Touring downtown with DAPAC

In 2005, DAPAC Committee members, joined by city and UC Berkeley staff and members of the public, took a two-and-a-half-hour tour of the district that will be the subject of a new central city plan.

The university’s plans include adding approximately one million square feet of floor space downtown, both in acquisition of existing buildings and in new development. Just how to accommodate that massive expansion is part of all DAPAC discussions.

Members spent part of Saturday focused on Oxford/Fulton Street and Center Street.

The one-block stretch of Center Street between Oxford Street and Shattuck Avenue was the focus of considerable attention because the university owns most of the block on the north side of the street, where it plans to build a museum complex and is working with a private developer to create a hotel and conference center. Several speakers asked the committee to consider proposals to close the street to through traffic and “daylight” Strawberry Creek—which now flows in a concrete culvert beneath the pavement—to create a public plaza.

Another issue with Downtown Berkeley is the lack of a central focus. “There is no central focus now,” said John McBride, who posited that, with proper handling, the two-block triangle created by the split of the north- and south-bound lanes of Shattuck could fit the bill.

After the walking tour, several participants expressed a new appreciation for Berkeley’s landmarked buildings—which were featured in a map distributed to all participants. Members of the Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association were present in force to argue for preservation of the numerous city landmarks in the downtown area. While several participants said they felt downtown lacked sufficient parking, Wrenn noted that parking spaces are abundant, particularly in structures, and that the only real parking crush comes between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. on weekdays, when the available parking often drops to about 200 slots.

Several members said they thought many of Berkeley’s sidewalks were often too crowded and too narrow. In addition, they believed that it was disgusting that the streets were littered.

Richard Brenneman, Touring Downtown With DAPAC, Berkeley Daily Planet (Dec. 6 2005), available at, http://www.berkeleydailyplanet.com/issue/2005-12-06/article/22892.