UC Berkeley plans to become bigger, greener and more pedestrian friendly
The university’s new long-range plan includes building 12,000 housing units for a projected larger population.
Housing
Top Stories
Berkeley denounces racist history of single-family zoning, begins 2-year process to change general plan
Council unanimously approved a resolution that will work toward banning single-family zoning.
Rent Stabilization Board
Real estate interests spend heavily to support property-friendly rent board candidates
There is a full slate of five property owner-oriented candidates running for the Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board — and real estate interests are backing them big time.
Election 2020: Rent board candidates answer Berkeleyside questions
Meet the 12 Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board candidates in Berkeley’s November 2020 election.
Election 2020: Who is Andy Kelley?
Meet Andy Kelley, one of 12 Rent Stabilization Board candidates in Berkeley’s November 2020 election.
Election 2020: Who is Leah Simon-Weisberg?
Meet Leah Simon-Weisberg, one of 12 Rent Stabilization Board candidates in Berkeley’s November 2020 election.
Election 2020: Who is Bianca Zahrai?
Bianca Zahrai, one of 12 Rent Stabilization Board candidates in Berkeley’s November 2020 election, answers questions from Berkeleyside.
Election 2020: Who is Dan McDunn?
Meet Dan McDunn, one of 12 Rent Stabilization Board candidates in Berkeley’s November 2020 election.
Election 2020: Who is Dominique Walker?
Meet Dominique Walker, one of 12 Rent Stabilization Board candidates in Berkeley’s November 2020 election.
Election 2020: Who is Soulmaz Panahi?
Meet Soulmaz Panahi, one of 12 Rent Stabilization Board candidates in Berkeley’s November 2020 election.
Election 2020: Who is Bahman Ahmadi?
Meet Bahman Ahmadi, one of 12 Rent Stabilization Board candidates in Berkeley’s November 2020 election.
Election 2020: Who is Wendy Saenz Hood Neufeld?
Meet Wendy Saenz Hood Neufeld, one of 12 Rent Stabilization Board candidates in Berkeley’s November 2020 election.
Election 2020: Who is Carole Marasovic?
Meet Carole Marasovic, one of 12 Rent Stabilization Board candidates in Berkeley’s November 2020 election.
Election 2020: Who is Mari Mendonca?
Meet Mari Mendonca, one of 13 Rent Stabilization Board candidates in Berkeley’s November 2020 election.
Homelessness
Alameda County decides not to count homeless population this year
COVID-19 risks have prompted a year-long delay in the point-in-time homeless count, a “crucial data source.”
Award for a ‘COVID-19 hero’ highlights street medicine’s team approach for unhoused in the East Bay
Honoree Mukund Raguram says it’s very much a team effort of the work he does providing health care and case management to unhoused communities in the East Bay.
In brief
Alameda County program aims to match landlords with people transitioning out of homelessness
Berkeley says the initiative means property owners can receive a stable rental income while supporting the health of the community.
2019 Berkeley Housing Special
The 2019 Berkeley housing pipeline map, a Berkeleyside special report
Berkeleyside has scoured planning documents and our archives to bring you the latest information about housing built, under construction, approved and proposed in Berkeley as of August 2019.
Completed housing projects in Berkeley (August 2019)
Berkeleyside has pored over city records and our own archives to bring you a roundup of many of the larger housing projects that have been completed since 2012. The report was updated in August.
Berkeley’s changing landscape: August 2019 housing roundup
Berkeleyside has pored over city records and done our own reporting to bring you a robust roundup of recent and forthcoming housing developments around the city. This report was updated in August.
Zoning Adjustments Board
With split vote, Berkeley zoning board approves new ‘group living’ project
A 41-unit “group living” project called Poet’s Place was approved Thursday night by a Berkeley zoning board majority.
‘A mini-urban miracle,’ new Berkeley homeless housing could be model for the state
It’s been a big week for subsidized housing in Berkeley. And it just got bigger.
Neighbors fight proposed Verizon cell site in North Berkeley — again
A group of local residents celebrated three years ago when plans for a Verizon cell site in their neighborhood were dropped. Now, many of them are back at it.
101 units at San Pablo, Hearst approved at former Berkeley Midas site
A six-story, 101-unit project proposed in Berkeley at San Pablo and Hearst avenues won near-unanimous approval Thursday night from the zoning board.
Student housing
Protesters tear down fences at Berkeley rally to save People’s Park
With echoes of People’s Park’s legacy of resistance, protesters reacted Friday to UC Berkeley taking the first steps towards developing the land for student housing.
UC Berkeley tells tenants of 112-year-old rent-controlled building they must leave
Cal said it will offer $54,000 or more to the occupants of 1921 Walnut St. to leave so it can build a 760-bed student housing project there.
UC Berkeley to start drilling for soil samples in People’s Park, the next step in building housing there
Cal plans to construct housing for 1,200 students on one of Berkeley’s most historic sites.
With all Cal classes online, many students won’t be returning to Berkeley
Students are choosing to live at home or withdraw for the semester. Some are still deciding. Of those who stay enrolled, only 3,200 will be able to stay in on-campus housing.
