attachment 5 zab 04-14-16 page 1 of 8 - berkeley, california...2016/04/14 · berkeley, ca 94704...
TRANSCRIPT
ATTACHMENT 5 ZAB 04-14-16
Page 1 of 8
Alex Popov The Cornerstone 2110 Durant Ave. Berkeley, CA 94704 February 18, 2016 Dear Alex, I want to thank you for your Herculean effort to bring a new music venue into Downtown Berkeley. Berkeley has been sorely lacking in these sized venues for more than a decade. Our community needs places to gather, to experience culture, and not have to drive across the Bay to do so! I am also awed by how you maintained a good deal of the original architecture in the venue. The arched wooden ceilings are beautiful and give the space an amazing amount of character. It would be encouraging to see the space up and running as soon as possible. I would like to be able to put a few community events in there, especially some during the Bay Area Book Festival which will take place on the first weekend in June. It is a bit difficult to schedule our authors and performers unless your permits go through and we are assured that the space will be open. I will copy the ZAB and other city officials to see if there is any way to speed up this process. I can’t wait to partner with you to provide our community with the cultural events that require your amount of space. If there is anything else I might do, please let me know. Here’s to making some hoopla together! Lisa Bullwinkel Hoopla CEO, Another Bullwinkel Show 2934 Fulton St., Berkeley, CA 94705 510.334.6523 Cell [email protected] Cc: Mayor Tom Bates
Zoning Adjustments Board Michael Caplan, Economic Development John Caner, Downtown Berkeley Association
ATTACHMENT 5 ZAB 04-14-16
Page 2 of 8
-----Original Message----- From: Andy Katz [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, January 20, 2016 6:40 PM To: Bereket, Immanuel <[email protected]> Subject: 2367 Shattuck Avenue Mr. Bereket, I am a nearby resident of the proposed use permit modification at 2367 Shattuck Avenue. I am generally supportive of the owner improving the entertainment venue for the community, although I have not reviewed the staff report and proposed permit as it is not yet published. However, I am concerned about a specific nuisance effect of the prior use, if conditions are not included to abate as best as possible. Specifically, smoking was permitted at Thalassa in violation of law in the courtyard, and also occurred in front of the entrance. All other nearby venues in downtown Berkeley adopt a practice of their servers or security agents enforcing this policy, and have non-smoking signage posted. While I’m sure that Mr. Popov is more supportive of community health, because of the history, I think it’s important to address this issue through a simple condition in the permit. Does the City of Berkeley have a standard condition for restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues to restrict smoking in compliance with city law, and require best practices of posting signage, and for staff informing customers of the non-smoking policy if a customer attempts to smoke? I would recommend inclusion of such a condition of approval when adopting the Use Permit Modification so all participants in the venue can breathe outside without exposure to health risks from the smoke, particularly as applied to the courtyard or any other outdoor areas inside the venue. Thanks for your consideration. Andy Katz
ATTACHMENT 5 ZAB 04-14-16
Page 3 of 8
February 22, 2016 Alex Popov The Cornerstone 2110 Durant Ave. Berkeley, CA 94704 Dear Alex, Thank you for giving us a tour of your new space, The Cornerstone, in Downtown Berkeley. It is going to be beautiful and a welcomed addition to the cultural life of the city. The Bay Area Book Festival was bursting at the seams last year, crowding into available venue spaces, many of which were far too small to accommodate the number of people who wanted to take part in this world-class, free cultural programming. And the festival’s popularity is only going to grow, especially as we further expand our advertising that will bring even more people to Downtown. We need spaces exactly like the one you’re developing – and we need them for the coming festival in June 2016. We would love to be able to put some of our June 2016 events in The Cornerstone but are a bit hesitant to schedule anything in there because you are not yet through the permit process with the City of Berkeley. I am going to copy this letter to the City to see if there is any way they might push your permits through so we can get going with our programming. We need to confirm our authors and programs asap – the festival is just over three months away – and The Cornerstone is perfect for us. The festival will bring in over 50,000 people to Downtown; many of them will experience your space for the first time. What a great way to get you up and running and for us to accommodate our large audiences. We are looking forward to a long and wonderful partnership with you to bring art and culture to this community. Please let me know what else we can do to help you. Sincerely, Cherilyn Parsons Founder & Executive Director, Bay Area Book Festival [email protected] Cc: Mayor Tom Bates
Zoning Adjustments Board Michael Caplan, Economic Development John Caner, Downtown Berkeley Association
ATTACHMENT 5 ZAB 04-14-16
Page 4 of 8
