Current:Home > InvestA court ruling will allow new student housing at University of California, Berkeley’s People’s Park. -GrowthInsight
A court ruling will allow new student housing at University of California, Berkeley’s People’s Park.
View
Date:2025-04-27 17:48:43
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California Supreme Court ruling will allow student housing at University of California to be built at Berkeley’s historic People’s Park.
The court on Thursday ruled that a new law enacted in 2023 invalidates the claims by two local organizations that sued the school, saying that more students living in downtown Berkeley would add noise pollution to an already dense area. The project set off years of protests over the park — a landmark that is a touchstone of counterculture.
California is desperate for more housing of all types, including for students at its public universities and colleges. Some students sleep in their cars, crash on friends’ couches, or commute hours to attend class due to limited dorms and apartments.
The court noted that Berkeley provides housing to the lowest percentage of students in the UC system.
UC Berkeley plans for a $312 million housing complex for about 1,100 of its students at the 3-acre (1.2-hectare) People’s Park set off a years long fight by activists and others who want to preserve the park that at times has escalated into skirmishes between police and protesters. The park was founded in 1969 as part of the era’s free speech and civil rights movement and for decades served as a gathering space for free meals, community gardening and art projects, and was used by homeless people.
In 2022, activists broke through an 8-foot (2-meter) chain fence erected around the park as crews began clearing trees to make room for the housing project. In January, police officers in riot gear removed activists from the park as crews began walling off the site with double-stacked shipping containers.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed to work with legislators to amend the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, after a state appeals court ruled against the University of California, saying that it failed to assess potential noise “from loud student parties” on residential neighborhoods.
Opponents say there are more appropriate places the university could build, and the park is a rare green space in one of Berkeley’s densest neighborhoods.
Two local organizations, Make UC a Good Neighbor and The People’s Park Historic District Advocacy Group, brought the lawsuit, saying that the university system should have considered increased noise under CEQA.
veryGood! (48979)
Related
- Scoot flight from Singapore to Wuhan turns back after 'technical issue' detected
- Judge plans May trial for US Sen. Bob Menendez in bribery case
- Jamie Lee Curtis Commends Pamela Anderson for Going Makeup-Free at Paris Fashion Week
- 'Wanted that division title': Dusty Baker's Astros rally to win AL West on season's final day
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- Cambodian court bars environmental activists from traveling to Sweden to receive ‘Alternative Nobel’
- Cambodian court bars environmental activists from traveling to Sweden to receive ‘Alternative Nobel’
- 'Carterland' puts a positive spin on an oft-disparaged presidency
- Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
- DNA helps identify killer 30 years after Florida woman found strangled to death
Ranking
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- As the 'water tower of Asia' dries out, villagers learn to recharge their springs
- 2023 New York Film Festival opens with Natalie Portman-Julianne Moore spellbinder May December
- See Taylor Swift Bond With Travis Kelce’s Mom During Sweet Moment at Chiefs Game
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- All We Want for Christmas Is to Go to Mariah Carey's New Tour: All the Concert Details
- Massive emergency alert test scheduled to hit your phone on Wednesday. Here's what to know.
- Jennifer Lopez Shares How She Felt Insecure About Her Body After Giving Birth to Twins
Recommendation
Justice Department, Louisville reach deal after probe prompted by Breonna Taylor killing
LeBron James says Bronny is doing well, working to play for USC this season after cardiac episode
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says last-minute disaster assistance is unconscionable after record-breaking rain
A woman riding a lawnmower is struck and killed by the wing of an airplane in Oklahoma
John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
The Pentagon warns Congress it is running low on money to replace weapons sent to Ukraine
You Don't Wanna Wait to Revisit Jodie Turner-Smith and Joshua Jackson's Private Marriage
Mexico’s president says 10,000 migrants a day head to US border; he blames US sanctions on Cuba