Vision
Vision for Future Development in North Berkeley
Passed by the Live Oak-Codornices Creek Neighborhood Association (LOCCNA) at its general meeting on the 29th of May, 2007
Introduction
This Vision Statement was developed in a series of meetings, discussions and communications by North Berkeley residents. It was written in response to the proposed North Shattuck Plaza Plan, but it is an elaboration of our desires for any proposed improvement or development.
LOCCNA's goal is to maintain the human scale and quality of life in the North Berkeley neighborhood--both residential and commercial--promoting a sense of innate community and some voice within the city regarding proposed neighborhood projects. The Vision Statement is an elaboration of those desires.
Preserve the "Goodness of Living"
We must protect, maintain and enhance the "goodness of living" in North Berkeley. The question at hand is whether the North Shattuck Plaza Plan, as proposed, protects, maintains or enhances our "goodness of living". While the plan is not totally unattractive (it provides for a large area to congregate and it attempts to beautify the area), it does not adequately meet our criteria for acceptance. The plan, conceived without adequate neighborhood involvement, does not address significant concerns and desires of many of the residents that live around and/or utilize this section of Shattuck.
We agreed that "Goodness of Living" depends upon a number of factors including a strong sense of community; close proximity to nature; the availability of quiet and environmentally safe public transportation; close proximity to intellectual, cultural, and outdoor activities; opportunities to participate in the democratic process and influence our living conditions; opportunities to know and interact with our fellow human beings; opportunities to savor good food and drink; access to vibrant and diversified local shops; an ability to preserve our connection to the past; the opportunity to understand diverse people; and the ability to afford living here.
We are concerned that there are large development motives behind the Shattuck Plaza Plan. For instance, we know that ABAG is demanding that Berkeley significantly increase density by requiring the construction of thousands of new apartments. We suspect that once the proposed sidewalk is enlarged, developers can then build multistory, unattractive buildings that are incongruous with the historical character of North Berkeley. This will increase density and diminish the "goodness of living." We are united in strong opposition to this likely probability.
We want North Berkeley to remain a strong and cohesive neighborhood community, not a domain of anonymity. We do not want it transformed into a high-density city, like San Francisco. We want to increase opportunities to interact with neighbors, friends, and business owners and their employees, which includes protecting neighborhood streets from the incursion of high-volume traffic; and, promoting the needs of children, teenagers and seniors.
Protect the Small, Independent Businesses with Incremental Change
Businesses are an integral part of our community. Some of the local businesses are particularly excellent and are models for the kind of customer/business relationship that we desire and would like to foster. These have excellent products as well as excellent customer interaction. We know many of the owners and their employees. We care whether they survive. We would like to support small, independent businesses by improving what we have, not by tearing down buildings or increasing the financial burden of current proprietors. We are concerned that the construction of the proposed North Shattuck Plaza can be used as an excuse for raising rents and driving out the current businesses. We are also concerned that the construction process itself can drive current proprietors out of business. Therefore, if there is to be change, it should be incremental rather than massively disruptive. Several suggestions for incremental change emerged during discussions.
One suggestion is that we install tables and chairs on the bulb out on northeast corner of Shattuck and Vine Streets, right in front of Caldwell Banker. If that is successful, we could enlarge the bulb out.
Another suggestion is to block off Vine Street from Walnut to Shattuck, as is done during the Spice of Life Festival. Deliveries could be designated and coordinated with store owners. The yellow zone or delivery zone could be restricted to vehicles making deliveries.
Another suggestion is that we block off Shattuck from Vine to Rose one night a week and have an open area for evening strolls.
All of the above are examples of inexpensive changes that might be considered. They do not threaten the livelihood of our existent shops, yet provide times and areas to congregate.
Increase our Connectedness to Nature
Residents of Berkeley have inherited beautiful views, a stunning bay, a multitude of wonderful parks, and an architecture which strives to make its occupants feel one with nature. This connectedness to nature should not be lost as we go downtown. The proposed North Shattuck Plaza is attractive in that it might provide additional opportunity to congregate and meet others. But its most salient feature is its large sidewalk. The plan’s nod to nature is some trees. The intimate feel of a few tables nestled among bushes and fragrant vines on trellises is preferable to the cosmopolitan appearance of an expansive sidewalk.
A link between Live Oak Park and the plaza would be desirable. One possible way to do this is to extend the plaza landscaping to the park. Another way to connect the plaza with the park, is to install along Long’s Drugstore wall, a series of window displays that would announce exhibits currently at the Live Oak Art Center or plays at the Live Oak Theater and a schedule of other activities at the park. A bulletin board at this location would be a way to build a sense of community.
