A movie theater is returning to downtown Berkeley, along with 211 housing units.
BERKELEY — A theater could be returning to downtown Berkeley after the City Council denied an appeal of the California Theater redevelopment project, clearing a hurdle for developers to reopen the century-old entertainment space with hundreds of new housing units.
The plans call for developing a theater space that can accommodate both movies and live shows with a roll-down theater screen, orchestra pit and other amenities. Of the 211 units of housing, 22 residences will be listed at the very-low-income level, being affordable to people making between 30 to 50 percent of area median income — between $54,500 and $102,800 depending on household size, according to the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
Specifically, the group wanted the developer to voluntarily comply with the city’s Helping Achieve Responsible Development with Healthcare and Apprenticeship Training Standards, or HARD HATS. The project was deemed complete in 2022, before the HARD HATS ordinance took effect. Rhoades cautioned the council from forcing the developer to adhere to the HARD HATS ordinance or using union labor, noting the project is complex and will be costly. The theater part of the project is estimated to cost up to $25 million alone. Christian Cerria with Gilbane Development said the appeal has made securing funding a challenge but assured the council the project would be completed.
While they recognized the concerns raised by the union group and shared their disappointment in the lack of meetings between the developer and labor groups, councilmembers also shared excitement over a theater returning to downtown with the addition of housing. California Theatre closed in 2021 amid the COVID-19 pandemic after more than 100 years of operation. It initially opened in 1914 as a live entertainment venue and later operated as a move theater.
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