Berkeley Chamber to Host Two Sessions on Telegraph Avenue's Future

The Berkeley Chamber of Commerce will host two brown bag lunch sessions on the "The Future of Telegraph Avenue Is Now" on Mondays, April 1 and May 6, at noon in the conference room at the Chamber office, 1834 University Ave., Berkeley (second floor).

Members of the public are welcome to attend, although space is limited. Bring your own lunch.

"There has been broad recognition in the City and in the Southside neighborhood that strong efforts must be taken to revitalize the declining commercial strip as a destination but also as neighborhood, most particularly between Dwight Way and Bancroft Avenue," the Chamber announcement said.

At the April 1 session, the Chamber's Government Affairs Committee will discuss current planning and design efforts to address the Telegraph Avenue area in general. They will be joined by Mayor Tom Bates , representatives of Berkeley Design Advocates and Roland Peterson, Executive Director of the Telegraph Business Improvement District.

"The Mayor's Office has taken a strong leadership role relevant to Telegraph Avenue and has just kicked off a major neighborhood engagement," according to the Chamber announcement of the lunches.

"Berkeley Design Advocates did a day-long design workshop last spring. The results of that workshop and the status of various recommendations will be discussed."

At the second session on May 6, the Government Affairs Committee will be joined by Emily Marthinsen, UC Berkeley's assistant vice chancellor of physical and environmental planning, and Roland Peterson, to discuss the actual projects that are currently underway on Telegraph Avenue.

"Once again the discussion will focus on the length of the Avenue between Dwight Way and Bancroft Avenue," the announcement says. "There are a number of projects underway that are sponsored by the UC as well as a number of private development projects that hold great promise for a revitalized Telegraph Avenue."

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