BERKELEY — Construction of a new student housing project on the former People’s Park site is expected to continue on time and as planned, regardless of weather conditions or protests, university officials confirmed Monday. Recently laid cement and the erection of a crane are the latest signs of forward movement on a . The site – bounded by Haste and Bowditch streets, Telegraph Avenue and Dwight Way – is expected to house more than 1,100 undergraduates and at least 100 former homeless Berkeley residents once completed at the start of the 2027-28 academic school year.
“Construction has been underway for several months now and is progressing as planned, and on schedule, largely without incident,” said UC Berkeley spokesperson Kyle Gibson in an email Monday. “Like any other construction site, this site is closed to the public and trespassing is prohibited.” Gibson’s comments came just days after about 20 people protested the development of the site, just the latest in a long history of activism and protest at the lot that became an unofficial park after activists took it over in the late 1960s.
Officers responded to the area Saturday afternoon after about six protesters climbed on top of , Gibson said. Officers monitored the scene for hours but no citations or arrests were made Saturday, said Gibson, who was unable to confirm if any of the protesters were university students. Charles Gray with peoplespark.
org, the group behind Saturday’s protest, did not immed.
