January 2022 – City Council Discusses Proposed Bond Measure(s)
On January 20, 2022, 6 p.m., the Council held a work session to Discuss Vision 2050, Infrastructure Priorities, Stakeholder and Community Engagement, and City’s Bonding Capacity; and Seek Direction on November 2022 Revenue Measure(s) The Berkeleyside report on the meeting is here.
Read MoreDecember 2021 – Results of City Survey
The results of “a community survey to inform a potential Vision 2050 revenue measure” (here) have both Civic Center items near the bottom in terms of importance compared to other needs. But “Improving seismic safety of historic buildings in Civic Center, including Old City Hall and the Veterans Building” was rated extremely, very or somewhat…
Read MoreDecember 2021 – City Conducting Online Survey
The City of Berkeley has launched a survey to get community input about a proposed bond measure in 2022. It lists many potential infrastructure projects, including “Old City Hall and Veterans Building” and one on seismic upgrades to city buildings and asks you to prioritize them. There are also questions regarding how much additional property…
Read MoreNovember 2021
Public Works has had the two buildings inspected for water damage and estimates made for repairs and protection against future water damage. The estimates come to about $2 million for the Veterans Building and $1.5 million for the Maudelle Shirek building.
Read MoreOctober 2021
Liam Garland, Director of Public Works, provided a timeline for the next phase of Civic Center planning. During the first half of 2022 the City will get more precise cost estimates for the needed seismic work and will hire consultants for the next phase. This will include more detailed community planning for the specific program…
Read MoreSeptember 2021
The Coordinating Committee began working more closely with the Public Works Department to see how the Civic Center renovation projects may fit in with other capital needs and funding measures over the coming years. Public Works is taking a serious look at water damage to the buildings and what can be done to mitigate it…
Read More7/9/2021
Lisa Bullwinkel brought to the Coordinating Committee’s attention that there is a City Council-approved Arts and Culture Plan with the following features, some of which are applicable to the Civic Center project: Artist housing and live-work units. Small to midsize, mixed-use performance spaces designed for theater, film, dance, literary arts and musical use. Gallery space…
Read More6/29/21 – City Budget Allocations
The City Council adopted a budget for 2021-22 that includes $200,000 for further Civic Center planning and $400,000 for infrastructure bond planning.
Read More6/22/21 – Performance Space Possibilities
ELS Architecture and Urban Design provided, pro bono, some ideas and drawings for both a small amphitheater behind 2180 Milvia that would seat about 300 and temporary stage setups for events in the park with as many as 3000 attendees.
Read More6/22/2021 – Seismic Solutions
At the June 22 general CCCC meeting, Tipping Structural Engineers described a new concept for reducing earthquake damage risk and adding usable space to both buildings for a much lower cost than previously projected. The areas in color on these drawings would be seismically strong additions that would serve as buttresses to stabilize the entire…
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