Bay Area Community Land Trust

Berkeley community members celebrated the conversion of a building on Solano Avenue into affordable housing Wednesday after a thwarted attempt to evict the building’s residents under the Ellis Act.

Community members gathered on Wednesday for a ceremony to celebrate the completed renovation of an affordable housing cooperative at 1638 Stuart St. in Berkeley.

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín held a press conference Feb. 20 to unveil the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act, a city ordinance aimed at preserving affordable housing in Berkeley.

Eight vacant apartments owned by the historic McGee Avenue Baptist Church will be restored to provide housing for low-income residents.

A teach-in focused on the city’s affordable housing crisis was held Sunday, drawing in nearly 100 community members, students and city officials to discuss the issue.