A court ruling will allow new student housing at University of California, Berkeley’s People’s Park.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California Supreme Court ruling will allow student housing at University of California to be built at Berkeley’s historic People’s Park.

The court on Thursday ruled that a new law enacted in 2021 invalidates the claims by two local organizations that sued the school, saying students living in downtown Berkeley would add noise pollution to an already dense area. The project set off years of protests over the landmark that is a touchstone of counterculture.

California is desperate for more housing of all types, including for students at its public universities and colleges. Some students sleep in their cars, crash on friends’ couches, or commute hours to attend class due to limited dorms and apartments.