An iconic city, Berkeley has stood for many beliefs and political movements, hosted vibrant heritage, and practiced conscious building (e.g. 1898’s Hillside Club). Now, this way of life is under threat from a surge in high-rise development. Seven (7) new builds have been approved in downtown Berkeley, including overwhelming high-rises of 25, 26 and a proposed 28 stories.

These developments will replace generational businesses and cultural institutions that have given Berkeley its identity. The 28 story building would demolish the full block which “bears” Spats: music hall, restaurant and saloon - a Berkeley mainstay, which has existed at 1974 Shattuck Ave in varied form since the 1950s [Source: 7x7]

Let’s look to revitalize already vacant/dilapidated buildings with the erection of <10-15 story buildings for mixed use and (very) low income housing. A greater amount of smaller buildings will better support the livability of all Berkeley and its beings.

Density housing is very important, but considerate construction must still be a part of such forward thinking builds. These tall buildings pose concrete consequences. They would create more shade, channel wind into unavoidable gusts, aggravate traffic congestion and most importantly: redefine Berkeley's ethos forever.

Shorter buildings are more easily sourced funding and development that can provide the balance of equal housing, pleasant living space, and a mix use ground floor. Excessively tall buildings are being made taller to tempt developers with tax breaks in construction, but building larger in an attempt to bring the bill down is only show that such a size and location was not a proper choice from start. The project is seen as a risk, waiting for someone to stake their claim. Please, instead prioritize density housing by approving and quickly putting into place a greater amount of manageable project/conversion sites. High-rises are known to be long processes when all is going well, but in that time much can change, and many tall builds end up in an extensive limbo that leaves something demolished and the area never properly redeveloped, or only after great delay.

Cities like San Francisco have shown that unchecked high-rise development can hurt. High-rise buildings have multiplied there faster than anywhere else in the U.S these past two decades, leading to many displaced persons despite a majority of these new buildings being mostly vacant. [Source: San Francisco Public Press] Some such buildings are fully commercial — so let’s fund to re-zone and convert commercial skyscrapers in San Francisco for housing, before building tall in Berkeley.

We urge the city and state officials to revise the planned development/height for ONE of the proposed density builds, to keep harmony with the city's existing skyline. (Only the 28-story project remains open for appeal. 6 of 7 buildings are fully cleared for development, and will hopefully be brought to existence in a way that honors community.)

Keep in mind that only a small portion of these new buildings will house lower-income persons. The majority of building will exist to host high rent living and business spaces that will send a ripple-effect of increased living/everyday costs throughout the nearby area, as new builds attract their intended clientele.

We should strive to create resolution for inequity by funding policies that require fair wages, rather than build short term ‘solutions’ that pose long term consequences to communities and enable the issue of a struggling working class to perpetuate. Paying developers and their investors to fix the problems they’re creating is a fairly clear circle. In example, CEOs today earn 5.33x greater income than wages of the top 0.1 percent of wage earners ( Source: Economic Policy Institute ).

Let's use this opportunity to ensure Berkeley remains a city revered for its unique lifestyle and diverse populace’s charm; not tall buildings.

Please sign this petition. Thank you.