To those in Claremont/Elmwood neighborhood who voted YES for this project, and to their Councilmember Wozniac, who suggested the question to Kitchen Democracy:
How would you vote if the tables were turned so this project was to be at College and Ashby, on the same northwest side of College, same five stories, same mixed-use built over entire site and parking log, with no tenant amenities, frequent daily delivery trucks

Maybe they should put one in in Claremont? Maybe in a less residential area? Maybe an area that could use a boost. Maybe none at all?

I live in this area. There are houses right next to this site. I would ask people to consider if they would want this next to their residences.

There is a Trader Joe's in Emeryville. There is one in El Cerrito. Both in large shopping centers. We don't need one here. You could get on your bike, drive or use public transit to one of the other ones.

Traffic would be worse, parking would be worse, large trucks, congestion, etc. Not a nice addition to the neighborhood. This area is commercial enough

I think these large structure along the main arterial roads are OK for Berkeley. My concerns are
1-Only 48 parking commerical spaces? - seems a small amount, Safeway and Andronico's have more and are often full. Will this be a small Trader Joes? I think more commercial parking spaces would be usefull and would reduce parking issues with neighbors.
2.- Building rear should be stepped down to match neighborhood heights.
3. The front of these current buildings in Berkeley look OK/nice, the rear is often poor - looking like a prison or factory. The Neighbors look at the rear - what does it look like - this view is missing? Request the board review this before agreeing.
Thank you
Alastair MacDowell
1836 Delaware St.

I live on Grant street around the corner from this location. While I support the concept of mixed use developments and the need for affordable housing and smart manageable commercial businesses -I am not in favor of this project as it currently is defined. The building in its current form is overly prescribed in terms of size and density (height and bulk). The developers have done a half hearted job at stepping down the North side of the building into the neighborhood and what they have proposed was not from the goodness of their heart but the continued perseverance of the neighbors to get some relief from the mass. It's still pretty shabby. In the forseeable future there will not be any buildings built on the other 3 corners (2-3 story bldgs already exist plus the gas station) of this magnitude to counterbalance the bulk that this bldg brings to bear. That alone in terms of cityscape design makes this unbearable to think about. This building should have at least 1 floor removed if not 2 -- to at least make it a reasonable fit with the neighborhood. Big isn't always better. While the developers sing the virtues of this building -- and the demographics of the people who they are hoping to attract as tennants -- have they ever indicated it's a building they would live in? Hard to imagine.
Parking and Traffic. For the residents alone there are 148 units and only 109 parking spots. At a minimum this building should have at least 1 spot per unit. By not having spots maybe that will detract car owners from renting, but in Berkeley you have to manage for the worst case under conditions like this kind of development (everyone will have a car even if they are committed to public transportation). I own a car and I use public transit extensively -- With that in mind consider this those renting one bedrooms may have couples in it (1 or 2 cars). Some 2 bedrooms may rent to 2-3 people (1 or 2 cars) --you do the math -- it aint gonna work when you add it up with only 109 spots. The neighborhood now competes with itself already in terms of parking -- this building will be 'the tipping point' in the wrong direction. As far as the parking for Trader Joes -it's a joke. Cars will be lined up in either direction of MLK (and generating more backup - wait till everyone is trying to get home at 6 p.m.) waiting to enter. What's worse is it's all getting funneled into and out of Berkeley Way. I've suggested the entrance be moved to the University side and there is lame explanations as to why it can't be done.. There's always solutions, it would require more development and money to do it. So instead the neighbors had to also fight to build a traffic barrier just to protect the neighborhood so cars won't be driving through this tiny street. What bonafide grocery store chain has only one entance/exit to their store. It's a poor design which is why this location is a bad spot for TJ's. Even the people who voted 'yes' on this website for TJ's have expressed their concern for the lack parking. They know what it's like going to the other TJ's --

I think there could be alot done to make this building a better fit in the neighboorhood. Unfortunately I fear that the ZAB is on par with a 'stay the course' mentality and the tatics of the developer have placed the committee in a position that no one will stand up to support the neighborhood and vote no.

Sadly what will end up happening -- KPFA will have to start providing traffic reports on the TJ's parking status (they'll be able to see it first hand) and issue a red alert warning to drivers planning to stop there. And like those traffic signs that you see driving towards SF letting you know how much time it will take-- those will need to be placed at least 5 blocks in each direction...

I'm a neighbor and I support the project. The strip mall at University and MLK has been in decline for years. Trader Joe's is praised for its employment practices and sales of healthy food at reasonable prices. It is a business this neighborhood needs. And I'd certainly rather spend my money in Berkeley than in El Cerrito or Emeryville, as I'm doing now.

This project is very badly suited to the suggested area. A five story building does not suit the quiet charm of the existing neighborhood. The excessive traffic is of great concern. The parking is not suffiecient for the many stories of residents. Too little parking is planned for a large store like the projected trader joes.

48 Parking spaces is not enough for a Trader Joe's , not to mention the 157 cars pouring out of the basement lot from the closet sized apartments. This breaks zoning laws, puts stress on the local parking and an already busy intersection. It makes Berkeley look ugly, and will increase pollution. I wouldn't mind a Trader Joe's but this is not the way it should be done!!!

