Livable Berkeley

The Downtown Berkeley BART Plaza Improvement Project is one of the largest transportation projects in the works for Berkeley.

The project application has been submitted and BART, in coordination with the City of Berkeley, has begun the design process. BART has already hosted a workshop for community input and we strive to keep our members up-to-date and involved.

We encourage you to review the ideas put forth in the February 3 workshop and let us know what you think. Livable Berkeley and several of our partner organizations including the Downtown Berkeley Association and Berkeley Design Advocates have written letters with positions on design and program elements.

This new plaza can truly change and improve the image of Downtown Berkeley. We believe the revitalized plaza can create a beautiful and vibrant community gathering place for all of Berkeley.

If you like receiving updates on the future of projects in Berkeley, and want to help out, sign up for our emails!

Open Letter to the Berkeley City Council

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

Project Review

Livable Berkeley reviews specific private and public development proposals and works with the city and project proponents to incorporate smart growth principles into proposal development projects. The review and advocacy process includes three components:

• Livable Berkeley invites project proponents to present their development proposals to Livable Berkeley early in the planning and permitting process, ideally even before a formal application is presented. At these presentations, Livable Berkeley gives suggestions to project proponents to help to improve the project to meet Livable Berkeley’s goals.

• Livable Berkeley reviews projects for which formal applications have been submitted. It endorse those projects that meet its goals, and opposes those that contradict its goals.

• Once it endorses or opposes a project, Livable Berkeley writes letters about it, encourages members to contact decision-makers, and sends speakers to speak at public hearings.

Find the Project Review Criteria sheet here (.pdf format, 48K)

NEXT MEETING: TBA

RECENT WORK:

In April of 2006 the Project Review Committee reviewed a presentation by the Citizens for Strawberry Creek Plaza. The committee had several ideas for advancing the discussion about how to open Strawberry Creek and create a public plaza on Center Street in downtown Berkeley.LETTER

In February of 2006 the Project Committee reviewed presentations by the BUSD School Board President and concerned Derby Street nieghbors about the proposed Derby Street Playing Fields. The committee made RECOMMENDATIONS to the School Board and the City Council. Committee members are currently working to bring all concerned parties together for further discussion.

In December of 2005 the Project Review Committee reviewed a proposed mixed use development at 1950 Martin Luther Kind Blvd. The committee noted numerous changes made by the developers in response to earlier critique, and strongly supported the final plan. This project goes before the Zoning Adjustments Board on April 27th 2006. Please join the committee in supporting this project. LETTER OF SUPPORT

Please Note: For best results accessing PDF (Portable Document Format) files, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0, which is available for download at no cost from the Adobe website.

Chairs: Jennifer Phelps/Peter Levitt email