Featured events- 03/10/2012 - Ton Koopman & The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir
- 02/27/2012 - Classical at the Freight: Rossini Birthday Celebration
- 02/23/2012 - Michio Kaku: Physics of the Future, How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100
- 02/23/2012 - 2012: a Turning Point? And If So, Which Way?: A Talk by Robert Reich
- 02/19/2012 - Takacs Quartet
Tag Archives: west berkeley
Citizen groups sue city over West Berkeley proposals
Two citizens’ groups have sued the City of Berkeley over proposed zoning that they say would radically restructure West Berkeley.
The Sustainable West Berkeley Alliance (SWBA), an organization of Berkeley residents and businesses, and the Council of Neighborhood Associations (CNA), filed their suit in Alameda County Superior Court under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) on May 11.
The suit concerns proposed Master Use Permit (MUP) sites – developments of more than four acres — and focuses on three aspects: the proposal to increase building height limits from 45ft to 75ft, the impact of taller buildings on residents, and the effect of proposed development on the environmental resources of Aquatic Park. … Continue reading »
City takes first step towards adopting West Berkeley Plan
At its Tuesday evening session this week, the Berkeley City Council closed the public hearings on the West Berkeley Plan, and took the first of three steps towards adopting the plan in its entirety.
“The Council passed the least controversial measures on Tuesday,” said Dan Marks, Berkeley’s Director of Planning and Development. Councilmembers Kriss Worthington and Jesse Arreguín both voted against the three separate agenda items which made up this first part of the process.
About eight members of the public, including local architect Joe Decredico and acupuncturist Annie Wells, spoke of their concerns over parking, which was the main focus of the ordinances under consideration. … Continue reading »
Tagged west berkeley, West Berkeley plan
West Berkeley: A pivotal moment [Slideshow]
Tonight the Berkeley City Council will hold a special meeting for a final public hearing on the city’s proposed West Berkeley Plan. Ahead of the debate, we bring you a photo essay of West Berkeley by John C. Osborn with explanations of some of the issues under consideration. Click through to this post to see the slideshow or click on the slideshow images above to read the captions.
Tagged Berkeley zoning, west berkeley
Gilman Village: a Berkeley shopping area in transition
The moves have left the place looking a little desultory. In the run-up to the holidays, at least one pop-up shop made a fleeting appearance, but, since then, the vacant spaces have lent the mall an air of abandonment.
Since November, however, there has been a regular hive of activity in the space formerly occupied by Paulson Bott Press. Music events, art shows, private fundraisers — even a wine society singles night: Show Place Art is an evolving-use space curated by former interior designer Karen Hart.
Berkeleyans add to West Berkeley debate in novel forum
Tonight will see part two of public hearings on proposals which could see West Berkeley transformed, and many residents are making their views known on “open town hall” site Peak Democracy.
More than 200 people have so far left comments on a forum set up by councilmembers Laurie Capitelli, Susan Wengraf and Gordon Wozniak, which leads with the question: “Should the City Council amend West Berkeley zoning to allow conversion of warehouse and/or wholesale spaces to other uses including research and development (R&D)?”
The proposed changes would relax protections that have been in place for years over what types of business the city allows within the West Berkeley industrial area, which has tended to focus on fast-disappearing manufacturing spaces. In particular, they would open up the area to research and development outfits. Some people who oppose the changes are concerned that an expansion of residential development could dramatically increase property values to the point of pushing out small businesses. … Continue reading »
How did Berkeley do on those 2010 resolutions?
A year ago, we suggested 10 resolutions for 2010 for Berkeley (we’ll have our 2011 resolutions tomorrow). How did our city do?
We went back to look at those 10 resolutions and scored them 0 for no movement (or backward movement), a ½ point for some improvement and a full 1 point for true progress. We have to say that, even with the most generous grading possible, we can only give ourselves a score of four out of 10.
Here … Continue reading »
In West Berkeley a cafe opens, a community blossoms
Photographer Janet Delaney has lived in West Berkeley for 22 years and she has watched the complexion* character of the neighborhood change, mostly for the better. Recently, she says, it took a great leap forward when Cafe Local 123 opened its doors at 2049 San Pablo Avenue and created community where before there had been little more than passing acquaintances.
“It’s transformed the area,” says Delaney of the cafe. “Every neighborhood needs somewhere public like this where … Continue reading »
Tagged Clif Bar, Janet Delaney, Local123, west berkeley
The Berkeley Wire: 12.15.09
State gives OK to expansion of Oakland enterprise zone into West Berkeley [Daily Planet]
Back to the drawing board for Maybeck-related landmark application [SF Chronicle]
Berkeley Rep celebrates 20th anniversary of its costumes shop queen [Broadway World]
Public Health Clinic on University set to close for renovations [City of Berkeley]
New anthropology museum director: “like being in a candy store” [Contra Costa Times]
[Photo of DNA sculpture at LHS by Kap Chris, Berkeleyside Flickr pool]
Tagged Berkeley Rep, Bernard Maybeck, west berkeley
The future of West Berkeley: an open letter
To: John King, Architecture Critic, San Francisco Chronicle
From: Michael Goldin, Berkeley
Some time ago you were touring the West Berkeley area with [Berkeley architect] Regan Bice and you stopped by our new building – Swerve. We spoke about the district and had some differences over the question of how the district ought to change over time.
I was advocating densification and a radical re-thinking of how we plan the city. You kind of felt things were Continue reading »
America’s Most Wanted in Berkeley
America’s Most Wanted, the Fox show that brings the glare of mass television to the task of tracking down fugitives from justice, will be filming on Allston Way between 9th and 10th Streets today (hat tip: John).
The program is in Berkeley to “recreate” to film an introduction about the gang murder that took place in May this year.
Fox put up signs on the street last Thursday, generating some heated email on the local neighborhood’s listserv. … Continue reading »
Tagged america's most wanted, fugitives, west berkeley
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