Alex Popov Cornerstone 2110 Durant Ave. Berkeley, CA 94704 February 20, 2016 Dear Alex, I so enjoyed meeting you and touring what is going to be a marvelous event venue! I join my Bay Area Book Festival colleagues in hoping the space is up and running so that we may bring some festival programming to it this June 4 and 5. In addition to handling festival programming, I produce Berkeley Arts & Letters, a series of author talks and conversations. Finding venues conveniently located, well-designed, and with capacity for two to three hundred isn't easy; I am excited at the prospect of being able to present great programs at Cornerstone very soon; I expect our audiences will be thrilled with the location and ambience, too! The ceilings, the wood, the brick - it's all gorgeous. Regarding Bay Area Book Festival programming, you know, as we do, that it's a bit difficult to schedule our authors and performers unless your permits go through and we are assured that the space will be open. I will copy the ZAB and other city officials to see if there is any way to speed up this process. I look forward to all the possibilities Cornerstone holds, to working with you, and - fingers crossed - to speedy permit resolutions! Warm regards, Melissa Mytinger BABF Program Manager [email protected] Berkeley Arts & Letters Producer [email protected] 510-898-8929 Cc: Mayor Tom Bates
Zoning Adjustments Board Michael Caplan, Economic Development John Caner, Downtown Berkeley Association
ATTACHMENT 5 ZAB 04-14-16
Page 5 of 8
Downtown Berkeley Association
2230 Shattuck Ave., Suite C Berkeley CA 94704
510.549.2230 downtownberkeley.com
February 22, 2016 Mr. Alex Popov The Cornerstone 2110 Durant Ave. Berkeley, CA 94704 Dear Alex:
I am writing to express our wholehearted support for your Cornerstone project, and thank you for the tour on January 29 with Michael Caplan and Jennifer Cogley. The Cornerstone music venue, bar and restaurant project is highly aligned with the DBA mission and strategic plan to create a more welcoming, vibrant, prosperous, culturally oriented Downtown, as well the City of Berkeley Downtown Area Plan also creating a livable sustainable transit oriented community. Moreover, it looks like you are building out an amazing music hall, restaurant, bar, and patio, that will be conducive to the Visit Berkeley motto, “Come for the Culture, Stay for the Food” and vice-versa. Moreover, it sounds like your business plan is going to serve a higher end market, with quality acts, and serve artisanal food, beer, and other beverages. Additionally, we are glad to hear that you will be scanning driver licenses, to discourage underage drinking and other problematic behavior. And finally, the Cornerstone will be a wonderful addition to the south end of the Downtown district which has lagged a bit in the Downtown revival, bringing hundreds of visitor to this part of the district on a regular basis.
Please do not hesitate to call or email if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
John Caner
Cc: City of Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board
ATTACHMENT 5 ZAB 04-14-16
Page 6 of 8
From: LANOTE Restaurant [[email protected]] Sent: Monday, April 04, 2016 3:31 PM To: Powell, Greg Cc: Sophie Hahn Subject: concerns about 2367 Shattuck ave. /next to La Note
Good afternoon Greg, I hope you are doing well. I am writing to you hoping you have a few minutes to provide me with some information about the upcoming use permit/change for the large project (next door to La Note), at 2367 Shattuck ave. I spoke with Sophie this morning and I am looking to get the specifics ( as opposed to street rumors) about this project. I have concerns about the impact their latest expansion proposal (as noted on their facade posting for the upcoming public hearing on April 14th.) would have if passed. Notably, there would be substantial increases in parking and garbage needs by adding a high capacity/ full service breakfast and lunch restaurant and patio. They are requesting to waive the parking requirements and this is an important one for the hearing to not overlook. When this project began construction, Alex Papov the owner of Liquid entertainment, had informed me that they were opening a night club/ live music, full bar venue with the possibility of serving some bar food. The main entrance was going be off Durant avenue (not on Shattuck Avenue), that too has changed. I was really excited and wasn't concerned in the least , knowing we would not overlap in hours of operation and parking needs. This is such a gigantic venue next to my small historical building that with a proposed daytime expansion it will have tremendous street impact and potentially severe negative effects on my operation. The increase in garbages that would be generated from such a large place are to be considered as well. We were already having problems with the former owner of the bar Thalassa (who then had a dozen cans full of reeking and odorous empty beer bottles daily, attracting filth and rodents). He didn't serve any food. Mr Popov, assured me that the trash would be taken out during the day on Durant avenue. This project keeps changing as it grows ...and grows...thus the need for this upcoming public hearing, aimed at allowing the establishment to offer a full service and expanded hours. This would no doubt have some major impact not only on my business structure, but also on the mechanics of my block , if we are to run the same hours of operation. Would it be possible for you to let me know what the proposed expanded hours are? What the seating overall seating capacity would be with this expansion? I really appreciate your feedback and support in allowing the original proposal to stand and strongly urge the ZAB board to turn down the expanded daytime service and parking wavers. Sincerely,
ATTACHMENT 5 ZAB 04-14-16
Page 7 of 8
Dorothée
-------------------------------------- Dorothée M. Mitrani, Proprietor
•La Note Restaurant (since 1997) 2377 Shattuck avenue (at Channing) Berkeley, Ca 94704 Office phone and Fax:(510)843-1517 •Breakfast & lunch M-F 8AM-2:30pm •Brunch Sat. & Sun. 8AM-3PM •Dinner Thu.-Sat. 6PM-10PM •Private parties Mon. Tue. Wed. 6pm-10pm www.lanoterestaurant.com Email:[email protected] •Cafe Clem (since 2004) Terrace cafe, bakery and catering (re-opening new downtown location April 2012) 2020 Kittredge Street Berkeley, Ca 94704 Phone and Fax:(510)280-3881 •Breakfast & lunch M-F 7am-5pm •Sat. & Sun. 8AM-4PM http://www.cafeclem-downtown.com/ Email : [email protected]
ATTACHMENT 5 ZAB 04-14-16
Page 8 of 8