Daily Archives: November 30, 2011
The Berkeley Wire: 11.30.11
Group sues UC Berkeley leaders over police beatings [Coco Times]
UC Berkeley gets grant for quake-warning study [Chronicle]
Tenants details problems at burned Berkeley building [Berkeley Voice]
Best practices for getting out of Berkeley Bowl alive [SFWeekly]
Street date: Little India on Berkeley’s University Avenue [Chronicle]
Photo: Fog, by kukkurovaca/Berkeleyside Flickr pool.
Center St downtown reopens to 2-ways after 3 years
Update, 6.10 pm: Make that seven years! The City of Berkeley checked again on the dates and reports in to us that Center Street was closed to one-way traffic when Berkeley City College was being constructed, in approximately March 2004. The Arpeggio project has had the street closed since June 2006 — first for the demolition of the previous building on the site in 2006, then for construction which began in 2008.
Original story: Those who drive regularly in downtown Berkeley will be relieved to find that the section of Center Street between Shattuck and Milvia is now open to two-way traffic, and a few more coveted parking spaces have opened up as a result.
The street has been limited to one-way traffic since construction began on the Arpeggio Building at 2055 Center in 2008.
The nine-story, 143-unit Arpeggio Building is now effectively complete and sales on its one- and two-bedroom apartments, including two-story penthouses, are now open. … Continue reading »
Sequoia fire accidental, started in elevator machinery
Investigators for the Berkeley Fire Department say the five-alarm fire that broke out on November 18th at 2441 Haste Street originated in and around the elevator machinery in the basement of the five-story building, and that the fire was accidental in nature.
The BFD issued a statement Wednesday afternoon to say the onsite investigation phase of the Sequoia Building at 2441 Haste Street is complete, and a final report will be finalized and available within the next several weeks.
Related:
… Continue reading »
Berkeley City Manager Phil Kamlarz: The exit interview
Phil Kamlarz, city manager for eight years and a city employee for 36, retired this month. He first became a Berkeley city employee as a temporary associate accountant in the Berkeley Public Library in 1975, and a year later transferred to the city manager’s office. He became assistant city manager in 1987, and then acting city manager in 2003, before getting his full appointment the following year.
Two weeks ago, when the City Council marked Kamlarz’s retirement, the encomia from councilmembers were effusive. Mayor Tom Bates noted that Kamlarz “has provided Berkeley a platform of fiscal stability which is enviable”. He cited Kamlarz as a “calm, collected leader” with “compassion, foresight and a good nature”. … Continue reading »
Infusion of money should spiff up remaining Andronico’s
Starting in January, shoppers at Andronico’s Markets should start seeing upgrades in the chain’s remaining five stores, including new refrigeration cases, revamped displays, and shelves stocked with additional goods.
The revamp is part of Renovo Capital’s quest to capture a greater market share of the high-end grocery business, a sector Andronico’s competed well in until money troubles and a lack of capital forced the chain into bankruptcy.
“The specialty market segment is very competitive,” said Adam Alberti of Singer Associates, a firm hired by Andronico’s to talk to the press. “There is a whole host of upstart companies, as well as the more established ones like Whole Foods. Andronico’s has a strong brand and a significant loyal customer base and we think we can compete successfully in that environment.” … Continue reading »
Where in Berkeley?
Know where this is? Take a guess and let us know in the Comments.
Update, 8:56 am: Tony got it in one. This sculpture is on the 800 block of Spruce, near Halkin. Congratulations, Tony, on being this week’s winner.
Photo: Nina J. Hodgson.