Preserve the Spirit of the Past in Architecture and Public Transportation
North Berkeley has a rich history. Its forefathers were cognizant of the "goodness of living" and tried to create a city and environment that fostered a quality life. In most distinctive cities, the architecture helps to create the character of the town and serves as a historical record. From the beautiful Victorian homes of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, to the Arts and Crafts buildings and homes of the turn of the century, North Berkeley has a character that should be preserved and celebrated. We would like to preserve historical buildings; and more, we would like to provide historical plaques on those buildings to educate and give context to the community.
A key element that the proposed North Shattuck Plaza plan does not address is public transportation. We all know that the economic vibrancy of a commercial area depends on customers and the ability of customers to park and access shops. We assert, that the single best thing that the business sector and community can do is to invest in public transportation. The paths radiating down off the hills were originally built to provide hill people with easy access to trams, which then carried them from Solano Avenue through North Berkeley, to downtown Berkeley to Oakland.
In tune with this, we could rename the area referred to as "the plaza", Berryman Turnaround Plaza. This name goes back to the time when the Shattuck Commons was a turnaround for the street cars. The parking lot in the proposed North Shattuck Plan will demolish Berryman Turnaround. Instead of destroying this area, we should preserve it for its possible future use and recognize its historical value with a plaque.
Berkeley’s forefathers designed a public transportation system that worked. As we transition from using cars to public transportation, we should revisit how it once was done. Berryman Turnaround and the paths may prove to be important elements in a public transit system. In addition, eliminating Berryman Turnaround could push traffic onto neighborhood streets, since the Rose – Shattuck intersection would be harder to navigate. This is undesirable, since mitigation actions are not likely to retard the invasion of high-speed traffic into the neighborhood streets.
Any plan for North Berkeley should accommodate more extensive bicycling to commute to and from school and work, as well as shopping and recreational use. We should also include free places to safely park bicycles.
We might also institute HOV parking—parking areas only for cars carrying 3 or more people.
We recognize that the United States is on the cusp of making a fundamental change in transportation. We must leave a model that is heavily dependent on oil and creates massive greenhouse gas emissions. We must turn to greener alternatives. While this is a national and regional problem, the real change takes place locally. We desire to seriously embrace alternative transportation and facilitate its use in the Berryman Turnaround. This also involves specifics such as bus routes and schedules, which will be addressed in detail in our Transportation Report. This neighborhood was built around public transportation and we wish to return to that vision.
Develop an Organization That Promotes Our Local Interests
Preservation should not be seen as something for its own sake, but as a means for the community to preserve what it cherishes. If structural, cosmetic, or environmental changes are to be made, we, as a community, want to put together our own plan. We also need to affirm that it is okay to leave some things as they are.
We want to protect the character and diversity of the neighborhood businesses, so that the businesses that serve us aren't driven out by financial and developmental actions that serve the interest of people from outside the neighborhood. We need a means for the community to influence or preserve commercial rent levels. This might be achieved through fees on long-term vacancies, which are sometimes used as a way to hold rents high.
Macro-economic changes and projects now in process around us (ABAG, desuburbanization, macro-investment with respect to the Pacific Rim Economy) are beginning to demand greater population density in Berkeley and the Bay Area. These plans are being promulgated by a political/economic structure that does not represent us. We need a neighborhood association that can be the democratic voice of the community, so we don’t get steamrolled by big moneyed interests. The city should consult with the community about the services it provides and alliances it makes with developmental interests. Thus, the community needs a way of relating and promoting its interests to the city.
We need an organization that is:
Proactive rather than simply reactive; as well as, a contact for the city and other neighborhood organizations if things come up that affect us.
A multiplicity of consensuses that can work together and grow organically from the neighborhood and its processes. That is, an organization of common understanding and dialogue that can conjoin disparate interests as a community.
United enough to have clout in the face of macro-political processes as they affect Berkeley. These processes will have a great social and economic affect on us. An equally strong, participatory, and democratic entity will be needed to stand up for our local needs.
Summation
The "Goodness of Living" in North Berkeley should be protected and enhanced. To do this, we want to maintain our low density, low rise residential neighborhood. We want to protect our small, independent business community by supporting incremental improvements rather than massive disruptions. We want to increase the amount of greenery on Shattuck by planting not only trees, but thoughtful and beautiful landscaping. We want to connect Live Oak Park with the Plaza. We want to be connected with the past, by installing informational plaques on historical buildings. We want to revisit how Berkeley’s forefathers implemented public transportation so that we can make large strides in developing a useful public transportation system for commuting and other uses. We want to more strongly support the use of bicycles, by providing bicycle lanes and safe areas to park bicycles. Finally, we need to organize to fight the developmental forces that would like to change North Berkeley into something that meets their needs instead of ours.
Written by:
Linda Trujillo Bargmeyer—Chair
Bruce Bargmeyer
Madan Kumar
Bessie Chin
Fred Dodsworth
Anna Giske
Steve Martinot
Nina Luce
Jane Harada
Lloyd Andres
Mary Ann Brewin
Endorsed by LOCCNA at its general meeting on the 29th of May, 2007