Category: Activities

Working together to boost job creation in West Berkeley and strengthen Berkeley’s role in the East Bay Green Technology Corridor Partnership.

Background

In recent years, many innovative local companies have left West Berkeley at the same time that traditional industrial manufacturing jobs have declined.  West Berkeley’s industrial regulations do not allow the growth and expansion necessary for the research and development of green and laboratory-based technologies.  Changing the regulations would allow the establishment and economic development of new uses, and the adaptive re-use and modernization of existing buildings.  Changing the regulations would allow Berkeley to benefit from the investment and local jobs that result from new technologies.

Investment in West Berkeley would contribute to citywide revenue and services for Berkeley residents during a period of structural city budget deficits. The businesses that provide these jobs and innovations can also provide other direct community benefits in West Berkeley, such as job-training for Berkeley residents, re-paved roads and other public improvements and the preservation of local arts and crafts spaces.

Our Position

(The following statement was read in front of the Berkeley City Council at the May 7, 2012, public hearing on the West Berkeley Project.)

Livable Berkeley strongly supports the West Berkeley Project. Berkeley is home to world-class scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs. Harnessing these resources with cutting-edge industry will stimulate Berkeley’s economy and help the city achieve its environmental and social equity goals.

Livable Berkeley welcomes the greater diversity of uses permitted under the new zoning. Expanded research and development will leverage Berkeley’s vast intellectual and social capital to attract more green and high-tech industry. By tempering this new openness with reasonable protections for existing businesses, this plan will maintain and strengthen Berkeley’s diverse economic base.Livable Berkeley favors bringing more housing to West Berkeley’s MUP sites. Improving Berkeley’s affordability demands that we more effectively balance jobs and housing. Living closer to work is also consistent with Berkeley’s environmental and climate goals. More homes near West Berkeley businesses means less commuting, less traffic, and more neighbors sharing in the joys of our city.Livable Berkeley encourages the Council to allow the MUP sites the flexibility needed to accommodate and best situate new uses. These sites will not meet their full potential if they are hamstrung by the patchwork of existing zoning designations. These projects will also be better neighbors if they are given greater flexibility to minimize conflicts, respect context, and optimize land use.Livable Berkeley supports conditional allowance of increased building height on the MUP sites. Taller buildings would support more jobs and housing, and would further enhance site flexibility. Discretionary approval of such buildings would empower the community to carefully consider site design, land use compatibility, and project impacts and benefits.These actions stand to create immense new value in West Berkeley. Livable Berkeley thus strongly believes that the City should recapture a substantial portion of this value in service to our community. Community benefits could include streetscape or transit improvements; dedicated live-work spaces for artists and craftspeople; apprenticeship programs for West Berkeley youth; or any number of other measures. Discretionary approval for increased building height and site flexibility must be contingent upon the execution of Community Benefits Agreements that are substantive, feasible, and binding.

With these issues in mind, Livable Berkeley urges the Council to take bold action to enact a transformative, forward-thinking plan for West Berkeley.

Berkeley’s Climate Action Plan, adopted by the City Council in 2009, is the overarching planning document guiding future development in Berkeley.

Livable Berkeley evaluates plans and projects in Berkeley in the context of achieving our greenhouse gas reduction goals.

In order to meet the Greenhouse Gas Reduction goals set by the voters, the city must reduce transportation-related emissions. That means making our city more walkable, having more people living on major corridors with transit and having more services available to them within walking distance.

In November 2006, Berkeley voters issued a bold call to action on global warming – to reduce our entire community’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. To achieve this goal, the city developed a Climate Action Plan.

Here’s what you can do: Commit to reducing your greenhouse gas emissions following the guidelines on the City’s Climate Action website: www.berkeleyclimateaction.org

Join us for our first Kitchen Table Discussion…

BART 101, BART BASICS in Plain Speak

This will be an informal discussion about what BART is and could be, and what it will take to change it, all in non-wonk-speak we can all understand!

Light refreshments to be provided, dinner options available for purchase from PiQ.

See you there!

When: Tuesday, April 1, 6pm – 8pm 

Where: PiQ Bakery, 91 Shattuck Square (at Addison)

Rendering presented at February 3, 2014 concept design meeting. – See more at: http://www.bart.gov/about/projects/dbp

Continuing our focus on revitalization of Downtown Berkeley.

The Downtown is starting to attract the type of projects outlined in the Downtown Plan and Livable Berkeley will engage in these development processes to help Berkeley achieve its broader sustainability goals in affordable housing, transportation options, and GHG reductions.

On March 20, 2012, the City Council passed the new Downtown Plan, affirming the vision for a growing, vibrant Downtown Berkeley. 

After seven years, we are finally moving forward. It is with great pride and excitement that we now begin the implementation process that will make our shared vision a reality.

We look forward to engaging our neighbors and coalition partners as we bring to fruition the changes and improvements in store for Downtown Berkeley.

Let’s get to work!

The Downtown Plan focuses on more housing within walking distance of transit, higher education, jobs, services, and entertainment.

