Office of Economic Development
Work Session Presentation to the Berkeley City Council
June 28, 2016
Agenda
■ What’s Happening on Telegraph:
OED’s Key Findings
■ Persistent Challenges
■ Opportunities & Recommendations
■ Q & A
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
Research Methodology
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
OED’s Approach to developing Findings
■ Analyses of economic, demographic and local
datasets
■ Direct collection of an inventory of ground-floor
commercial spaces
■ Review of historic surveys conducted by UC
and Telegraph Business Improvement District
■ Interviews of key neighborhood stakeholders
Commercial vacancy rates have declined significantly.
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
Source: City of Berkeley, Office of Economic Development
The outlook for real estate and commercial development has improved.
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
■ 7 projects in the
development pipeline,
representing 500+
units of housing
■ Demand high for
housing in walkable,
transit-accessible
commercial districts -
inventory low
■ Increasing pressure on
housing market from
student population
The student population in the district has increased.
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
■ Student-Age
population increased
by approximately 46%
in Telegraph-adjacent
census tracts
■ Expected increase of
an additional 4,000
students at UC
Berkeley in the next 4
years
- 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000 14,000
60 and older
40 to 59
25 to 39
20 to 24
15 to 19
0 to 14
Population by Age Group in the Telegraph Area,
2005-2014
2005-2009 2010-2014Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year Rolling Averages
Development Pipeline, Telegraph District
Stiles Hall
Entitled, Construction Pending
783 Dorm Beds
12,300 SF Commercial
Sequoia Apartments
Under Construction
42 Units
5,800 SF Commercial
2556 Telegraph
Entitlement Pending
~70 Units
~4,000 SF Commercial
2480-2580 Bancroft
Proposal Pending
~175 Units
2526 Durant
Under Construction
44 Units
5,210 SF Commercial
2501 Haste “El Jardin”
Entitlement Pending
~79 Units
~20,000 SF Commercial
2539 Telegraph “The Nexus”
Entitled, Construction Pending
70 Units
5,219 SF Commercial
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
Longtime Champion
Doris Moskowitz @
Moe’s Books
Telegraph Small Businesses
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
Jai Chung’s SoDoI Coffee in the
Telegraph/Channing Mall
Telegraph Small Businesses
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
Lila Owens at Cupcakin’
on Durant Avenue
Telegraph Small Businesses
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
Tacos Sinaloa: the Bueno
family (Lupe and daughter
Marlem) go from truck to
storefront
Telegraph Small Businesses
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
Coming Soon
~Games of
Berkeley
~Mezzo
~Raleigh’s
Newly Opened
~The Tap Haus
~Huckleberry
Bicycles
~Mad Monk
Telegraph Small Businesses
Sales are up. Increased restaurant sales have been the primary driver of the recovery.
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
Source: MuniServices
Telegraph Business Improvement District (TBID) has increased its capacity and undertaken new activities and projects.
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
University of California, Berkeley has expanded its investments and participation in the adjacent Telegraph District.
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
■ New Sproul Plaza Student Center
■ Aquatic Center Construction
■ Future Projects: Stiles Hall, Adaptive Reuse of
Berkeley Art Museum Site
The Telegraph Avenue Public Art Plan and Telegraph Public Realm Plan identify opportunities for investment in the district.
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
■ Collaborative planning
process with multiple
stakeholders
■ Effective implementation
partnerships established
■ Proposed improvements
address functional
needs and perception-
changing enhancements
Persistent Challenges
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
■ Public realm conditions
■ Safety & sidewalk behavior
■ Competition with online outlets and other retail districts
■ Evolving student tastes and preferences
■ Inadequate tenant mix
Opportunities & Recommendations
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
Implement the Telegraph Public Art and & Public Realm Plans.
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
■ Pursue grant funding for comprehensive overhaul
■ Partner w/ private sector, UC, others to implement smaller scale projects in near term
■ Leverage regular general fund expenditures
Mural celebrating Chiura Obata to be installed in June 2016
Enhance the district’s relevance to students.
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
■ Targeted Branding
■ Relevant Events/Activities
■ Attract diverse, high-impact retail
tenants
Support TBID campaign for renewal and expansion.
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
Telegraph Business
Improvement
District, Proposed
Expansion
■ Renewal
campaign
commenced in
spring 2016;
ballot phase
expected in fall
Leverage annual events to enhance the neighborhood’s reputation and support existing merchants and vendors.
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
Continue to activate underutilized sites in the district.
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
■ Build on existing
momentum by
supporting
businesses and
property owners
■ UC positioned to
lead a community
dialogue regarding
People’s Park
Develop a comprehensive retail strategy that focuses on soft goods and experiential retail.
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
Modify land use regulations to encourage the development of additional housing.
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
■ Increased population
density around the district
and adjacent to campus
can produce positive
outcomes
■ Modifications to land use
controls in the Southside
neighborhood could build
on those recently
implemented for the C-T
district
Q & A
City of Berkeley | Office of Economic Development | 510.981.7530
Michael Caplan
(510) 981-7530
Jordan Klein
(510) 981-7534