The design for a mixed-use project at 2501 Haste St. Courtesy: Kirk E. Peterson & Associates The city of Berkeley and Ken Sarachan have settled a lawsuit over his empty lot at 2501 Haste St. on the corner of Telegraph Avenue, clearing the way for the construction of a a six-story, mixed-use, Moorish, palace-like structure […]
Zach Cowan
Posted inBusiness, City
Berkeley forcibly enters Forty Acres cannabis collective
The online cannabis resource, Weed Maps, shows the location of Forty Acres Medical Marijuana Growers’ Collective at 1828 San Pablo Ave. The online cannabis resource, Weed Maps, shows the location of Forty Acres Medical Marijuana Growers’ Collective at 1828 San Pablo Ave. In the latest battle between Berkeley officials and the medical cannabis collective Forty […]
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 inBusiness
Berkeley Patients Group pays fraction of tax bill
Berkeley Patients Group opened its doors at 2366 San Pablo Ave. in December 2012. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel The state Board of Equalization and Berkeley Patients Group (BPG) have worked out a compromise that reduces the dispensary’s delinquent tax bill from $7.5 million to $49,500. Despite selling millions of dollars in medical cannabis each year and […]
Posted inBusiness
Berkeley will seek to shutter 3PG cannabis collective
The exterior of Perfect Plants Patients Group shortly after it opened in September 2011. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel Despite pleas that Perfect Plants Patients group was a good neighbor, the Berkeley City Council Tuesday night voted that the cannabis collective was in violation of the city’s zoning laws. The determination at the end of a public […]
Posted inCity
Council considers affordable housing, plastic bag ban
Jesse Arreguín: “desperate need” for affordable housing Jesse Arreguín: “desperate need” for affordable housing The Berkeley City Council last night passed Councilmember Jesse Arreguín’s proposal to move to an up or down vote on an affordable housing mitigation fee at an October meeting. The city has been debating a fee since the Palmer/Sixth Street Properties […]
Posted inCity
Mayor Bates defends his handling of raucous meeting
When Mayor Bates and Councilmembers Laurie Capitelli, Linda Maio, Darryl Moore, and Gordon Wozniak stepped out of the council chambers for a recess while audience members were singing, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin clapped to “We Will Not Be Moved.” Councilmembers Max Anderson and Kriss Worthington sang with the crowd. Photo: Natalie Orenstein When Mayor Bates and […]
Posted inCity
Sunshine committee decries ‘unfair’ ballot
Under the proposed Sunshine Ordinance, there will be more City Council meetings and more extensive public comment. Photo: John C. Osborn The citizen committee behind the Berkeley Sunshine Ordinance on the November ballot has sent city officials a lawyer’s letter threatening a lawsuit unless changes are made to the wording of both the ballot question […]
Posted inCity
Lawsuit challenges Berkeley’s new Downtown Area Plan
A new lawsuit is challenging the Downtown Area Plan adopted by the City Council in March 2012. Photo: Tracey Taylor Three neighborhood associations have filed a lawsuit against Berkeley, claiming that the adoption of the Downtown Area Plan in March 2012 did not comply with state environmental laws. The Council of Neighborhood Associations, which has […]
Posted inCity
West Berkeley plan held for further council debate
Public hearings on the West Berkeley Project were heated and contentious. Photo: Tracey Taylor For the third consecutive week, Berkeley City Council heard many passionate arguments against the third phase of the West Berkeley Project and a handful in support. But a vote on amending the West Berkeley Plan, certifying the environmental impact report and […]
Posted inBusiness
Concern over future location of cannabis collective
Berkeley Patients Group on San Pablo Avenue needs to move. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel Last Tuesday afternoon, around 1:30pm, Rebecca, who describes herself as a “50ish” recent transplant from Los Angeles, headed over to the Berkeley Patients Group at 2747 San Pablo Avenue. For the past six months, ever since she moved north, Rebecca has gone […]
Posted inCity, Community
Federal letter may make Berkeley Patients Group relocate
Berkeley Patients Group on San Pablo Avenue: may be forced to move. Photos: Frances Dinkelspiel The owner of the building that houses the Berkeley Patients Group has put it up for sale, further fueling whispers that the federal government sent a letter ordering the cannabis dispensary to shut down. Gordon Commerical Real Estate is listing […]
