Daily Archives: March 21, 2012
Vehicle fire on Second Street in west Berkeley
What appeared to be an old RV was on fire this evening at around 5:30 pm on Second Street near Jones and Cedar in west Berkeley. Firefighters were on the scene and extinguished the flames. Black smoke billowing from the blaze could be seen from the top of Panoramic Hill.
Citizen reporters sent in the photos here. Calls to BFD have not yet been returned for further details. [Hat tip: Sue Tomasello.]
The Berkeley Wire: 03.21.12
Who’s after the Berkeley police chief’s scalp and why? [Daily Planet]
Eco Awards: BHS Green Academy named best school in a school [Diablo]
Are you Berkeley enough? [Oakland Tribune]
Berkeley Jazzschool plays El Cerrito High [Coco Times]
Man arrested on Clark Kerr campus pleads not guilty [Daily Cal]
Photo: Rainy day… dream away, by 2812 photography/Berkeleyside Flickr pool.
Concerns raised over expansion of Jefferson School
The Berkeley Unified School District is planning a major expansion to Jefferson Elementary School in 2013, but the plan to add new offices, classrooms, and a gleaming new library has drawn criticism from some parents.
The school district does not have enough space in the north zone for a projected increase in enrollment and is adding the new buildings to meet future demand, according to Mark Coplan, a spokesman for the district. A 2009 demographic study done by Davis Demographics determined the district needs room for 1,264 students but only has space for 1,180 pupils, according to school district documents.
The current $5.4 million plan, designed by WLC Architects, would create five classrooms in a new two-story building, another two-story structure that would house offices and a new library, and upgrade some of the existing facility. The district will hold a community meeting about the expansion on Thursday March 22 at 6:30 pm at the school. … Continue reading »
Berkeley residents tackle safety issues after shootings
Two weeks after two multiple shootings rattled south-west Berkeley residents, more than a hundred neighbors gathered in the gym at Berkeley Youth Alternatives on Bonar Street on Monday evening, just a few yards away from the first shooting, to discuss possible causes, as well as preventive measures.
According to the police, none of the men shot on the nights of March 2 and March 4 were local. They simply liked to hang out on the 2200 block of Bonar and on the 2100 block of 7th Street. Both incidents, which do not appear to be connected, are still being investigated, according to Berkeley Police Lt. Dave Frankel who addressed the meeting. BPD does not believe they are gang-related and, Frankel added, not all the victims are “being cooperative”. … Continue reading »
After seven years, Berkeley gets a new downtown plan
After hundreds of meetings, seven years of contentious debate, and the sting of a ballot referendum still fresh, the Berkeley City Council on Tuesday night adopted a new plan for its downtown.
The 8 to 1 vote, with Councilmember Kriss Worthington dissenting, may bring as many as seven tall buildings to the area bounded by Hearst Avenue to the north, Dwight Way to the south, MLK on the west, and Fulton on the east. It creates open space requirements, allows a faster approval process for buildings that are extra “green,” encourages LEED Gold construction, and creates a fund to build more affordable housing.
And, according to critics, it might create a cookie-cutter approach to building construction and a density that is out of character with Berkeley. … Continue reading »
Where in Berkeley?
Know where this is? Take a guess and let us know in the Comments.
Update, 8:54 am: Janbergocollins got it! These are custom iron railings in the front yard of 805 Indian Rock near Santa Barbara. Congratulations on being this week’s winner!
Photo: Tracey Taylor.
