City

City looks at past, future of Telegraph Avenue

Pedestrians walk at the intersection of Telegraph and Durant avenues. In contrast to Berkeley's downtown area, which has experienced a housing boom, Telegraph reminds undeveloped and comparatively blighted.
Dean Ignacio/Staff
Pedestrians walk at the intersection of Telegraph and Durant avenues. In contrast to Berkeley's downtown area, which has experienced a housing boom, Telegraph reminds undeveloped and comparatively blighted.

For many Berkeley residents, the Downtown area serves as a transportation gateway to the rest of the Bay Area. But while Berkeley residents have been using Downtown as a portal out, others in the Bay Area have been coming in, settling down and calling it their new home — leaving Read More…

Op-Eds

Downtown Berkeley marred by huge labs

In Feb. 2007, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates said, “We are poised to be an international center for the development of new environmental technologies… That opportunity grew with the award of a $500 million biofuels research center to UC Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab two weeks ago.” Of course you’ve Read More…

Notes from the Field

Annotated agenda for April 3 Berkeley City Council meeting

Tuesday night’s Berkeley City Council meeting will cover issues ranging from a possible raise in the city’s Parks Tax to altering transparency guidelines for campaign contributions. Read an annotated version of the agenda below: <br /> <a href=”http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/330509/berkmtg-04-03.pdf”>Agenda for April 3 Berkeley City Council meeting (PDF)</a><br /> <br /> <a Read More…

City

Neighborhood groups file lawsuit against city’s Downtown Area Plan

Neighborhood groups filed a lawsuit against the city of Berkeley for alleged violations of environmental procedures in a contentious development plan recently approved by Berkeley City Council. The petition — which was filed May 3 at the Alameda County Superior Court — alleges that the city “improperly approved” the Downtown Read More…

City

The downtown area, formerly its own business district, will now become part of the city-wide Berkeley Tourism Business Improvement District.

City Council approves Berkeley’s Downtown Area Plan

Today, Downtown Berkeley is an eclectic mix of small businesses in small storefronts, with only a few buildings that jut out above the skyline. But now, that could all change. At its meeting Tuesday, Berkeley City Council approved its long-contended Downtown Area Plan, which aims to provide guidance for revitalizing Read More…