The last historic movie theater in downtown Berkeley is set for demolition after the City Council unanimously supported a developer’s proposal to replace it with a 17-story apartment complex.
The project would replace the United Artists Theater at 2274 Shattuck Avenue with 227 housing units and a ground-floor cafe, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
Developer Panoramic Interests aims to preserve elements like the building’s facade and lobby. The theater, originally built in 1932 and listed on the California Register of Historical Resources since 2006, was once a 1,800-seat venue and most recently operated as a seven-screen cinema until it closed in 2023.
A grassroots group, Save Berkeley’s United Artists Theater, has spent the past two years fighting the proposed demolition. The group of thousands of people argues that the development violates state environmental laws protecting historic structures and claims that a full assessment of the building’s historical impact was not properly conducted.
While a peer review suggested the project would significantly impact the site’s historical value, city staff ultimately sided with the developer, citing modifications to the building over the years that diminished its original character.
The city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the theater’s facade as historically significant, prompting San Francisco-based Panorama Interests to pledge restoration of it and incorporation of remaining architectural details.
Despite appeals, the City Council upheld a previous Zoning Adjustment Board decision that granted demolition rights, citing the benefits of increased housing, including 27 below-market-rate units, and the economic boost of $7 million in development fees and $2 million in annual property taxes.
Councilmembers expressed sympathy for preservation advocates but emphasized the need for urban growth and revitalization.
“I’ve seen probably 50 movies there. The change is inevitable,” Councilmember Shoshana O’Keefe said. “If we want those cultural venues to survive and we want a vibrant downtown, we have to move toward growth. We have to say goodbye to this. It’s not coming back and we need to instead bring more people downtown.”
Save the UA founder Rose Ellis clarified that the group’s aim wasn’t to block housing but to preserve a cultural landmark. With limited resources and high legal costs, the group’s next step — filing a lawsuit — remains uncertain. Construction could begin after market conditions stabilize, with an expected two-year construction timeline once underway.
— Joel Russell
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Panoramic gets OK to turn Regal UA Theatre in Berkeley into 227 homes