Berkeley’s Heritage is under Attack

Do we want Berkeley to look like this?


Or like this?

In the 1960s and 1970s, Berkeley lost many homes. Neighborhoods were destroyed when apartment buildings, BART stations, and parking lots were built, many with no review of the impact on the people living in the immediate and surrounding neighborhoods.

We thought this could never happen again.
But it is about to if we do not stand up and speak out.

After the travesties of the ’60s and ’70s, neighborhoods and individuals stood together and ultimately passed the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance (NPO) and the Landmarks Preservation Ordinance (LPO). Since then, these ordinances have helped restrain the random and uncontrolled development of earlier years.

This protection of our neighborhoods, historic homes, and historic and cultural sites is about to end if the Mayor, the Planning Commission, and probably the City Council have their way. They want to strip the Landmarks Preservation Ordinance of most of the neighborhood protections that it contains. Once again, developers will have free reign over Berkeley and what it will look and feel like.

We cannot let this happen. Please call BAHA if you have any questions: 841-2242.

Come to the City Council’s Public Hearing
on the Landmarks Preservation Ordinance
Valentine’s Day (make it a date!)
14 February 2006
at Old City Hall, 7 p.m.

Speak out against the proposed changes
to the Landmarks Preservation Ordinance!