BERKELEY
Owners of older, wood-framed homes in Berkeley can apply online to qualify for grants to strengthen their homes’ readiness for major earthquakes.
For these wood-framed homes built before 1980 with raised foundations or crawl spaces under them, owners could receive up to $3,000 for retrofitting. Households making less than $89,040 per year could receive $7,000 more. Rental property owners of homes with four units or less can also qualify. These owners, who do not need to live in one of the units to qualify, can apply to retrofit up to five qualifying rental properties.
These grants would be used to “bolt” the foundation to the frame of house, and walls called “cripple walls” in crawl spaces under houses are braced with plywood. Those eligible can apply by Oct. 1 to enter the lottery and will be placed on a waitlist if they are not immediately accepted into the program.
Many Berkeleyans have received grants after first being placed on the lottery. For more information online, visit bit.ly/3JI4hYt.
— city of Berkeley
EL CERRITO
Opening reception Friday for works by Creative ReUse artists
El Cerrito city officials area excited to host an opening reception for an exhibit of works by the city’s 2024-25 El Cerrito Creative ReUse (ECCRU) artists in residence, Zona Sage and Lisa Zimmer-Chu, from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the gallery space in El Cerrito City Hall at 10890 San Pablo Ave.
With their exhibition on display until Oct. 9, these talented artists have spent their tenure creating unique pieces from recycled materials, embodying the spirit of sustainability and creativity. After’s Friday’s opening reception, a closing reception will be held at the same time and place Oct. 3.
For those interested in becoming the city of El Cerrito’s next ECCRU artist in residence, the city’s Arts & Culture Commission anticipates releasing a call for artists this month to select next year’s artist. Find the call for artists when it’s posted and learn more online at elcerrito.gov/eccru.
— city of El Cerrito
ALBANY
Marin Avenue pavement rehabilitation work to continue
Construction work for Phase 2 of the Marin Avenue Pavement Rehabilitation Project is scheduled to begin this month, with project limits along Marin Avenue between Key Route Boulevard and Tulare Avenue.
Being done by contractor Ghilotti Bros. Inc., the work generally consists of pavement rehabilitation, sidewalk and curb ramp improvements, storm drain improvements, new traffic striping, improvements at existing traffic signals, a new rectangular rapid flashing beacon at the Ventura Avenue crosswalk and intersection street lighting improvements.
The planned completion for this project is tentatively October 2026, and construction will consist of several stages, starting with curb ramp and stormwater improvements. Pavement rehabilitation and traffic striping will be performed during the final stage next year. For further details, visit bit.ly/47sUm2Y online.
— city of Albany
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