Posted inBusiness, Community, Housing & Development, Schools

UC Berkeley close to deal for long-empty Telegraph lot

UC Berkeley and property owner Ken Sarachan are close to a joint-venture development deal for the long-empty lot at the north-east corner of Haste and Telegraph, which means that new student housing might be in place there by August 2017. “We are in negotiations, deep negotiations,” said Robert Lalanne, UC’s Vice-Chancellor for Real Estate. Lalanne said […]

Posted inBusiness, Crime & Safety, Fire, Housing & Development

Building begins on site of Sequoia Apts fire on Telegraph

A groundbreaking for a new building at 2441 Haste St., at Telegraph Avenue, on May 28. Among those pictured (left to right), the property’s owner, Kenneth Ent (fourth from left). His son Gregory is second from left. Photo: Ted Friedman A groundbreaking for a new building at 2441 Haste St., at Telegraph Avenue, on May 28. […]

Posted inHousing & Development

‘Moorish palace’ plans for Telegraph show little progress

The frustration was palpable Thursday night as zoning board commissioners noted the lack of headway by the property owner of a highly anticipated mixed-use project proposed on Berkeley’s Telegraph Avenue. The empty lot at 2501 Haste St., at Telegraph, has been vacant for more than 20 years, though owner Ken Sarachan has said he would like to build a […]

Posted inBusiness

Telegraph Ave. scrubbed, cleaned in beautification effort

Ambassadors hired by Block by Block are engaged in a month-long cleanup of Telegraph Avenue. Photo: Ted Friedman The deployment of neon-clad “ambassadors” to paint over graffiti, power-wash streets, and sweep sidewalks along Telegraph Avenue is the latest in a series of attempts to revitalize a business district which has seen better days. The “Big […]

Posted inHousing & Development

‘Moorish-style palace’ for Telegraph Ave. is step closer

The design for a mixed-use project at 2501 Haste St. Image: Kirk E. Peterson & Associates A six-story, mixed-use, Moorish, palace-like structure inspired by Italian hill towns is one step closer to being built on Berkeley’s iconic Telegraph Avenue after the project sailed through a review by the city’s Zoning Adjustments Board last week. ZAB […]

Posted inBusiness, Fire, Housing & Development

New building proposed for Sequoia site on Telegraph Ave.

A rendering of the 42-unit residential and commercial building proposed for the site of the former Sequoia Apartment building at 2441 Haste St. at Telegraph. Source: Kahn Design Associates The owners of the property at 2441 Haste St. at Telegraph, scene of a devastating fire in Nov. 2011 that destroyed the five-story Sequoia Apartments, have submitted […]