Laurie Capitelli and Jesse Arreguín are the two top contenders to replace Mayor Tom Bates. Photos: Emilie Raguso For the first time in 10 years, Berkeley does not have an incumbent mayor running for reelection. Mayor Tom Bates, who took office by defeating incumbent Shirley Dean in 2002, is stepping down and relinquishing his leadership […]
Southside Plan
Posted inHousing & Development, Opinion
Op-ed: We need real equity and access to a livable Berkeley
This letter, by REAL Berkeley, was sent to the Berkeley City Council ahead of its July 12 meeting. REAL Berkeley is a group of Berkeley citizens who are interested in helping to develop a comprehensive housing plan for the city that provides affordable housing for low-income, moderate and workforce housing (see list of members below). REAL Berkeley […]
Posted inHousing & Development, Schools
UC Berkeley plans 8-story building with student housing
A concept diagram for the proposed Stiles Hall building. Image: Solomon Cordwell Buenz Architecture Update, Nov. 19, 5:58 p.m. We hear from David Stark, executive director of Stiles Hall, a bit more about the organization’s plans and perspective: “We would like to let our hundreds of supporters know that Stiles Hall has been in negotiations on this since its […]
Posted inCrime & Safety, Housing & Development
Berkeley zoning board to consider demolition on Durant
The owners of the 2-story, 18-unit apartment building at 2631 Durant Ave. want to demolish the structure, currently vacant, and build a 5-story, 56-unit apartment. Photo: Google Maps The Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board will consider granting a permit to demolish a 2-story, 18-unit rent-controlled apartment building on Durant Avenue at its meeting Thursday, June 25, as […]
Posted inCity, Community, Housing & Development, Schools
New aquatics center raises parking, planning concerns
UC Berkeley is planning to build a new aquatics center at 2222 Bancroft Way. Image: UC Berkeley UC Berkeley officials held a public hearing Wednesday night on plans to build a new aquatics center at 2222 Bancroft Ave., east of Oxford, and were told the one-story building is a lost opportunity for improving the area […]
Posted inCity
City Council unanimously passes Southside Plan
The Southside Plan, in the works since 1997 (or since 1929, as one councilmember joked), was passed unanimously by the Berkeley City Council last night. “Congratulations! We have a plan,” exulted Mayor Tom Bates after the vote. The main goals of the plan, which covers the area directly south of the UC Berkeley campus, include […]