Preserving History: Buildings Demolished, Moved and Landmarked
The NPO, the LPO and Downzoning
The NPO, the LPO and Downzoning In 1973, the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance (NPO) was passed by the voters. In order to preserve Berkeley’s built environment, it placed strict controls on the demolition of residential property. The NPO was followed by the Landmark Preservation Ordinance (LPO) in 1974.
From the mid-1950s to the early 1970s, because the District was zoned R-5, a large number of its distinguished older structures (many historically significant) were being demolished and replaced with large multi-storied apartment buildings (sometimes referred to as dingbats), thus rapidly changing the District’s character. The new apartment buildings featured breezeways and ground-floor carports. The narrow posts supporting the buildings were (and are) seismic disasters waiting to occur.
In order to forestall further destruction of the built environment, a Flatlands Neighborhood Association committee, led by Attorney Todd Withy, was formed. They joined with others in the flatlands and in 1975 were successful in downzoning the District to R-2, thus allowing the District to retain much of its character.