Berkeley: Downtown Area Plan

Berkeley Passes Measure R: "The Green Pathway" for Downtown!

After years of meetings and debate, the Berkeley City Council put a vision for a denser, more sustainable, and walkable downtown on the Berkeley Ballot on Nov. 2nd 2010. The measure passed with a majority in every precinct, including 70% support from the Downtown district itself.

TransForm supports the direction of  Measure R "The Green Pathway" because it will help Downtown Berkeley build on the existing, rich transit infrastructure, becoming a much more environmentally sustainable focus of future growth around transit. In this way, future generations who will live or work downtown will more easily be able to choose transit over cars, and will help reduce Berkeley's greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2006 over 80% of Berkeley voters supported Measure G, which called for the city to cut global warming pollution by 80% by 2050. This is an ambitious target that can only be met if Berkeley focuses sustainable growth near a richer transit infrastructure in the downtown area. Measure R will help Berkeley meet the goals approved by voters in Measure G.

TransForm Supports Ongoing Efforts to Implement the Mayor's Green Pathway

The passing of "Measure R: The Green Pathway" continues to be attacked by opponents who are stirring up threats of "Manhattanization" and who claim that the building heights allowed would be too tall. Proponents respond that the tallest heights have been strategically planned to prevent any of the threats of "wind tunnels" or "perpetual shade", or the destruction of views from the Berkeley hills. TransForm will continue to work with leaders from the community (such as Livable Berkeley), to help spread the word about the economic, social, and environmental benefits that well-regulated redevelopment can bring to downtown Berkeley.

For more information, please contact Joel Ramos at 510-740-3150 ext. 318