Recent Actions by the City Council Favor Developers and Show Clear Disregard for Berkeley’s Unique Existing Historic Architecture

The City of Berkeley’s Planning & Zoning Mission Statement, revised in 2023, reads:

The Planning and Development Department of the City of Berkeley aims to enhance safety, livability, and resilience in the built environment. It works with community to promote and protect Berkeley’s unique neighborhoods, commercial areas, and natural resources for the current and future generations.

However, recent measures by the Council clearly indicate otherwise. With the passage of The Middle Housing Ordinance and the overturning of the Preservation Commission’s designation of landmark status for two more than century-old buildings during a Special Session on July 23, the Council has demonstrated that rampant new development is the Council’s priority, and preservation of “Berkeley’s unique neighborhoods” is merely a nice slogan which they will ignore. The Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA) supported declaring both buildings worthy of landmark status.

The details of the Council’s decision to reverse landmark status of a 1886 Victorian at 2421 Durant Avenue and a 1902 Georgian Revival at 2138 Kittredge Street were reviewed in a July 24 Berkeleyside article by Nico Savidge; “City Council shoots down attempts to landmark 2 buildings eyed for housing”. A 20-story, 169-unit apartment building is proposed for 2421 Durant and an eight-story 66-unit structure at 2138 Kittredge.

Clearly, Berkeley residents concerned about unchecked new development need to monitor upcoming Council’s meeting agendas and provide Public Comments in opposition to the Council’s evident free reign to developers.

Stephen Alpert M.D.