ATTENTION: ASSIGNMENT DESKS

11.07.00
Contact: Marie Felde
(510) 642-3734 mff@uclink.berkeley.edu

An open house for students and neighbors to learn about the Underhill Area Projects, a proposal by the University of California, Berkeley, to provide a new dining complex and offices, student housing, parking and a sports field on the south side of the campus. The final environmental impact report on the projects will be available at the meeting as well as the latest building designs.

Some changes to the original projects were made to address concerns raised by student and community members and city officials over the course of numerous meetings and discussions. Changes include alterations to the design of the dining complex and a decision by the campus to preserve and relocate historic Fox Cottage to a site in the immediate neighborhood rather than demolish it. (The cottage sits on the site of the new dining commons.)

BACKGROUND: The final environmental impact report on the projects will be presented to the UC Board of Regents at its meeting scheduled for Nov. 15 at UCLA. In addition, design approval will be sought on two of the Underhill Area Projects - the new student apartment building at the southeast corner of College and Durant, and the new central dining complex and offices proposed for the east side of Bowditch Street between Haste Street and Channing Way.

In all, the Underhill Area Projects will provide:

* New housing for up to 900 students

* Parking for up to 1,000 vehicles at a site currently parking 425 vehicles

* A student sports field atop the parking structure

* Seismically sound facilities for student dining and a permanent facility to replace modular office buildings for housing and dining services