East Bay Green Corridor

The East Bay Green Corridor is a regional partnership working toward promoting the San Francisco East Bay as a global center of the emerging green economy. The members are thirteen East Bay cities, schools and research institutions.[1] The partnership's stated goals are to attract and retain green businesses, promote research and technology transfer, strengthen green workforce development programs, and coordinate a regional effort to secure federal funding.[2] West Berkeley activists have criticized the City of Berkeley's planned implementation of the corridor, over concerns that zoning regulations may be relaxed for the benefit of developers and large corporations, and could negatively impact the city's light manufacturing district.[3][4]

History

The East Bay Green Corridor was announced on Dec. 3, 2007 at a new solar-energy facility in Richmond, California.[5] The partnership had six founding members:[6]

At a press conference to announce its creation, Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates predicted that "the Silicon Valley of the green economy is going to be here in the East Bay." [5] The partners all pledge to hold an annual green economic summit, set quarterly meetings of the directors of economic development, workforce development and technology transfer offices, and to coordinate a major new regional green job training and placement effort.[6]

Expansion

In June 2009, the East Bay Green Corridor held its second annual summit at the Oakland Museum of California. Seven new members were announced:[7]

At the summit, the partnership announced that it had secured its first direct funding, a federal earmark worth $147,000 for job training.[8]

In August 2009, East Bay Green Corridor hired its first full-time director, Carla Din, who previously served as a director at the Apollo Alliance, a green energy nonprofit in San Francisco. Members of the partnership contribute $10,000 a year for staff salaries and marketing. The project is fiscally sponsored by the East Bay Economic Development Alliance, which also provides office space from its Oakland headquarters.[1][9]

Plans for implementing the East Bay Green Corridor have led to a significant zoning controversy in Berkeley, particularly in the light industrial area known as West Berkeley. To entice green energy start-ups to the area, Bates and city planning staff have proposed changing existing zoning regulations and instituting a revised master use permit process. The effect of these proposed changes, according to media reports, would be to double the allowed height of new buildings and allow office complexes to be built.

A group of community activists known as West Berkeley Artisans and Industrial Companies (WeBAIC) have strongly opposed the zoning changes, arguing that they will hurt the economic vitality and unique character of the neighborhood.[3][4][10] Some of the coalition's members have also argued that allowing developers to erect expensive condominiums and office buildings will price existing businesses out of the neighborhood and force their relocation.[3]

References
  1. Jones, Carolyn (June 27, 2009), "East Bay Green Corridor grows, cash pours in", San Francisco Chronicle
  2. "Redman, Elizabeth (October 2009), "Building the East Bay Green Economy: Critical Steps for Supporting & Engaging East Bay Businesses", Page 4, Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
  3. Kane, Yukari Iwatani (March 18, 2010),"West Berkeley Redevelopment Hits Opposition", Wall Street Journal
  4. ""Critical West Berkeley 'Flexibility' Rezoning Proposals" (June 11, 2008), West Berkeley Artisans and Industrial Companies". Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved June 19, 2010.
  5. Jones, Carolyn (December 4, 2007), "East Bay mayors, UC chancellor unite for 'Green Wave'", San Francisco Chronicle
  6. "East Bay Green Corridor Statement of Principles", (December 3, 2007), City of Berkeley
  7. Bronstein, Zelda (July 7, 2009), "East Bay Green Corridor: Green for All?", BeyondChron
  8. Burress, Charles, (April 8, 2009), "East Bay tries to take lead in green economy", San Francisco Chronicle
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-12-13. Retrieved 2012-04-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. Brenneman, Richard (April 1, 2009), "Proposal Would Raise West Berkeley Skyline", The Berkeley Daily Planet
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