JUNE 20 2 5
BLUEPRINT
EAST B AY
A N E W S L ET T E R B Y M I C H A E L P E R R Y
New-ish Hot Spots SIRENE
A new seafood gem has arrived in Oakland! Sirene, located in the former Sister space, is the latest venture from celebrated chef Gavin Schmidt and sommelier Paul Einbund, known for their acclaimed San Francisco bistro, The Morris. Schmidt brings his deep-rooted love for the ocean—shaped by his Paci c Northwest upbringing—into a re ned yet welcoming neighborhood restaurant. The menu, which rotates with the tides, highlights locally sourced seafood like whole Petrale sole reroasted over oak, and inventive dishes like seafood charcuterie and towering fried chicken. With its sea-to-table ethos, rustic elegance, and a touch of ne-dining nesse, Sirene could be the next perfect date night. 3308 Grand Ave, Oakland | 8-2 for coffee 5-9:30 for dinner.
KITAVA
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Known for its nourishing, avor-packed dishes that cater to a variety of dietary preferences, Kitava originated in San Francisco and has grown a loyal following with locations in the Mission, Oakland, and now Albany. The menu is centered around clean, whole-food ingredients—think cassava breaded chicken nuggets, avor packed bowls such as poké/ spring noodles, and vibrant veggie-forward plates that are entirely gluten-free, with plenty of paleo, vegan, and Whole30-friendly options. 1187 Solano Ave, Albany | Open 11-9 daily
Rent Prices Showing Signs of Decline If you’ve been watching the rental market in Berkeley, you may have noticed something unexpected: prices are actually falling. According to recent data, the median rent for a dated one-bedroom apartment in the city dropped to $2,295 in the summer of 2024 — a noticeable decline from $2,600 just two years earlier. In fact, those rent levels are nearly identical to what tenants were paying back in 2018. Considering the Consumer Price Index has risen more than 25% since then, today's rents are e ectively cheaper than they’ve been in years, even without adjusting for in ation. This marks a major change from the years leading up to 2018, when rents were rapidly increasing and Berkeley’s housing crisis was intensifying. Now, however, there’s clear evidence that prices in the city’s stock of older, rent-controlled apartments have not only stabilized but declined. These rental units — typically in multifamily buildings built before 1980 — are often more a ordable than single-family homes or new developments. While landlords can still set market rates for new leases in these buildings, the gures show that even those new tenant rents are trending downward, not up. Many housing advocates believe the softening market is due in large part to an increase in housing supply. Since 2015, Berkeley has tripled its average annual housing production — from just 173 homes per year to nearly 600. Over 2,200 new apartments have hit the market in the past three years alone, and UC Berkeley opened more than 1,500 student housing beds last summer. Local housing activist Darrell Owens says the timing isn’t coincidental: “We spent almost 20 years debating whether building housing in Berkeley would reduce rents — I think the evidence is pretty clear.” The idea is that giving more people access to housing, especially near jobs and campuses, eases demand and drives prices down.