The University of California's People's Park Housing project (Housing Project No. 2) builds on part of People's Park, a city landmark since 1984 off Telegraph Avenue between Haste Street and Dwight Way. It includes a student residence hall, Judith E. Heumann House, and a separate building of supportive housing for formerly homeless residents, and keeps about 1.7 acres as open space. As approved in September 2021, after UC certified its EIR in July, the project had 1,113 student beds and 125 beds of lower-income and supportive housing; the dorm's north wing has 11 residential floors over a ground floor. Two groups, Make UC A Good Neighbor and the People's Park Historic District Advocacy Group, sued under CEQA. The trial court denied their petition in August 2022. When crews began clearing the park on August 3, 2022, protesters tore down fencing and damaged equipment, and the next day the Court of Appeal ordered work stopped. On February 24, 2023 the Court of Appeal voided the EIR, holding that UC had to analyze noise from student parties and justify not considering other sites. The supportive housing partner, Resources for Community Development, withdrew in May 2023. In September 2023 Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1307, which says occupant noise is not a CEQA impact for residential projects. UC walled off the park with shipping containers in January 2024, and on June 6, 2024 the California Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeal, 7-0. Construction began in July 2024. The dorm, whose opening target moved from fall 2024 to fall 2027, has topped out. The supportive building, now about 100 to 110 units with Satellite Affordable Housing Associates as partner, has not broken ground. UC reported $16.1 million in site security costs from 2022 to February 2024. Unit figures above count beds.
Court · California Court of Appeal (First District) · California Supreme Court
| Date | Event | What the record shows |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2021 | UC Regents Approve People's Park Housing | After UC certifies the EIR in July 2021, the project is approved with 1,113 student beds and 125 supportive beds (month only). California Supreme Court: https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/archive/S279242.PDF |
| August 3, 2022 | Protesters Halt First Construction Attempt | Protesters tear down fencing and damage equipment after crews begin cutting trees. KQED: https://www.kqed.org/news/11921415/protesters-block-construction-at-berkeleys-peoples-park-after-standoff-with-police |
| August 4, 2022 | Appeals Court Orders Work Stopped | A stay, then a writ of supersedeas, halts construction pending appeal. Court of Appeal: https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/archive/A165451.PDF |
| February 24, 2023 | Court of Appeal Voids EIR Over Party Noise | "The Regents must analyze the potential noise impacts relating to loud student parties." UC must also justify not considering other sites. Court of Appeal: https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/archive/A165451.PDF |
| May 12, 2023 | Supportive Housing Partner Quits | Resources for Community Development withdraws, citing delays from the ruling (date of report). CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/developer-ends-deal-uc-berkeley-housing-peoples-park |
| September 7, 2023 | Newsom Signs AB 1307 | The urgency law says occupant noise is not a CEQA impact for residential projects. CalMatters: https://calmatters.org/housing/2023/08/ceqa-noise-pollution/ |
| January 4, 2024 | UC Clears Park, Builds Container Wall | About 160 shipping containers surround the site; seven people are arrested. San Francisco Standard: https://sfstandard.com/2026/08/06/peoples-park-berkeley-dorm-unhoused/ |
| June 6, 2024 | Supreme Court Clears Project, 7-0 | Chief Justice Guerrero writes that "this lawsuit poses no obstacle to the development of the People's Park housing project." California Supreme Court: https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/archive/S279242.PDF |
| July 1, 2024 | Construction Begins | Work on the student housing starts (month only). UC Berkeley: https://peoplesparkhousing.berkeley.edu/faq |
| December 11, 2025 | UC Names SAHA for Supportive Housing | Construction of the supportive building is to follow the dorm's opening. Berkeley News: https://news.berkeley.edu/2025/12/11/uc-berkeley-announces-partner-for-supportive-and-affordable-housing-at-peoples-park/ |
| Date | Body | Action | Vote | Staff rec. | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 24, 2023 | Court | ruling issued | — | Unknown | Court of Appeal: https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/archive/A165451.PDF |
| June 6, 2024 | Court | ruling issued | 7–0 | Unknown | California Supreme Court: https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/archive/S279242.PDF |
Rating 4 of 5. Primary records for the key facts; minor details may rest on reporting. Corrections: https://whokilledthebuilding.com/corrections.