Photo: Eric Angstadt Update, Feb. 26, 10:11 a.m. The city manager’s office sent the following notice to city officials at 10:05 a.m. “It is with sadness that I inform you that Eric Angstadt has submitted his resignation as Planning Director effective March 25, 2016 to become the Chief Assistant County Administrator for Contra Costa County. Eric came […]
Eric Angstadt
Posted inCity, Housing & Development
Berkeley considers ways to build more affordable housing
City council members talk to Cynthia Kroll, ABAG’s chief economist, at a special meeting to consider affordable housing issues in Berkeley. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel Transferring development rights to allow for taller buildings. Increasing the amount of affordable housing required for large developments. Offering developers a discount if they pay into the Housing Trust Fund at the beginning […]
Posted inCity
402 Berkeley buildings found to need fixes after launch of inspection program spurred by balcony collapse
Last year’s deadly balcony collapse at Library Gardens prompted the creation of a new building inspection program. Photo: David Yee Last year’s deadly balcony collapse at Library Gardens prompted the creation of a new building inspection program. Photo: David Yee Inspections performed in Berkeley since last year’s deadly balcony collapse at Library Gardens found more […]
Posted inCity, Community, Crime & Safety, Housing & Development
‘Severely dry rotted’ timber found after Berkeley balcony collapse; city plans to stiffen safety rules
Both of these balconies, which showed evidence of dry rot, were removed from Library Gardens last week. Photo: David Yee Update, June 24, 1 p.m. Teresa Drenick, spokeswoman for the Alameda County district attorney’s office, confirmed Wednesday that the office will be taking a look at the balcony collapse. “The District Attorney’s Office is reaching out to […]
Posted inBusiness
Berkeley to consider restricting large drugstores, future of proposed Solano Ave. Walgreens store in the balance
A rendering of the proposed Walgreens on Solano Avenue in Berkeley, a work in progress, and a project may be impacted by a proposed new zoning decision. Image: courtesy Agree Realty Corporation Berkeley is set to consider whether to limit the number of larger drugstores in the city, at least in certain neighborhoods, which may put […]
Posted inHousing & Development
Work underway for 4-story MLK apartments in Berkeley
Construction work has been underway at Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Dwight for the past few weeks. Photo: Emilie Raguso Work has started on a project to build a four-story apartment building in central Berkeley after a nearly nine-year gap since the city approved the plans. The project as it was approved by the […]
Posted inFire
Berkeley units to stay rent-controlled after 2012 fire
The March 2012 fire at 2227 Dwight Way caused extensive damage to the building and displaced many residents. Photo: Tracey Taylor A three-story, six-unit apartment building destroyed by fire early last year will remain rent-controlled, and former residents should have the right to return to the property, city staff said Tuesday night. The Berkeley City […]
Posted inBusiness
Testy response to proposed Walgreens on Solano Avenue
A rendering of the proposed Walgreens on Solano Avenue. Drawing courtesy Charles Kahn Architect A proposed Walgreens on upper Solano Avenue is meeting feisty resistance from neighbors, even before the developer has started the city’s official permit process for the project. About 50 people showed up Thursday, Oct. 24, at an informal public meeting on […]
Posted inCity, Housing & Development, Schools
Berkeley officials crack down on ‘mini-dorms’
The city has, in the past, identified 2133 Parker St. as a mini-dorm property south of the Cal campus. Image: Google Maps After at least eight meetings dating back to late 2011, the Berkeley City Council voted last week to begin to try to curb the proliferation of “mini-dorms” in residential areas around town. Residents, […]
Posted inHousing & Development
‘The Durant’ apartments win approval from City Council
The Durant, as it would be viewed from Durant Avenue. (Click the image to see how it would look from Channing Way.) Image: Johnson Lyman Architects Tuesday night, the Berkeley City Council upheld a March decision by the city’s Zoning Adjustments Board to allow developers to move ahead with plans to build a 78-unit rental […]
Posted inNosh
North Berkeley merchants want parklets for the people
Gourmet Ghetto businesses want to build parklets in their neighborhood but the city doesn’t have an approval process in place as yet to review applications for these slivers of open space designed to enhance urban neighborhoods.
Posted inCity
Oakland’s Angstadt to be Berkeley’s new planning director
Eric Angstadt, Berkeley's new planning director. Photo: Oakland North Update, 8:00pm: At the public comment part of a closed session of the Berkeley City Council tonight, Mayor Tom Bates said that no-one had been hired as director of planning for Berkeley. He said the council would be interviewing Angstadt in the closed session and “our […]