The Zoning Overlay Ordinance on Berkeley's existing Historic Civic Center District, will help to preserve the area's use for community, cultural, and civic purposes.
Included are Berkeley's 100 year old Post Office, Berkeley's Old City Hall, New City Hall, Berkeley Community Theater, Veterans' Memorial Hall, the YMCA, and Civic Center Park.
This 2014 initiative will protect our Historic Civic Center District, including Berkeley's Main Post Office.

Citizens of  the City of Berkeley voted in support of Measure R in 2010 with the promise that doing so would make Berkeley one of the "greenest cities" in the United States.
Currently none of the new proposed tall buildings that could have delivered the green elements that were promised in Measure R have opted to do so.
This 2014 initiative will mandate that any new downtown development will have to conform to those promised standards.

CRITICAL PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
NORTH BERKELEY SENIOR CENTER
Corner of Hearst Ave. and Martin Luther King, Jr. Way
The Zoning Overlay Ordinance on Berkeley’s existing Historic Civic Center District, including our historic Post Office, has gained national attention. On August 27, 2014, the Planning Commission will vote on whether to forward the Ordinance to the City Council for consideration at the September 9, 2014 council meeting. The Zoning Overlay will save the Post Office, Old City Hall, and our historic Civic Center from commercial development.

The Mayor and Council have stated that they are ready to make the Zoning Overlay submitted by citizen initiative the law in Berkeley. The Commission must approve an Environmental statement and new use definitions before the Overlay can return to Council.

Show the Planning Commissioners That We Care.
Bring a Friend. Let's Fill the Room!
Berkeley’s Historic Civic Center District is our Public Commons.  Let’s protect it with appropriate zoning.

We've noticed that lines have gotten longer and slower at the Berkeley Main. And for many postal customers with an "attempted delivery" slip, there's confusion about which post office has their package. Many customers wait in line at 2000 Allston Way only to find out their package has been sent to Station A on San Pablo. Bulk mail service has been moved from the Main to a very industrial sorting facility at 1150 8th Street, near Gilman and San Pablo. For many bulk mail customers that requires a crosstown trip.

So we wrote a letter. On April 28, 2014, USPS responded.
Surprise:

• USPS told us wait times average under five minutes with a maximum wait time of 6.48 minutes.

• The address for Station A is listed. (Hey, we know where Station A is. The problem is a pick-up slip that instructs the customer to "go to your usual post office.")

• Bulk mail service at 1150 8th Street is "safe and accessible."

Read the April 28, 2014 Letter from USPS.