People's Park, 2556 Haste Street, Berkeley, CA 94704
The University of California's People's Park Housing project (Housing Project No. 2) builds on part of People's Park, a city landmark since 1984 off Telegraph Avenue between Haste Street and Dwight Way. It includes a student residence hall, Judith E. Heumann House, and a separate building of supportive housing for formerly homeless residents, and keeps about 1.7 acres as open space. As approved in September 2021, after UC certified its EIR in July, the project had 1,113 student beds and 125 beds of lower-income and supportive housing; the dorm's north wing has 11 residential floors over a ground floor. Two groups, Make UC A Good Neighbor and the People's Park Historic District Advocacy Group, sued under CEQA. The trial court denied their petition in August 2022. When crews began clearing the park on August 3, 2022, protesters tore down fencing and damaged equipment, and the next day the Court of Appeal ordered work stopped. On February 24, 2023 the Court of Appeal voided the EIR, holding that UC had to analyze noise from student parties and justify not considering other sites. The supportive housing partner, Resources for Community Development, withdrew in May 2023. In September 2023 Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1307, which says occupant noise is not a CEQA impact for residential projects. UC walled off the park with shipping containers in January 2024, and on June 6, 2024 the California Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeal, 7-0. Construction began in July 2024. The dorm, whose opening target moved from fall 2024 to fall 2027, has topped out. The supportive building, now about 100 to 110 units with Satellite Affordable Housing Associates as partner, has not broken ground. UC reported $16.1 million in site security costs from 2022 to February 2024. Unit figures above count beds.
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After UC certifies the EIR in July 2021, the project is approved with 1,113 student beds and 125 supportive beds (month only).
California Supreme CourtProtesters tear down fencing and damage equipment after crews begin cutting trees.
KQEDA stay, then a writ of supersedeas, halts construction pending appeal.
Court of Appeal"The Regents must analyze the potential noise impacts relating to loud student parties." UC must also justify not considering other sites.
Court of AppealResources for Community Development withdraws, citing delays from the ruling (date of report).
CBS NewsThe urgency law says occupant noise is not a CEQA impact for residential projects.
CalMattersAbout 160 shipping containers surround the site; seven people are arrested.
San Francisco StandardChief Justice Guerrero writes that "this lawsuit poses no obstacle to the development of the People's Park housing project."
California Supreme CourtConstruction of the supportive building is to follow the dorm's opening.
Berkeley NewsSenior vice president Eve Stewart said that without more subsidies "we're concerned that we won't be able to operate the building long term."
Spokesperson Kyle Gibson: "The housing components of the project are desperately needed by our students and unhoused people."
2023: "Their campaign of 'no' has resulted in the loss of millions of dollars." 2024: "Thankfully, that will no longer be a barrier for this project or any project in California."
After the February 2023 ruling: "This law needs to change"
Harvey Smith: "It's a national historic site, so this goes beyond Berkeley; it goes beyond the state of California."
Argued the EIR ignored "vocal noise from house parties and from late-night pedestrians" (as quoted by the Supreme Court).
"The Regents must analyze the potential noise impacts relating to loud student parties."
"this lawsuit poses no obstacle to the development of the People's Park housing project."
Withdrew, citing delays from the Court of Appeal ruling.
The Court of Appeal stayed work from Aug. 4, 2022 and voided the EIR on Feb. 24, 2023. AB 1307 and the Supreme Court's June 6, 2024 ruling ended the challenge.
The park's 1984 landmark status fed the CEQA challenge: the EIR found a significant historic-resource impact, which supported the alternative-sites argument, and the status kept the project out of SB 886's exemption for campus housing.
Each row is a dated action by a deciding body, taken from the minutes, agenda packet, video, or ruling linked in the source column.
| Date | Body | Action | Vote | Staff recommendation | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 24, 2023 | Court | ruling issued The Court of Appeal voided the EIR, requiring analysis of noise from student parties and of alternative sites. | — | Unknown | Court of Appeal |
| June 6, 2024 | Court | ruling issued The California Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeal. | 7–0 | Unknown | California Supreme Court |