I say yes

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.

I say yes

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.

I say yes

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.

I say yes

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 say yes

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

I say yes

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.

I say yes

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.

I say yes

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.

I say yes

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.

I say yes

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

I say yes

This sounds like a great project for Berkeley, providing both housing and retail. Having a Traders Joe near downtown is wonderful. This project should go through. The objections do not come close to overriding the pluses.

I say yes

TJs would be a good addition to help revitalize the area.

I say yes

It is naive to think that the social problems that Berkeley historically has fought (environmental consequences of traffic, car dependency, unaffordable housing and social inequity) will magically fix themselves.

This project represents an elegant solution to these problems by:
- getting people out of their cars;

- allowing them to walk to work, school, shopping; (it provides necessary shopping on-site!)

-encouraging public transit, and thus reducing impact on the environment.

-Reduces sprawl by efficiently using the land, thus further reduces traffic, envirnomental impacts.

-providing much needed housing stock which will help others afford to live in Berkeley, (and if they can't afford to live in this particular building, it purges the overall housing demand by providing much needed supply, which helps everyone (except those who "have theirs" and don't want to share!)

-providing a much needed grocery store with organic options in the heart of downtown Berkeley.

The irony of maintaining the status quo in the form of an ugly, land consuming autoparts store rather than build a community enhancing project such as this, in a "progressive" place like Berkeley, is laughable. Sure there are some unavoidable impacts which affect a small group of people, but see the forest for the trees! Be progressive, not a conservative NIMBY! This project is the solution, not the problem!

I say yes

I sincerely believe that Berkeley is well overdue for an excellent business like Trader Joe's. With all the new housing built in the downtown and along the University Avenue corridor, we are in desperate need of a quality, affordable "urban" grocery store. Trader Joe's fits that bill.

We also need to stop giving our tax dollars away to surrounding cities like Emeryville and El Cerrito. Let's face it -- Berkeley citizens WILL and DO spend money at Trader Joe's and other chain stores to which some Berkelyans are so opposed. But the rest of us WANT good, local access to the stores we want to shop in. It's a win for everyone -- the City gets the tax dollars, we reduce air pollution by keeping drivers from traveling longer distances, nearby tenants and employees have easy, convenient access to much-needed goods and services. Plus we're promoting sustainable development within walking distance of two BART stations.

I hope the ZAB approves the development of this project at University and MLK. It's the perfect site for this long overdue addition to Berkeley's retail environment.

I say yes

I will always shop at Trader Joe's as it has great, minimally processed and sometimes organic foods at very inexpensive prices. Why should I keep polluting the environment driving all the way to El Cerrito to give them the tax revenue? This development would give more tax dollars to Berkeley, reduce pollution, increase housing availability, and provide wholesome inexpensive food to Berkeley families. I'm sorry that nearby residents might have increased traffic on their street, but they live one block to a major thoroughfare in an urban environment and this is what happens as a city grows. The good of this development outweighs the bad.

I say yes

It would be great to keep more of our shopping in Berkeley.

I say yes

This intersection of Berkeley has been in decline for a decade. Let's bring in affordable housing and a popular store. Let's keep shoppers in Berkeley and not send them to Emeryville!

I say yes

We think that this project will be a very positive contribution to the corner of MLK and University Ave. The existing shopping center has been neglected for so many years. There is nothing attractive about it.

University Ave. is a commercial street and it would be great to have Trader Joe's located there.

Barbara and Philip O'Hay

I say yes

Every project has pluses and minuses, but in this case, the pluses - for the residents of the new apartments, for the finances of the city, and for the services available to its residents -far outweigh the minuses. People commonly overestimate how bad the negative aspects of new buildings will be. Once they are built, they usually turn out not to be nearly as much of a problem as people feared they would.

I say yes

As a Berkeley property owner, I realize the need for more services and stores in Berkeley. I never even shop there because it is so difficult! If I could swing by and get groceries while in Berkeley, I would.