BART Development, Youth Poet Laureate, and More Berkeley News
Housing Preference Policy to Repair Harm from Redlining & BART Construction
Earlier this month, the Berkeley City Council adopted a Housing Preference Policy that would prioritize displaced families and their descendants for placement in affordable housing.
The Housing Preference Policy would prioritize people in the following categories:
Descendant of someone displaced by the construction of BART in Berkeley.
Displaced due to foreclosure since 2005.
Displaced due to a no-fault or non-payment eviction within the past seven years.
Households with at least one child aged 17 or under.
Homeless who are not eligible for Permanent Supportive Housing or at risk of homelessness with a current/former address in Berkeley.
Has lived in a redlined area in Berkeley or a descendent of one.
While redlining was effectively eliminated in 1966 with the State Supreme Court overturning Proposition 14–which allowed property owners to discriminate against who they sell or rent their property to based on race–the impacts are still seen today. In addition to blocking the ability to create generational wealth through homeownership, many of these redlined communities have been gentrified which creates further displacement.
Similarly, the use of eminent domain during the construction of BART in the 1960s also caused displacement and destruction of the social and economic fabric of close knit communities, especially among South Berkeley’s Black community. The BART category will be ranked the highest, acknowledging the harm that was caused by its construction. All other categories are ranked equally.
The policy was created after years of discussions with residents and community organizations, including Healthy Black Families (HBF) and East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) to address gentrification and displacement in Berkeley. For example, in the 1970 US Census, African Americans made up 23.5% of the City’s population. 50 years later the population plummeted to just 8%.
Progress Continues on BART Transit-Oriented Development
Since launching discussion on building housing at the Ashby and North Berkeley BART Stations began in 2018, the City and BART has been working together with the community in the development of transit-oriented development at these sites. In April 2021, the City allocated $53 million for the development of affordable housing - the largest single investment for affordable housing in the City’s history. A Joint Vision and Priorities for Transit-Oriented Development at the Ashby and North Berkeley BART Station was adopted by the City and BART in June 2022, along with new zoning amendments. Negotiations on the finer details will continue over the coming months. Due to the complexity of these developments, there are different timelines for both stations. Here is the latest on each site.
Ashby
Community benefits and supporting the African American community are key priorities for the Ashby site. Entire blocks of the historically black South Berkeley neighborhood were displaced during construction, even with successful community-led efforts to underground the tracks in Berkeley. Under the draft framework for community benefits, there will be a minimum of 35% of affordable housing with a goal of 50%. While there have been calls for 100% affordable housing at Ashby, at this time, regrettably, there are not enough funds available to achieve this. The project will include a permanent home for the Berkeley Flea Market and will have ground floor space for civic uses. Equitable Black Berkeley is an initiative, through the Mayor’s office, that is exploring funding proposals and policies with the goal of reversing and repairing the intergenerational harm caused by BART construction and redlining of South Berkeley.
North Berkeley
In December 2022, BRIDGE Housing was selected as the primary developer for the North Berkeley site. While no development has been proposed yet, BRIDGE Housing has extensive experience in the development of affordable housing in the region. Under the Memorandum of Agreement that was signed in June 2022, North Berkeley will contain a minimum of 1,000 bedrooms to accommodate various lifestyles, at least 35% affordable housing (with a goal of 50%), and a connection to the Ohlone Greenway. Just this week, an Affordable Housing Framework for North Berkeley was approved by Council. Under the framework, at least 35% of the housing will be reserved for households earning an average of up to 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), with at least 20% of those units reserved for those at up to 30% AMI. The current AMI in Alameda County is $103k for a household of one and $147,900 for a household of four.
To learn more about the process so far, click here.
Berkeley Seeks First Youth Poet Laureate
The City of Berkeley is looking for its first youth poet laureate. The Berkeley Public Library is seeking applications for this position, who would serve in the position for a year. They will have the opportunity to perform at library and city functions, lead a community art project, and participate in writing workshops and would be eligible to represent Berkeley in the National Youth Poet Laureate Competition.
Applications are now open through September 5th. To qualify, applicants must be 13-18 years old as of January 1, 2024, must either live in or go to school in Berkeley, and not be enrolled in college full-time. Individuals can submit their application on a Google Form where they will upload their resume and three original poems. A group of judges who have had an impact on arts in the community will decide the winner. The Youth Poet Laureate and Vice Youth Poet Laureate will be announced in January 2024.
The Berkeley Youth Poet Laureate program is supported by an alliance of community partners. These community partners include the City of Berkeley Civic Arts Commission and Berkeley Public Schools, in partnership with Urban Word. To learn more about the application, process, and judging, click here. Individuals who are over the age of 18 can apply to the Berkeley Poet Laureate Program by September 1.
Participate in National Night Out 2023
National Night Out is an annual nationwide event on the first Tuesday in August (August 1, 2023) where neighborhoods come together to strengthen relationships and create safer, more resilient neighborhoods. Typically, dozens of events are scheduled in Berkeley, with gatherings taking place between 5pm-9pm. If you are interested in hosting an event, register here.The registration link also contains a map of events that have already been planned throughout Berkeley. You can also choose to invite City staff, police officers, and/or firefighters to your event, and the City will do its best to accommodate your request if possible.
For more information about National Night Out, click here.
Civic Center Design Concept Approved
This week, the Council moved forward on the Civic Center Design Concept that includes a vision for future use of the Veterans Memorial Building, the Maudelle Shirek Building (Old City Hall), and the MLK Jr Civic Center Park. The vision for the Veterans Memorial Building is to turn it into a community Arts Center with performance venues, exhibits, and classes. The Maudelle Shirek Building will restore the Council Chambers, in addition to meeting spaces for community and educational purposes. It could possibly provide a home for the Berkeley Historical Society & Museum and Berkeley Community Media. Civic Center Park will restore the fountain that will become a tribute to the Ohlone People, an arts and market plaza to support the Farmers Market, and the potential for daylighting Strawberry Creek.
The Civic Center Design Concept comes after years of extensive community input and lays out a bold plan for having our Civic Center reflect the democratic engagement of our community and builds on its history. The Concept does not commit the City to a specific project, but will help guide future action. Next steps will be to identify and secure funding for implementing the vision, and begin developing phasing plans for each component of the project.