UC Village facts for kids
University Village, also known as UC Village, is a special housing community for students and researchers at the University of California, Berkeley. It's designed for those who are married or have children. The University of California, Berkeley owns and manages this community. You can find it in Albany, about two miles from the main Berkeley campus. It used to be called Codornices Village and later Albany Village. People often just call it The Village.
University Village is built on land near Codornices and Marin Creek. It started as a government housing project during World War II. Many families moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to work in factories that helped the war effort, like the Kaiser Shipyards in Richmond. The Village provided homes for these workers. It was first built on land rented from the university and other owners. Around 1954, the University of California bought some of the buildings. The part of the village that was in Berkeley was taken down.
During the war, a large wooden bridge was built through the village for trains carrying workers to the shipyards. This bridge was quickly removed when the war ended.
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History of University Village
Codornices Village: Homes for War Workers
Even before the United States joined World War II, many workers came to the San Francisco Bay Area. This created a big need for more homes. The government passed a law called the Lanham Act in 1940. This law helped pay for housing and daycare for people working in war industries.
In 1943, the government planned to build a large housing project in Berkeley and Albany. It was meant for war workers and their families. This project would eventually house 8,000 to 10,000 people. It became known as Codornices Village. Both the Albany and Berkeley city councils did not want the project. They thought private companies could build enough homes.
Construction started in 1943, and families began moving in by April 1944. The village had a school, a children's center, and places for fun activities. Trains took workers from Codornices Village to the shipyards. The buildings were two-story apartments with heaters, refrigerators, and stoves. Residents paid rent, which helped cover the costs.
African American workers often had trouble finding homes in other areas. The Codornices Village was planned to include many African American residents. While the housing was mixed, African American families were first given less desirable units. In 1946, a group of residents worked to make sure families of all backgrounds were placed fairly throughout the village.
After World War II, cities could take over the housing projects. However, Berkeley and Albany decided not to. In 1947, Codornices Village had a long waiting list of 1,800 families, including many veterans. City leaders argued that the housing was not good enough and should be torn down.
Codornices Village continued to operate for several more years. By 1954, many white residents had found other housing. The village then had 7,000 residents, and most were from minority groups. Residents wanted Albany or Berkeley to keep the village open. But in 1954, eviction notices were sent out, and demolition began. Codornices Village closed on January 1, 1956.
When Codornices Village closed, the number of Black residents in Albany dropped a lot. As the village closed, the University of California bought 40 of the buildings. They also bought the recreation center and children's center. The university renamed the project University Village. These buildings were fixed up and used for student families for another 50 years, until 2007.
University Village: Student Family Housing
In 1956, the University of California bought 40 apartment buildings from the old Codornices Village. They also bought 14 smaller buildings, making a total of 420 apartments. These apartments were called Section A. Inspectors found the buildings were still in good shape.
By April 1956, 28 families were already living in some of these apartments. The university fixed up the apartments in three stages. This allowed families to move in right away. The repairs were paid for by a loan, which was repaid using rent money. By September 1956, 400 families had moved in. Rent for these apartments was between $35 and $47 per month.
In 1960, plans were made to add 500 new apartments, called Section B. This project cost about $3.8 million. It was paid for by a government loan that would be repaid from rent over 30 years. Section B had 15 three-story buildings and 35 two-story buildings. There were one- and two-bedroom apartments. Larger families could get three-bedroom townhouses.
Section B was designed with courtyards. Three buildings were usually around each courtyard. Balconies faced the courtyard, so parents could watch their children play. Each courtyard had grassy areas and places to dry laundry. Apartments had balconies, sliding glass doors, and connections for laundry machines. Stoves, refrigerators, and heaters were included. Some apartments even had views of the bay.
Section B opened in August 1962. The first rent was $70 to $90 per month.
In 1980, the university planned to raise rent a lot to pay for new housing for single students. The plan would triple the rent in just six years. Before this, the rent had been affordable. Residents protested because the plan was unfair and too expensive. In 1981, after a 25% rent increase, students protested by putting their rent money aside instead of paying the university. After the protest, the university stopped the plan. Rent increases were small for many years after that.
In 1988, the village had 2,300 residents from 64 different countries. About half of the families had children. There were 670 children, and 119 families were led by a single parent.
In 1995, the university again suggested raising rent to replace old housing. Residents protested again, saying the increases were too high. They also felt it was unfair to pay for new housing they could not afford. The university also wanted to tear down Section B apartments, which were 33 years old, instead of fixing them. In 1998, 420 families had to move out so some apartments could be torn down.
The University of California approved a plan in 1998 to replace the older student housing. The university said reasons for demolition included mold, lead paint, and being close to the water.
In 1998, 88 Section B apartments and the Kula Gulf apartments were torn down. They were replaced by the East Village, which opened in 1999. The East Village had 392 apartments. When it opened, the rent was $990 per month.
In 2004, the university approved plans to tear down the remaining 412 Section B apartments. This was to build the West Village. Residents argued that the Section B housing could be fixed up for less money.
The West Village Apartments opened in July 2006 with 258 units. Another 324 new apartments were finished in August 2008. When the West Village opened, the rent was $1,360 per month. These new units were more expensive than the old ones.
After the East and West Villages opened, many student families could not afford the higher rent. So, the university allowed childless couples, staff, researchers, and single students to live in the new apartments. This policy continued for several years.
In 2008, the last 152 Codornices apartments were torn down. The rent for these apartments was $699 per month when they closed. After they were gone, the cheapest housing in the village was $1,360 per month. The land where these apartments stood was empty until 2016. It was later used for a pet food store, a grocery store, and a senior care facility.
In 2022, the university announced plans to build a new six-story tower. It will have 289 apartments for graduate students without families. This new building will be built where the old Section A housing used to be. Unlike past buildings, this one will be a partnership with a private company.
Geography of University Village
University Village is a 77-acre complex located in Albany. It is about 3 miles northwest of the main campus. The complex is surrounded by Buchanan Street, research facilities, and Ocean View Elementary School to the north. To the west, it is next to Union Pacific railroad tracks. California Route 123 (San Pablo Avenue) is to the east, and Codornices Creek is to the south. The complex has 974 housing units.
Recreation at University Village
The complex has many fun places for families and children. There is an after-school center for kids, baseball fields, a family resource center, a playground, and soccer fields.
Education for Village Children
Children living in University Village can go to schools in the Albany Unified School District. Some younger children attend the Albany Children's Center. This center offers preschool and care before and after school. The closest elementary school is Ocean View School. Some students might also go to Cornell or Marin elementary schools. Older students attend Albany Middle School and Albany High School or MacGregor High School.
Environmental Features
University Village is next to railroad tracks. Because of this, residents sometimes hear loud train horns. The Village also has special areas like basins and grassy ditches. These help clean rainwater before it flows into nearby Village and Codornices creeks. This helps protect the environment.