Great things are already underway: new programs are making Downtown Berkeley more welcoming, and the UC Art Museum is coming to our thriving Arts District.

All of this makes our Downtown – the heart of our city – a more desirable place to live, work, and play. 

Adoption of this plan will allow more jobs and housing, further enhancing the vitality of our Downtown and attracting more restaurants, shops, and entertainment.

Livable Berkeley took a lead on the Measure R campaign and wants to ensure that the passage of the Downtown Area Plan achieves all of the community goals described in Measure R. We will be watching and weighing in to make sure that the final adopted plan can deliver the revitalization and community benefits that Berkeley voters endorsed by passing Measure R by 64.2%.

Berkeley voters passed Measure R on November 2, 2010, affirming the City’s environmental and economic revitalization goals for the downtown. It received over 50% in all precincts and passed by 70% in the Downtown precincts.

The coalition of environmental, housing, arts and business advocates formed to pass Measure R demonstrates that sustainability is in everyone’s interest.

Measure R was endorsed by Livable Berkeley, Greenbelt Alliance, Sierra Club,League of Women Voters, California League of Conservation Voters, Downtown Berkeley Association, Alameda County Building Trades, Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, Bicycle Friendly Berkeley Coalition, Berkeley Design Advocates,Sustainable Business Alliance, Berkeley Food and Housing Project and many more.

Background:

On November 29, 2007, DAPAC (the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee) adopted a draft Downtown Area Plan. During the summer and fall of 2008, the Planning Commission worked with Planning Department staff to develop implementation measures, guide the environmental review process, and suggest refinements to goals and policies.

In July, 2009, the Council approved the Downtown Area Plan, but the two dissenting Council members led a signature drive to overturn the Plan by ballot measure. The Council opted to take a proactive approach by rescinding the original plan and instead placing Measure R on the ballot. Measure R put forward a broad vision of a more sustainable Downtown, with new jobs and housing close to transit, and novel incentives for green and socially responsible development. In November 2010, Berkeleyans overwhelmingly passed Measure R by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, with every Berkeley precinct voting YES. Measure R has come to fruition with the Downtown Area Plan now before the City Council.

Livable Berkeley Board members served on the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee, and Livable Berkeley held its own Community Workshop early in the DAPAC process. Throughout the process, Livable Berkeley has been advocating for development levels in the downtown that would accommodate a significant amount of new housing to help achieve the sustainability goals of the Climate Action Plan.

With the City of Berkeley as a financial partner, Berkeley can join the Open Streets movement along with 70 other cities in the U.S., bringing the long-term community benefits of this exciting event to Berkeley.

What is Sunday Streets?

Sunday Streets (also called “Open Streets”) closes streets to automobile traffic for a day so that people may use the space for just about any activity other than driving. The streets become parks as foot traffic replaces car traffic. People bike, jog and dance, meet up with friends, meet someone new, and play. Everyone from businesses and community organizations to musicians and artists use the space creatively, engaging the public and providing spontaneity and discovery. People get out and connect with their community in a transformative way. This temporary public space inspires creativity and change for the better, on that day – and beyond. It sounds simple, yet it really is very new and exciting.

Sponsorship Opportunities

See pictures of Sunday Streets Berkeley on October 14, 2012

Promoting Economic Development, Public Health, Car-Free Transportation, and More

Open Streets are increasingly common in cities seeking new and fun ways to achieve economic, environmental, social, and public health goals. These goals are shared across business, civic and community groups.

Open Streets offer new economic opportunities for commercial districts. In a recent study of an Open Streets event in St. Louis, 73% of attendees spent money at a restaurant or store along the route, 68% became aware of a store or restaurant that was new to them, and 94% responded “Yes – Positively” to the question: “Does Open Streets change your feelings about the city?”

In city after city, initial opponents turn into big supporters after experiencing Open Streets, all vying to host the event in their neighborhoods.

Sunday Streets Berkeley – October 14, 2012 – Downtown to North Shattuck

Almost 20 blocks of Shattuck Avenue are proposed to be car-free. Except for major arterials, intersections on Shattuck will be closed to east-west traffic crossing Shattuck. Programming will showcase the Berkeley Arts District.

Sunday Streets Berkeley will be a celebration of local businesses and organizations, especially along the route. Storefronts will be unobstructed, and business owners will be encouraged to promote commerce and visibility by setting out seating on the street, hosting activities, and otherwise inviting interest and community.

The Sunday Streets Berkeley working committee consists of the Office of Mayor Tom Bates, Councilmember Jesse Arreguin, Livable Berkeley, the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, the Downtown Berkeley Association, and the North Shattuck Association.

Email your elected officials and let them know you support Sunday Streets Berkeley! 

