The affordable housing shortage will not be remedied by this Middle Housing Zoning proposal. In fact, expanding what investors can do with each lot that is “under-used” or vacant will increase the value of the land, and thus increase the cost of housing that is built on it.

One has only to look at what has become of our downtown to question, and resist, the takeover of our little city by the economic forces of the development and real estate industries. For example, the once vibrant Center Street scene is gone, replaced by void. The City had no control, apparently, over when or if these properties would be redeveloped. Yes, there will be new development eventually; but will our small businesses and local restaurants be able to afford the new rents proferred by the new corporate landlords? And meanwhile, we are left with this and so many other gaping holes of corporate abandonment. All the market-rate apartment and condo buildings that now dominate downtown Berkeley offer no possibility for a cohesive retail core. Even when (if) the street-level spaces are occupied, they will be disjointed, separate entities with no common gathering spaces so essential to urban charm.

So now these same developer interests want to control our residential neighborhoods, and the City Council seems ready to kowtow. What the heck is going on here?
The so-called Middle Housing Zoning Plan is a gift to corporate developers and has nothing to do with providing affordable anything, let alone housing. It is a welcome mat to those with deep pockets to buy up “under-utilized” or “unused” properties and develop them to the maximum allowed by this boondoggle Middle Housing plan. There are no affordability guidelines, no design guidelines to speak of, and no room for community input as to what these incursions will bring to the neighborhood.

Affordable housing exists, where it exists, in our old housing stock. We must treasure this resource and rehabilitate it as needed to ensure a healthy economic and diverse mix in our neighborhoods.

I urge this City Council and our new Mayor to think clearly about the ramifications of this plan, and not be blinded by the arrogant pronouncements of the wealthy and powerful. They have their bottom lines to think of, not the overall community good.

Barbara Hadenfeldt