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4mo ago

Berkeley Greenlights Demolition of Last Downtown Movie Theater for Housing Project

The United Artists Theater will be replaced by a 17-story residential tower as the City Council upholds the developer's plans, despite preservationist appeals.

A group of the Save United Artists Theater Berkeley stand in front of the United Artists Theater in Berkeley, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024. The group is trying to save the historic theater from demolition for a housing development. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
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Overview

  • The Berkeley City Council voted unanimously on April 22, 2025, to uphold the demolition of the United Artists Theater, clearing the way for a 17-story housing project.
  • The theater, opened in 1932 and closed in 2023, is the last remaining movie theater in downtown Berkeley and is listed on the state historic registry.
  • Developer Patrick Kennedy's plans include preserving the theater's Art Deco facade and lobby, while incorporating them into the new residential building.
  • The project qualifies for a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemption, bypassing a full environmental review to expedite housing development.
  • Rising construction material costs and tariffs have delayed the groundbreaking, while the Save UA Theater Berkeley group continues its legal and public advocacy efforts.