Expanding Transit Options, New Affordable Housing, and More Berkeley News

Berkeley's Newest Affordable Housing Development Opens

 

The first residents of the 34-unit affordable senior housing development moved in on March 1.

 

Jordan Court, the first affordable housing project in North Berkeley in over 30 years, opened earlier this year. The project provides 34 units of housing for seniors who make 20%-60% area median income (AMI), with 12 units set aside for seniors experiencing homelessness and mental illness. Creating affordable housing for seniors is consistent with the goals of Berkeley’s Age Friendly Plan, which aims to allow people to age in place and thrive in Berkeley. By 2030, it is estimated that one in five Berkeley residents will be over the age of 65. This development was made possible by a diverse coalition of nonprofit affordable housing organizations, including Satellite Affordable Housing Associates, East Bay Housing Organizations, the Non-Profit Housing Association of Northern California, and the All Souls Episcopal Parish, who donated the land for this project.

This is just the latest in a series of affordable housing developments in Berkeley that has been made possible in part by the 2018 Measure O housing bond. Over the last few years, hundreds of units of affordable housing have been constructed or are in the permitting process. Between 2023-2031, Berkeley is expected to construct around 2,446 units of housing for very low income households (below 50% of the AMI), and 1,408 units for low income households (50-80% AMI). This is required under the Regional Housing Needs Allocation. Through continued investment, we can continue to address the housing affordability crisis and improve access to housing.

Milvia Street Bikeway Officially Opens

 

Berkeley officials, city staff, transit advocates, and community members celebrate the opening of the Mivlia Street Bikeway.

 

On Bike to Wherever Day, the Berkeley community gathered for the official opening of the Milvia Street Bikeway, a 0.75 mile stretch of protected bike lanes along Milvia Street through the heart of Downtown between Hearst Avenue and Blake Street. The Milvia Bikeway is the city’s primary north-south bikeway, with counts showing over 500 people using the southern section and over 400 in the northern section during the evening commute. The street goes by several major destinations in Downtown Berkeley, including Berkeley High School, City Hall, and Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, Herrick Campus. Billed as the first “bicycle boulevard” in Berkeley, calls for significant improvements to the bikeway have existed for many years, with the project being formally proposed in the 2016 Berkeley Strategic Transportation Plan. Construction began in May 2021 over six separate phases. The project received funding through Alameda County’s Measure B, a half-cent transportation sales tax approved by voters in 2000, and California’s Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities program.

Berkeley has among the highest bicyclist commuter rates in the country, with around one in ten people biking to work. The City’s Bicycle Plan, approved in 2017, calls for an acceleration in bicycle infrastructure to make Berkeley a model for safe and accessible biking. The Bicycle Plan is currently going through a community-driven update, which is expected to be adopted in 2023. In 2019, Council approved the Berkeley Initiative to Build Improvements for Mobility, Bicycles, & Pedestrians, which will require 50% of paving funds to go towards bikeways and pedestrian high-injury streets over the next few years.

COVID-19 Updates: Masks, Boosters, and Testing

 
 

Over the last couple of weeks, there have been several new developments in the COVID-19 pandemic. As we are in the midst of the second largest surge, health officers throughout the Bay Area have urged the use of masking in indoor locations. While there is no new mask mandate, businesses do have the option of requiring patrons to wear masks. Additionally, the Berkeley Unified School District has announced that indoor masking will be required through the end of this school year. Wearing a N95 or KN95 mask is most effective, followed by a surgical mask. Cloth masks are the least effective.

Children ages 5-11 are now eligible to receive a booster of the Pfizer vaccine. Vaccines have been proven to prevent hospitalizations and death. Children ages 5-11 can receive a booster of the Pfizer vaccine at least 5 months after the initial series. To schedule a vaccination appointment, click here.

A third round of free COVID-19 home test kits are now available through the federal government. This time, a total of eight free rapid antigen tests are delivered per household. To get your free tests, click here.

Electric Micro-mobility Program Launches

 

Link scooters by Superpedestrian on display at a Bike to Wherever Day event. There are currently three companies that provide hundreds of micro-mobility devices in Berkeley.

 

Transportation accounts for approximately 60% of Berkeley’s greenhouse gas emissions. A key way of reducing this is to promote alternative forms of transportation in order to reduce dependence on gas powered vehicles. Electric scooters and bicycles are an effective way at completing the last mile of people’s journeys, helping people commute from their homes to a major transit hub.

This month, Berkeley launched the Shared Electric Micro-mobility Permit Program, allowing companies to provide rideshare services for electric scooters and bikes. The three companies are Veoride, which will have 250 standing scooters and 250 seated scooters; Superpedestrian/Link, which will have 200 standing scooters and 50 seated scooters; and Spin, which will have 400 standing scooters and 100 ebikes.

All operators are required to follow various terms and conditions which are outlined here. Highlights include prohibiting the riding on sidewalks, parking bikes and scooters to designate parking locations, a speed limit of 15 mph, and a 24/7 customer service line. Operators must remove improperly parked devices within three hours of a complaint.

Berkeley School Board Appoints New Superintendent

 
 

At the May 18th BUSD Board of Education meeting, the Board unanimously approved the appointment of Enikia Ford Morthel to Superintendent. Ford Morthel will begin her new role in July, having previously served as the Deputy Superintendent of Instruction for the San Francisco Unified School District.

Ford Morthel holds a B.A. and Master’s degree in Education from the University of California, Berkeley and has worked as an educator for more than 20 years. She has also served as Professor/Senior Lecturer of Urban Education at Loyola Marymount University. Across her various roles as an urban educator, Ford Morthel has facilitated change in some of the Bay Area’s highest needs communities and accelerated outcomes for students who have historically been underserved and overlooked while also enhancing learning and the school experience for all student groups.

Thank you to Superintendent Brent Stephens, who is stepping down at the end of his three-year contract with BUSD. During his time as Superintendent, he led the district through the immense challenges of COVID-19.

35th Annual Juneteenth Celebration

 
 

The City of Berkeley is celebrating the 35th annual Berkeley Juneteenth Festival on Sunday, June 19th from 11am-7pm at Adeline St/Alcatraz Ave. The event will feature activities for all ages, including a Kid Zone with a rock wall, art programs, and STEM activities, and two stages with music, dance, and spoken word. The Juneteenth festival provides an opportunity to celebrate African American culture, music, and traditions, while highlighting the significant contributions African Americans have made to the City of Berkeley.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday, and city offices will be closed on Monday, June 20th to commemorate the holiday.

Berkeley Parks Summer Music Series

 
 

This summer, the Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department will be hosting a series of music concerts covering a variety of genres for all ages. The Music in the Parks series features kids' activities, food, music from local musicians, and entertainment. The series is as follows:

Community Concerts are just one of an array of events throughout the year organized by the City's Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department, which offers dozens of camps, classes, and other activities for people of all ages. Get a glimpse of the Recreation Division's offerings through our online registration portal. For more details, click here.

Jesse Arreguin