I love Berkeley and I don't want it to look like El Cerrito or Emeryville. If the Board approves this they might as well let a Walmart move onto Shattuck.

Having a Trader Joe's in walking distance to my house will be a dream come true. While it might bring some additional cars into the neighborhood, it will also allow a good number of people to not use their cars at all--driving to Trader Joe's is one of the few remaining errands we still use our car for. Plus it will raise property values in the area--anything is better than that unsightly Kragen minimall.

As a resident and homeowner in the neighborhood, I would love to see this development come to pass. The only grocery stores within walking distance are Andronico's, and Safeway. The addition of TJs would bring much needed competition.

I have read some postings claiming that we do not need more "crappy" apartments in Berkeley. I don't think these will be crappy. And we need all the housing we can get. I have also read some posting claiming that people want a yard and sky, not 148 units right on top of each other. But lets face it folks: Berkeley is a CITY, an URBAN area, not the suburbs. If you want a big yard, move to Livermore. I am sorry that the Berkeley Way residents might lose some of the characteristics of their much loved block. However, I live two blocks away, and to me the current building is an eyesore.

What could be more appropriate than a very good supermarket in downtown Berkeley? What's the point of the recently developed downtown apartments if people can't buy groceries without a car? I believe work needs to be done on the parking situation, but that can be taken care of without rejecting the entire project. The existing development on this site is endlessly sad. Blight is probably too strong a word, but it's certainly nothing to be proud of.

I've lived in Berkeley for almost three decades and have seen the property at 1885 suffer from under-utilization. Trader Joe's, from the kind of business they do, will use that property.

Walking, instead of driving to the grocery store is also needed in the area around downtown. Most alternatives are Andronico's (Shattuck and University). A "bargain-gourmet" grocerty store would provide needed competition.

I don't live right next to the proposed project location, so neighbor opinions may carry more weight, but any downside can't be too severe.

The question of job loss is also another consideration. Making sure the people who are affected by the closure should be given assistance with finding a new job -- either by the business or by the city.

-Marco Di Costanzo

It's time Berkeley keeps and brings new businesses to the city so money stays in Berkeley instead of going to Emeryville and El Cerrito.

This project is a great idea. This is the way we should be building our downtown - urban, high density living, with walkable quality markets at street level. This is a perfect opportunity for the city of Berkeley to start the transformation of Universityy Ave in the right direction.

This will be a great assest to the community and the neighborhood.

This project is needed, and I will shop at this T-Joe's site frequently if it comes to pass. It will imporve my convenience as I otherwise will go, as I normally do, to the Emeryville T-Joes.
Meanwhile, Berkeley has just lost Ifshin Violins to El Cerrito. Boy, we really need to retain retail in Berkeley, as not to shift more of the tax burden on Berkely homeowners (such as myself).

Berkeley is trying to promote mixed use development, and Trader Joe's willing to fund the project? So what is wrong with this project? Ah, the parking issue - well, that is simply a part of a larger issue that the City of Berkeley has yet to grapple with (e.g. the city waived parking requirements for the new Vista Community College ?!?!?). It seems to me the opposition to this project is a few locals compared to the many who would benefit from this project.

We live two blocks from the site of the proposed building and we feel that the benefit to the neighborhood far outweighs any potential problems. The downtown area needs a supermarket, and Trader Joe's would be ideal.

This all comes down to one simple issue. Is it reasonable to sacrifice the well-being of one neighborhood to increase tax revenues for the rest of us? Clearly, that’s unethical, but that doesn’t seem to bother some people. They need a reason based on self-interest. Here’s one: those 48 parking spaces for Trader Joe’s are not nearly enough to keep lines of cars from obstructing traffic on MLK. This will produce gridlock when combined with the residential traffic from this immense building, which is way too large for the neighborhood. The result will be more cars moving over to Milvia and Shattuck, where they will compete with the bicycles, pedestrians, and buses, thus congesting the “Heart of Berkeley.” But by then, the developers will have moved onto another neighborhood, hoping that nobody will speak up for it, either.

Needs more parking. Not even one spot per unit, and not enough to support TJ alone.

This will be a great enhancement to Univ Ave and Berkeley in general. University Ave needs projects like this.

I wonder if it would be possible to set up satellite parking a few blocks away from the Univ/MLK intersection (preferably to the west on Univ. but maybe to the east, where UC Theater was). That way, the bulk of the traffic headed for TJs might not even come near the Univ/MLK intersection. A satellite lot would also give TJs more than the handful of parking spots designated in the proposal. There are, of course, parking garages nearby, but people wouldn't want to pay to go to TJs. The satellite lot should be free to TJs customers and available only to them. Just a thought...

we have 4 Adronico's and 1 Safeway 5 minutes apart of one another and only one kragen in all of berkeley and i know that it will cause a huge problem with traffic in the downtown area. It will be horrible to live next to a store that will get delivery's at 11:00 pm cause i live next to the one in El Cerrito. we should keep the Kragen and build the complex on top with space for small buisnesses. I also know that trader joes sells alcohol and the city said they wont give anymore licenses for alcohol and that would be unfair to the buisnesses who applied for them in the past which were probally rejected. put the trader joes on 4th street where freeway is because their is more space and it causes less traffic and it is easy access to the freeway

thanks for listening to this idea,
Fred's Market