Berkeley Way Project

The Berkeley Way Project, the largest affordable and homeless housing development project in the city of Berkeley’s history, broke ground ceremoniously Tuesday morning.

Eighty-six units of housing near Ashby BART station, which will be affordable for people making 20-60% of the Area Median Income, were approved to be implemented.

The California Health Facilities Financing Authority recently announced the sale of $500 million in revenue bonds to fund the No Place Like Home program.

Affordable rental housing in California is built by both nonprofit and for-profit developers in partnership with cities, counties and the state. The cost of development and construction is driven up by factors ranging from land prices and environmental review to the rising costs of materials and labor.

In October, the State Treasurer’s Office allocated a bond authority and $88.2 million in federal tax credits to help the production of affordable housing.

In this year’s homeless point-in-time count, it was reported that 1,108 persons currently experience homelessness in the city of Berkeley, an increase of 14 percent since the last count in 2017.

Mayor Jesse Arreguín’s third State of the City address highlighted the city’s progress on addressing a range of topics, such as housing and community activism. 

The Downtown Berkeley BART station plaza, which has been under construction since 2016, is set to be completed this month. A controversial recommendation from Mayor Jesse Arreguín would enforce regulations of unpermitted lodging — through California Penal Code Section 647(e) — and sidewalk obstruction.

Berkeley’s multimillion-dollar affordable housing trust fund will be dedicated to the Berkeley Way project in order to build the largest number of permanent affordable housing units for the homeless in the city’s history.