After two years of construction rising above the Telegraph corridor, the newest student-housing option for UC Berkeley students is set to open its doors to new residents this month.
On Aug. 17, Maximino Martinez Commons will move 416 undergraduates into its residence hall rooms, renting for $14,169, and multiple-bedroom apartments, renting for $9,916. Most new residents will be sophomores, who retain priority in applications and are guaranteed housing from the university.
Last February, more than 4,500 students applied to live in the building.
The popularity of Martinez Commons as a choice for second-year housing reflects an interest from students in apartment-style instead of residence hall-style living, according to Marty Takimoto, director of marketing communications for campus Residential and Student Service Programs.
“Through housing demand studies, we know that continuing students want access to university housing with a bit more space and privacy than the older high-rise residence halls can provide,” Takimoto said.
Sophomore Andres Sheikh, who will be living in Martinez, said a notice was given to students stating there would be construction noise throughout the fall semester. Although Martinez construction will finish by move-in day, construction adjacent to the building will continue for surge space affiliated with the Lower Sproul Project.
Located between Haste Street and Channing Way, Martinez Commons sits on the site of a former campus parking lot — which, Takimoto said, is the only place to which campus housing could expand, given the “very, very limited space for new construction on campus.”
The building sits adjacent to Telegraph Avenue and People’s Park, nestled within one of Berkeley’s most historic communities. For Berkeley City Councilmember Kriss Worthington, who represents that community, Martinez is a welcome addition.
“When the proposal came up to build housing across from People’s Park, I thought it was a fantastic idea because it’s close to campus in a heavily underutilized area,” Worthington said. “It will create a community for residents in the area.”
Another community member, a People’s Park resident known as “Hate Man,” was more skeptical about the campus’s housing expansion.
“I understand that the university wants to build dorms as the main reason (for constructing Martinez), but I feel that part of the motivation was to tighten the screws around the park where students will be safe and feel safe,” Hate Man said. “And use that as an excuse to sanitize or gentrify the park and try to stabilize it and make it more acceptable for other people.”
Student safety for the residence hall, including around People’s Park, is an ongoing concern, according to Takimoto. Like other university housing, Takimoto said Martinez will be equipped with security features such as blue-light phones, cameras and overnight security monitors.
“We will keep an eye on People’s Park,” said UCPD spokesperson Capt. Margo Bennett. “Once we go online at Martinez, we will have a better idea if proximity to the park is an issue.”
Students interviewed about the park said safety was not an issue for them.
“Some people are definitely worried about People’s Park,” said sophomore and future Martinez resident Yvon Brousseau. “They ask me if I’m sketched out by it. I’m fine with it. I think people over-exaggerate what goes on in the park.”
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This hall is named for one of the nicest, most genuine human beings who ever worked on campus or ever will. I knew Max and I’m glad to see they’ve named something good for students after someone who really cared and did a great job. I only wish he was still around. We’d all be better for it. Good on ya’ Max, wherever you are!
but I feel that part of the motivation was to tighten the screws around the park where students will be safe and feel safe,” Hate Man said. “And use that as an excuse to sanitize or gentrify the park and try to stabilize it and make it more acceptable for other people.”
So what’s your point? It should be made safer than it is.
I don’t get why rooms are more expensive than apartments.
And is that $14,000 a month or a year? The reporting on the DailyCal seems to decline every year. I guess it reflects the state of journalism itself.
Does this mean we can expect the second lane of Haste to reopen soon?
Yes, the lane should be reopen by the end of next week.
Sorry, I’m a freshman and I don’t know what Haste is. Can someone explain?
Who is Maximino Martinez?
Max Martinez was a longtime UC staff member who worked tirelessly to make higher education possible for underrepresented and disadvantaged students. He held positions in Financial Aid, Admissions and Outreach, and the Incentive Awards Program during his career at Cal. Max passed away far too soon while playing lunchtime basketball at the RSF.
Thanks. I am really glad to see something at Cal being named after someone who did something for Cal. We seem to get too tied up in money and politics, and we forget the people who actually make Cal great. Personally, I wish everything on campus was named for someone who worked for Cal or graduated from Cal and did something notable other than give a lot of money.