"By allowing building heights of 4 to 9 stories along those corridors, wealthier parts of the city would take on their share of housing growth after decades of changes being thrust upon the historically underserved areas of South and West Berkeley. We want to encourage more housing, all different types of housing, so we can keep people here in our city. It's a big part of protecting our people here and making sure they have a safe place to live, Ishii said."
"Save Berkeley Shops, a nonprofit recently founded by concerned residents and business owners, argues that what's been proposed will lead to skyrocketing property values that could drive up rents, make it harder to obtain long-term leases and ultimately force businesses out as large developers move in. Two founding members of the group are David Salk and Claudia Hunka. Salk was only 25 in the mid-1970s when he opened Focal Point, an opticians office in the Elmwood neighborhood."
Berkeley's Corridor Zoning Update would raise allowable housing on sections of Solano, College and North Shattuck avenues by permitting buildings four to nine stories tall. A core principle is equity, aiming to distribute housing growth to wealthier parts of the city after decades of changes imposed on historically underserved South and West Berkeley. The plan aims to encourage diverse housing types to retain residents and protect housing access. Concerned residents and business owners warn that increased heights could spike property values, raise rents, threaten long-term leases, and displace longstanding small businesses. Founding members David Salk and Claudia Hunka opened neighborhood shops in the 1970s and 1980s that weathered economic shifts and the pandemic.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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