By Julia Foote
A discussion about the potential for housing on the parking lots surrounding the North Berkeley BART station started back in March 2018 — first with a viral tweet, and followed by a community meeting that showcased an overall tone of support for housing, especially affordable housing, in place of parking. The conversation continued at a community visioning open house on Saturday, October 13th, where residents, organizations, and other stakeholders were able to submit and present ideas to the community and the office of Mayor Jesse Arreguín.
As part of this visioning process, our chapter submitted a letter in support of:
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housing in place of parking;
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increased residential density near transit;
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the highest possible level of affordability;
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considerations for station access;
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highest green standards; and
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community input.
We recognize the need for infill, transit-oriented development, and affordable housing projects to make the Bay Area’s Sustainable Communities Strategy a success; by containing sprawl, reducing emissions from vehicles, and reducing displacement pressures on low income populations.