Housing at BART
Interested in plans for housing at BART? Take these surveys by Feb. 22
The city is collecting community input on affordable housing, land use, building form and public space as part of the public process around plans to build housing at BART.
Planning Commission approves Adeline plan with 100% affordable housing goal
The commission says the percentage is not a requirement, but an aspiration. Community and BART talks are ongoing.
Ashby, North Berkeley top BART’s list of stations to build housing faster
Berkeley’s efforts to help lead the charge to build hundreds of new apartments at the Ashby and North Berkeley BART stations have landed the city at the top of the transit agency’s list for short-term development plans.
Berkeley approves agreement with BART around housing at two stations
“This is a beginning of a process,” Mayor Jesse ArreguĂn told a passionate crowd Tuesday.
Affordable housing
BUSD takes step toward building affordable housing for teachers, staff
The plan is to build about 110 units for teachers and staff in the parking lot of the Adult School.
Berkeley may get rid of single-family zoning as a way to correct the arc of its ugly housing history
Berkeley in 1916 was the first city to enact single-family zoning, which had the effect of pushing nonwhite people to more impoverished neighborhoods in the south and west.
Rent board pays $210K to former employee to settle retaliation charges
Public documents strongly suggest that Jay Kelekian, the former executive director, is the person who is alleged to have retaliated against the former employee.
In brief
Affordable senior housing project breaks ground in North Berkeley
A new affordable senior housing project next to All Souls Episcopal Parish broke ground in North Berkeley on Wednesday.
Commercial development
Capoeira school secures funding from Berkeley to help purchase its building
The 40-year-old Capoeira Foundation has brought thousands to Berkeley and now hopes to own its home.
Former Berkeley school to become 50,000-square-foot home, artist colony
Neighbors are pleased a Finnish tech entrepreneur-turned-artist is improving the site, but some are worried about continued public access.
Berkeley City Club will be ‘endangered’ unless needed repairs are funded
As the beautiful building designed by Julia Morgan prepares to celebrate its 100th birthday, it is also kicking off a 10-year, $10 million effort to finance long-deferred structural repairs.
South Berkeley neighbors say new YEAH! youth shelter location won’t work
A proposal to move a longstanding emergency shelter for youth from University Avenue to South Berkeley met with steep resistance from neighbors Tuesday night.
Housing Trust Fund
Berkeley wins $42 million in grants for 150 units of affordable housing
Mayor Jesse ArreguĂn said it’s the largest amount he could recall Berkeley ever having gotten from the state for affordable housing over his 16 years serving the city.
Berkeley’s most ambitious homeless housing project ever breaks ground
The project also includes 89 units of affordable housing, at 50%-60% of the area median income, that will be available to the general public on a lottery basis. It is slated to open in 2022.
Downtown Berkeley Harold Way deal for 18 stories, 300 units is officially over
The city has decided not to grant developer Hill Street Realty more time to secure financing for the 18-story Berkeley Plaza project on Harold Way.
Urban planning
Can Berkeley’s Civic Center become the heart of the city? Gehl Studio thinks so
The city has asked the community to help reimagine how Civic Center works with the goal of transforming it from a largely empty space into Berkeley’s “main square.”
To ease student housing crunch, Berkeley starts process to increase density in the Southside
It will take a year for changes to come before the Berkeley City Council, but they could include room for three more high-rise residential buildings.
Can an unfinished but ‘usable’ basement space be taxed? Berkeley says ‘yes’ and the courts have agreed
A number of property owners are challenging how the city assesses special taxes. They believe they have been overcharged and are seeking redress.
California Restaurant Association sues Berkeley over natural gas ban
The California Restaurant Association filed a lawsuit against the city of Berkeley in federal court Thursday over its decision in July to ban natural gas in many new buildings.
Architecture
Finnish entrepreneur’s costly vision to transform historic school gets go-ahead
This week, the Berkeley City Council approved plans by the man behind the “Finnish Amazon” to turn the landmarked Hillside School into a home and artist colony.
A ‘Moorish-Tudor fever dream’ is unveiled on Telegraph Avenue
It’s been described as a cave dwelling, a wizard’s house and a Moorish palace. A recently unveiled building to house UC Berkeley students has been a long time coming — and its unusual design is causing a stir.
Last vacant lot on landmarked Greenwood Common is for sale
The site, known for its mid-century homes, isn’t under protective status, but current residents hope the new owner will “be respectful and honor the Common.”
Accusations of elder abuse and lies swirl around landmarking process for Save the Bay founder’s home
The Landmarks Preservation Commission will hold a hearing tonight on whether to designate 1450 and 1440 Hawthorne city landmarks. In the meantime, the owners have filed a lawsuit against one another.
Recent stories
Sponsored
Home Truths: The challenges of East Bay home renovations (and a possible solution)
Sponsored: Doing renovations in preparation for a home sale can be stressful. Red Oak Realty is excited to announce a thoughtful, on-trend, budget-friendly service called Enhance.
City Council won’t preserve 132-year-old North Berkeley house, paving the way for townhouses
The developer will build 10 townhouses at 1915 Berryman St. after it was determined it didn’t warrant landmark status.
