Destroying our Commercial Districts
The Corridor Zoning Update (CZU)
A plan to allow for 8-12 story high rises on North Shattuck, Solano Ave and College Ave — the Corridors Zoning Upgrade — poses a serious threat to the small businesses that so many people prize about Berkeley and are a big part of the city’s economic engine. With no required parking. (See more details of the CZU).
This picture was taken at the corner of Ensenada and Solano. The white building is 3 stories.
This is what Solano Avenue could look like if the City Council acts on their desire to allow 7-story buildings. The new building is shown with a 100% density bonus.
San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan (SPASP)
The community around San Pablo Avenue would like the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan (SPASP) to be an attempt to transform the San Pablo corridor in Berkeley into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly area and create a variety of housing types to meet different community needs. As it does on other commercial corridors like the Elmwood, North Shattuck, and Solano Avenue, the City Council proposes raising building heights, allowing for greater housing density than currently exists. However, comments by council members during meetings to discuss the SPASP indicate that market rate housing is the primary objective, there is very little interest in commercial development, and they have little interest in listening to their staff or the public. (See more details of the SPASP)