UpRoar
Uplands Roanoke Neighbors
199 The Uplands
Berkeley, California 94705
GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
ZAB 05-12-16
Page 1 of 3
May 5, 2016
Kevin Frid, President, Americas
FRHI Hotels and Resorts
Canadian Pacific Tower – 100
Wellington Street West, Suite 1600
Toronto, Ontario M5K 1B7
Canada
Richard Blum, Chief Executive Officer
Blum Capital Partners
909 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, California 94133
Re: Development Proposals Claremont Resort and Spa a Fairmont Hotel
Dear Mr. Frid:
We are adamantly opposed to the addition of the proposed condominium and
underground parking structure on the historic Claremont Hotel property. We are also
opposed to expansion of the Club and Spa facilities. Such developments promise to
degrade the environmental quality and value of our surrounding residential
neighborhood and to forever alter the world-renown distinction of the Claremont
Hotel property, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Of particular note, the cumulative traffic activity on our adjacent residential streets,
defined by gracious homes, is already untenable. Currently, The Uplands is now often
clogged with cars and trucks taking devours during peak driving hours. Many of our
vehicles have suffered serious damages and/or have been totaled, causing thousands of
dollars for repair, or replacement.
The Claremont Hotel property is an irreplaceable asset on many scores and a strategic
investment opportunity. For all concerned, it is not prudent for FRHI to degrade
and/or destabilize the intrinsic beauty of this stunning property. We urge FRHI, rather,
to respect its own goals to “offer experiences that are authentically local, in hotels and
resorts of unrivalled presence.”
Sincerely, Page Nelson
for Uplands Roanoke Neighbors
cc: William Robert Fatt, Chief Executive Officer, FRHI Hotels and Resorts
Libby Schaaf, Mayor, City of Oakland (see next page)
Tom Bates, Mayor, City of Berkeley
GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
ZAB 05-12-16
Page 2 of 3
Rachel Flynn, Director, City of Oakland, Planning and Building Department
Carol Johnson, Acting Director, City of Berkeley, Department of Planning and
Development
Jim Moore, Chair, City of Oakland, Planning Commission
Stephen Murphy, Chair, City of Berkeley, Planning Commission
Christopher Andrews, Chair, City of Oakland, Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board
Christopher Linvill, Chair, City of Berkeley, Landmarks Preservation Commission
Dan Kalb, Oakland City Council, District One
Lori Droste, Berkeley City Council, District 8
Alison Finlay, President, Oakland Heritage Alliance
John McBride, President, Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association
Jacquelyn McCormick, President, Claremont Elmwood Neighborhood Association
Rani Marx, Chair, Berkeley Oakland Claremont Neighbors 2
GENERAL COMMUNICATIONS
ZAB 05-12-16
Page 3 of 3
Jacob, Melinda
Subject:
FW: Large apartments being built and planned for downtown without adequate parking
-----Original Message----From: Linda Dow [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, May 06, 2016 9:30 AM
To: Planning Dept. Mailbox <[email protected]>
Cc: James Morgenstern <[email protected]>; Maio, Linda <[email protected]>
Subject: Large apartments being built and planned for downtown without adequate parking
Dear Land Use Committee:
As you are aware there are many large apartment buildings being built and planned in downtown Berkeley. We live
downtown and there is already inadequate street parking in Area E. This is a major issue for us as we depend on street
parking. There is a proposed 28 unit building at University between Grant and McGee. It is currently planned to have
only 8 parking spaces. This will obviously add to the problem of street parking in this area. We are in favor of increased
residential density in the downtown area but the developers need to provide adequate parking for the tenants. There is
underground parking for the buildings at University and Martin Luther King, There is lift parking for the building at the
north side of University and grant. There is underground parking for the building being built at the south side of
University and Martin Luther King. There is no reason, except increased cost to the developers, why they are allowed to
build without adequate parking for their residents. They need to provide underground or lift parking for their proposed
building. Eight spaces for 28 units is ridiculously low. Every tenant in that building will have a right to get an E permit
which will make the parking situation impossible for the current residents.
Please take this into consideration when providing permits for new buildings.
Sincerely,
Linda Dow and James Morgenstern
1720 Berkeley Way
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