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The recent defeat of every tax measure proposed by the City Council in the same election that Berkeley voters overwhelmingly approved tax increases to finance the school district and several state initiatives is evidence that a sufficient number of Berkeley voters are fed up with the way the City Council operates. Especially frustrating is the disregard for law and policy that the council shows by selling out our interest virtually every time developers present a plan. The Seagate project is a recent manifestation of this. Remember how opponents of the Height Initiative sought to demonize the Height Initiative’s supporters by calling them NIMBY’S who opposed affordable housing? Seagate is just the type of project the Height Initiative would have stopped, and anyone with perception can tell Seagate is primarily a luxury development. Despite that fact the City Council agreed to waive applicable city regulations, far beyond what state law required, in return for the few affordable units. It is a sad commentary that Kriss Worthington is the only member of the City Council who seemed to understand that disregard of the law by pro-development staff and the City Council was a major factor underlying much of the voter anger that defeated every single tax measure proposed by the City Council. 

All of which leads me to a discussion of the proposed development of the site where Brennan’s now stands. At issue is the landmarking of Brennan’s and a related proposal to develop the site for mixed/residential use. Although the immediate issue being considered at the Landmark Preservation Commission meeting this Feb. 7 is the landmarking of Brennan’s, ultimately the project will find its way to City Council, where if past experience is any indication, the developer will throw in a couple of “affordable” units to give the council political cover to approve another gift to developers that is detrimental to the long term interest of our city. 

It takes little reflection to recognize that the absence of residential units in the area makes it a potential goldmine for Berkeley. By issuing 24-hour operations permits and encouraging the development of bars and clubs in the area the city could create a Night Life Entertainment District. If even a small percentage of the thousands of East Bay residents who regularly travel over the bridge to San Francisco occasionally choose night life entertainment in Berkeley it would bring tens of millions of dollars annually to our city. This tax revenue could reduce the burden parcel tax increases place on homeowners, and would give Berkeley a night life entertainment venue that we sorely need. A Night Life Entertainment District will add vibrancy to our city, help grow and support locally owned businesses, and create long term economic viability, instead of the quick fix solutions our City Council usually looks to. 

The area already includes local landmarks such as the Amtrak station, Spengers, and the Shell Mound. Regardless of what City Council decides on the future development of the site I urge the commission to landmark Brennan’s. Doing so will make the area a showcase for Berkeley history and architecture and put an obstacle in the path of the greedy developers and pro-development city staffers, who think nothing of obliterating the history of our city. 

Elliot Cohen is a member of the Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission. 

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