Berkeley City Council to take Historic Vote on City's Largest Investment in Affordable Housing

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BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL TO TAKE HISTORIC VOTE ON CITY’S LARGEST INVESTMENT IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The City of Berkeley is set to allocate $53 million to develop homes on the Ashby and North Berkeley BART station parking lots, the city’s single largest investment in affordable housing in history

April 27, 2021

BERKELEY – Tonight, the Berkeley City Council will vote to allocate $53 million  to develop hundreds of new affordable homes at the Ashby and North Berkeley BART stations. This represents the largest commitment of funds the City has ever made toward affordable housing. 

“This vote is the culmination of years of community planning,” said Mayor Jesse Arreguin.  “But it’s the wisdom of Berkeley’s voters that made this possible.”Tonight’s vote marks a major milestone in a process that began over three years ago as a series of community conversations. Those conversations led to Mayor Arreguin’s introduction of Measure O, an affordable housing bond that passed with 77% of the vote.  If the Council votes to approve tonight’s measure, $53 million of the $135 million generated by Measure O would be allocated to develop affordable housing at the Ashby and North Berkeley BART stations.

The allocation is part of a broader progressive housing plan to create an equitable and sustainable community. The voters passed not only Measures O, but also Measure U1, a gross receipts tax for housing development and retention.  Further, the City Council will vote in June on it’s Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA).  The City has also made strides to enhance development along the Adeline Corridor, enable upzoning, and much more. 

By taking these actions, Berkeley officials aim to show that by working together we can achieve the goals of ending the affordable housing crisis and homelessness epidemic, while creating a rare chance to set a national example of how a courageous city can grow sustainably and responsibly.

Tonight’s city council meeting will begin at 6 PM.  It can be livestreamed here.

Learn more at jessearreguin.com/bart

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Jesse Arreguin