May 2014. Photo: Emilie Raguso The backers of a downtown Berkeley initiative that voters will consider in November plan to file a lawsuit next week to force the city to change the wording in the ballot measure. They contend that the summary is inaccurate, biased and misleading. The decision to go to court […]
Posted inBerkeleyside, City, Events, Housing & Development
At B-Side: Implications of downtown Berkeley initiative
At the first B-Side forum co-sponsored by The Hub and Berkeleyside, participants debated the merits of this fall’s downtown initiative. From left, Lance Knobel of Berkeleyside, Berkeley Councilman Jesse Arreguín and Eric Panzer of Livable Berkeley. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel At the first B-Side forum co-sponsored by The Hub and Berkeleyside, participants debated the merits of […]
Posted inBusiness
Group proposes lighted arch over Telegraph Avenue
Rendering of arch proposed for Telegraph Avenue near Dwight Way. Photo: Jennifer McDougall A coalition of city and campus groups is proposing to erect a decorative lighted archway on Telegraph Avenue to better define the shopping district. The arch, which would be erected near Dwight Way, would serve to “emphasize and celebrate the four blocks […]
Posted inEvents
The It List: Five Things to do in Berkeley this weekend
IMAGINE NONVIOLENCE In response to the March 16 shooting at the club, which injured two employees, and violence in general, Ashkenaz is sponsoring an event called “Imagining Nonviolence” on Friday April 19. “This event explores, celebrates, and shares numerous ways that we heal from violence, individually and within community. Starting with a hands-on healing art workshop, participants will […]
Posted inCommunity
Council supports Sunday Streets, looks to find funds
Berkeley’s first Sunday Streets, which was held on Oct. 14, was deemed a big success. Photo: Alan Tobey Last October, Berkeley held a Sunday Streets event for the first time, and an estimated 40,000 people flocked to Shattuck Avenue to stroll, bike and skate the length of 17 blocks enjoying the car-free environment, al fresco […]
Posted inEvents
Shattuck Avenue goes car-free for 17 blocks on Sunday
Sunday Streets in San Francisco’s Chinatown neighborhood attracts out pedestrians and cyclists. Photo: throgers/Creative Commons More than a mile of Berkeley’s Shattuck Avenue will be open to pedestrians, cyclists, roller-skaters, dancers, and kids on Sunday Oct. 14 — but not cars — as the city holds its first Sunday Streets event from 11 am through […]
Posted inEvents
Can car-free ‘Sunday Streets’ come to Berkeley?
Thirty-six years ago, the mayor of Bogatá, Colombia had a novel idea. He wanted to close some of the city streets on Sundays to give bicycle riders, roller skaters and pedestrians a chance to enjoy the city in a different way. The street closure was a huge hit, and over the years the concept has […]