Mayor Tom Bates: mayor@cityofberkeley.info

Council Members

Linda Maio: lmaio@cityofberkeley.info

Darryl Moore: dmoore@cityofberkeley.info

Max Anderson: manderson@cityofberkeley.info

Jesse Arreguin: jarreguin@cityofberkeley.info

Laurie Capitelli: lcapitelli@cityofberkeley.info

Susan Wengraf: swengraf@cityofberkeley.info

Kriss Worthington: kworthington@cityofberkeley.info

Gordon Wozniak: gwozniak@cityofberkeley.info

Mayor Tom Bates: mayor@cityofberkeley.info

Council Members

Linda Maio: lmaio@cityofberkeley.info

Darryl Moore: dmoore@cityofberkeley.info

Max Anderson: manderson@cityofberkeley.info

Jesse Arreguin: jarreguin@cityofberkeley.info

Laurie Capitelli: lcapitelli@cityofberkeley.info

Susan Wengraf: swengraf@cityofberkeley.info

Kriss Worthington: kworthington@cityofberkeley.info

Gordon Wozniak: gwozniak@cityofberkeley.info

For this event Livable Berkeley sponsored a “Pop-Up Parklet,” which was used and enjoyed throughout the day as a practical demonstration of how parklets can be successful in the City of Berkeley. Our “Pop-Up Parklet” meets all of the requirements for a sidewalk grade, wheelchair accessible parklet and can be set up again. The parklet, in use, can be viewed in the StreetsFilm video about Sunday Streets Berkeley, and in the photo below.

Pop-Up Parklet at Philz Coffee, Shattuck and Cedar Streets, Sunday Streets Berkeley, Oct. 14, 2012 (Photo: Alan Tobey) Livable Berkeley believes a Pilot Parklet program will be successful in Berkeley. We are fortunate to have a developed parklets program from San Francisco to build on, which is designed to minimize red tape and speed approvals. Still wondering what a parklet is exactly? How does it work? Who pays for it? Read the Berkeleyside article on North Berkeley merchants’ interest in parklets, and the excerpts below from Parklets: Experiments in Public Open Space, a Public Interest Design Publication.
A parklet is an urban intervention to create more public space. Parklets function as public space, much like a traditional park, but rely on the stewardship of a sponsoring business. Parklets are built in the public right-of-way, typically repurposing two adjacent parking spaces, shifting their use from the storage of cars to pedestrian-centered public space. A sponsoring business responds to a city-issued Parklet Request for Proposal (RFP) with a schematic design. Once approved the parklet receives a 1-year renewable permit. Parklets are generally seen by city officials as semi-temporary urban experiments. Yes, as part of the design and permit process, parklets are created to function as public space. Businesses that sponsor parklets are not allowed to use them as extensions of their business nor evict anyone from their parklet, unless they are doing something illegal. Parklets fall into the category of privately owned public open spaces.

MORE:

Letter to the Transportation Commission (May 16, 2013)

Email your elected officials and let them know you support Sunday Streets Berkeley!

Mayor Tom Bates: mayor@cityofberkeley.info
Linda Maio: lmaio@cityofberkeley.info Darryl Moore: dmoore@cityofberkeley.info Max Anderson: manderson@cityofberkeley.info Jesse Arreguin: jarreguin@cityofberkeley.info Laurie Capitelli: lcapitelli@cityofberkeley.info Susan Wengraf: swengraf@cityofberkeley.info Kriss Worthington: kworthington@cityofberkeley.info Gordon Wozniak: gwozniak@cityofberkeley.info

Livable Berkeley is a local non-profit organization that advocates for equitable and sustainable development in the City of Berkeley. We champion projects and measures that protect the environment, promote equity, and enhance transportation, housing, and job choices. Community investment is key in our sustainable future, and parklets demonstrate the City leadership’s commitment to create a vibrant street life, support local businesses, and promote stewardship of our community.

Special Events

Livable Berkeley Members Dinner — BBQ at Cordonices Park Tuesday July 25 6-7:30pm

Join other Livable Berkeley members and bring a guest! Vegetarian and other food provided so you can come straight from work if you like! Bring an appetite and a sense of fun…we’ll be talking about plans for community education in the election season, and maybe even a Livable Berkeley year end awards ceremony…the “Livies”? Cordonices Park Picnic Area 1. Suggested donation: $3 CLICK HERE TO RSVP

Hidden Gems Magical Mystery Tour — Sunday July 30 9am to 11am

A shorter, slower ride for hand-bikers and others who prefer a reduced pace, this 2 mile bike tour will feature highlights from the “Hidden Gems Map” published by Livable Berkeley….a treasure trove of unusual natural and domestic places in Berkeley – hidden gardens, fanciful sculpture, murals, paths and architecture. Livable Berkeley Board Member John Steere will provide vivid interpretation. Begin at Halcyon Commons on Halcyon Court at Prince Street. Bring water and curiosity.

Livable Berkeley members are engaged in the following activities:

• Plan and Policy Review Committee

• Project Review Committee

• Community Education Committee

• Candidate Information (ad hoc)

Upcoming Special Events:

Sunday July 30 9am-11am – Hidden Gems Magical Mystery (Bike) Tour — the slower and shorter version

Tuesday July 25th 6pm – 7:30pm Livable Berkeley Members Dinner (BBQ at Cordonices Park)

• More Info on Special Events