Public Comment

I’m writing to support Steven Finacom’s recommendation that the Berkeley City Council NOT adopt a single “Vision” for the Civic Center, but, as he suggests, first hold a workshop to hear recommendations, thank those responsible, etc., and then move to the next stage which should include a general public review and comment, but especially, a review by the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the full Parks and Waterfront Commission. This pandemic time has not been a period when those of us interested in Berkeley’s civic development have followed or been able to attend city council meetings, but this issue of what happens at the civic heart of Berkeley seems important enough for the brakes to be put on while those most interested and responsible for the shape of Berkeley-to-come have a chance to digest the proposals more fully. Certainly Steven Finacom’s remarks about all the unused space in the Civic Center area, the shortage of public funds, and the importance to Berkeley’s future of planned civic development now should be taken into consideration given his architectural and land use expertise. I’m sure that if more Berkeley residents were aware of this rush to finalization of the Vision plan and its shortcomings, they would be as distressed as I am. Here’s the link to the Finacom article.