UC Berkeley tells tenants of 112-year-old rent-controlled building they must leave Cal said it will offer $54,000 or more to the occupants of 1921 Walnut St. to leave so it can build a 760-bed student housing project there. 1921 Walnut St. was built in 1909. UC Berkeley wants to tear it down for a student housing complex and is asking the 12 tenants to leave. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel UC Berkeley officials on Tuesday night informed the dozen or so tenants at 1921 Walnut St. that it has decided to go ahead and tear down a 112-year-old rent-controlled building right across from campus in order to use the land as part of a planned massive housing project for transfer students.