Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why should I care about the fate of the UA Berkeley, which closed in February 2023 and is on track be demolished for an apartment high-rise?
A: Because the UA Berkeley is a magnificent example of Art Deco architecture that is arguably one of the most historically valuable buildings left standing in the city. Its restoration would be an incredible opportunity for Berkeley to have a theater on par with the Paramount in Oakland. We are in favor of housing but not at the cost of this irreplacable building (more on this topic below). When a historic theater is destroyed, it’s gone forever.
Q: Three movie theaters in downtown Berkeley have closed in recent years. Which one is the UA Berkeley?
A: The UA Berkeley is at 2274 Shattuck Avenue, between Bancroft and Kittredge. It was built in the early ‘30s as a palatial Art Deco theater with 1,800 seats, despite being a multiplex in recent decades. It is not to be confused with the multi-screen Landmark Shattuck one block to the north, nor the California Theatre on Kittredge.
Q: What is the goal of Save the UA Berkeley?
A: As our name indicates, our primary goal is to rescue the UA from destruction. A developer wants to tear down the theater (save for the facade and part of the lobby) to build an apartment high-rise, and a state law (SB 330) has the proposal on a fast track. We are trying to raise awareness among the public and city leaders about the immense historical and architectural value of this theater and the benefits of preserving it. For more info, see the Our Mission and Who We Are sections.
Q: Isn’t the UA a dilapidated multiplex that suffered low attendance before it closed in February 2023? Why do you claim it is an architectural jewel?
A: The UA Berkeley operated as a multi-screen theater beginning in the ‘70s but behind the multiplex retrofits is a grand 1,800-seat Art Deco theater waiting to be reborn. Opened in 1932, the UA was built as an opulent vaudeville theater with a stage, 12 dressing rooms, a green room and an orchestra pit—features that we believe largely still exist. Furthermore, the theater boasts an abundance of splendid decorative features like railings, light fixtures, and murals that have been well maintained over the decades. This is why we argue the UA Berkeley is an unsung and misunderstood architectural gem hiding in plain sight in the heart of the city. For more info, see the History of the Theater page.
Q: Isn’t it too late to save the theater?
A: Stopping the development is an uphill battle but it is not a done deal! The people of Berkeley, the Bay Area, and beyond have a voice and together we can move mountains. The development application is undergoing a lengthy planning review process and has yet to be voted on by city leaders.If the housing project didn’t involve razing the theater almost entirely, we wouldn’t oppose it. We are calling on the city and developer to work together to find an alternative plan that preserves the entire UA.
Q: Why should the theater be preserved if movie attendance has taken a nosedive?
A: First off, the distinct value of the UA Berkeley is that it doesn’t have to be a movie theater. The potential for this theater is unlimited. Built with a stage, it could be revived as a dazzling venue with a range of offerings including live music, theater, musicals, dance, speaking events, and private parties. A restored UA would be a regional destination that economically invigorates the downtown.
Second, a strong argument can be made that Berkeley should have at least one theater showing movies in the downtown. The only theater left in the city is the Elmwood on College. Also, the “Barbenheimer” summer of 2023 is a positive indication that movie attendance is making a comeback.
Q: What can I do to help save the theater?
A: We need you to take action and time is of the essence! This includes writing to the developer and city leaders, talking about the issue with your friends and neighbors and on social media, and attending public meetings. Please see our Take Action page for more info.
Q: Why are you calling on city leaders to look “behind the partitions” of the UA Berkeley?
A: Because much of what makes the theater so valuable and unique, such as the proscenium arch framing the stage, still exists but is hidden behind numerous multiplex retrofits. It would be unconscionable for city leaders to approve the housing proposal without seeing the full extent of theater grandeur that would be lost forever. The developer must let city leaders and the public see everything.
Q: We need housing! Is Save the UA Berkeley a “not in my backyard” group?
A: We are not a NIMBY group. Our group supports more housing, in the downtown and elsewhere. However, we contend that a magnificent historic theater such as the UA Berkeley need not be sacrificed to meet housing goals. The development proposal was filed under SB 330, a state law that expedites the approval of housing developments. While no doubt well intended, SB 330 unfortunately did not take into account all of the Art Deco and other historic buildings statewide that could be destroyed as a result of this legislation.
Moreover, there are other locations to build in the downtown. In fact several large multi-unit buildings have already gone up in recent years, and several more projects are in the pipeline, including ones that would replace the two other downtown movie theaters that closed since the pandemic. Arguably Berkeley’s new generation of downtown denizens would appreciate an environment rich in cultural and artistic offerings—and irreplaceable historic architecture
Last, as with other recently erected properties, the apartments in this proposed building would be priced at a substantial “market rate,” except for a small fraction of affordable units. Many housing experts have said that increasing market rate housing will not itself reduce homelessness.
Q: What is the status of the development proposal with the city?
A: Panoramic Interests, a San Francisco-based real estate developer working with Trachtenberg Architects, has filed an application with the city of Berkeley to demolish the bulk of the theater structure (except the facade and part of the lobby) to build a 17-story apartment tower.
The development application is being reviewed by various city departments in a process that will take many months. It is expected to go before at least three governing bodies for a vote, starting with the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), followed by the Design Review Committee (DRC) and then the Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB). The first public hearing is not expected to happen until late 2023 at the earliest.
Q: Does the theater have any landmark designations that protect it?
A: It is on the California Register of Historical Resources, and it has been found eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. However, these recognitions do not themselves shield the theater from destruction.
Our group is calling on the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission to confer local landmark status on the UA Berkeley, even though this arguably should have been done many years ago. Unfortunately, while this designation would not necessarily stop the housing proposal from moving to approval, we argue that landmarking the building could aid the preservation effort and in the end it is the right thing for city leaders to do. The City Council, Planning Commission, and Civic Arts Commission also have the power to landmark the UA. For more info, see the Take Action page.
Q: What exactly is Art Deco?
A:“Art Deco was the predominant decorative art style of the 1920s and 1930s, characterized by precise and boldly delineated geometric shapes and strong colors,” according to the Oxford dictionary. Architecture Historian Richard Guy Wilson wrote: “Americans were bombarded with the belief that a new age had come into being, a modern age controlled by machine and modern technology. The full experience for many Americans came inside the new movie theater. There, one could not just see, but feel the full kinetic impact, the physical and sensual three dimensions of modern design.”