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Your March 27 article “Downtown Apartments in the Works (by Marilyn Claessens) illustrated perfectly greed exhibited by a developer and lack of thorough consideration by Berkeley’s city government. 

Hinks/Kittredge Garage currently offers the largest off-street parking spaces in the downtown Berkeley area. 

Previously, the city attempted to seize this site, on basis of “eminent domain,” for construction of a new county courthouse. It became moot when Alameda County declared no funds available for such undertaking, and after county supervisors’ decision to downgrade Berkeley court for handling small claims plus traffic cases only. 

Now, here is this new development proposal (J. DeClercq of Transaction Companies) calling for demolition of Hinks Garage, without any clear idea on provision for interim replacement parking. Presently, curbside parking in the downtown area is already problematic, due to multiple construction projects occurring in the vicinity. 

Earlier, both the Downtown Berkeley Association and Berkeley Public Library have expressed strong opposition to demolishing Hinks Garage, for good reasons. People come to the downtown area to work, shop, dine out, go to the library and attend shows. Not everyone has convenient access to public transportation. 

The city appears to focus mainly on potential increase in property tax revenues with private developers’ proposals, just as its previous emphasis on increase county funding with a new courthouse. There is no thorough consideration/planning on environmental impact, traffic/parking, provisions for out-of-area visitors who work/do business/shop (thus providing retail base and boost sales tax revenues) in the downtown Berkeley area.