BERKELEY | Projects: Under Construction, Approved, and Proposed

[homebucket]

And the photos:







https://sfyimby.com/2023/03/senior-h...-berkeley.html

[homebucket]

Updated specs:
- 201 ft, 17 floors
- 218 units (22 of which are affordable)
- 23,210 sq ft for the 355-seat theater
- Parking for 0 cars and 105 bicycles

New Renderings For California Theater Tower In Downtown Berkeley



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:30 AM ON MARCH 30, 2023

New renderings have been revealed for the 17-story mixed-use tower expected to rise from the California Theater at 2115 Kittredge Street in Downtown Berkeley, Alameda County. The updated plan shows how the historic facade will be preserved with a new theater for live performances capped by 218 apartments. Gilbane Development is responsible for the project.

California Theater was constructed in 1914. Its original Greek Revival facade by Albert W. Cornelius was replaced in 1929-1930 with an Art Deco facade by Balch & Stanbery. The new design incorporates a few homages to the pre-war style, though the short zoning makes it difficult to employ lessons on verticality and tapered towers from the Art Deco period perfected by Eliel Saarinen for Chicago and seen most effectively with 100 Bush Street and 140 New Montgomery Street in San Francisco.

Studio KDA is the project architect. The structure will incorporate the historic theater as the defining podium element. The narrow vertical fins on the theater will be replicated along the tower facade facing Kittredge, rising to the 15th floor. Above that, the three-story amenity floors are awkwardly incorporated, distinguished by setbacks for the outdoor decks and spas.

Facade materials on the tower will include vintage redwood or cedar, depending on availability, stucco, and aluminum composite panels. Facade articulation will visually break apart each exterior, while vertical tapered fins will be inset on the east and north elevations, reminiscent of the crowning design on Comcast Technology Center by Foster + Partners in Philadelphia.

From the existing theater, Studio KDA will preserve much of the existing decorative facade elements, marquee, and box office, though adding a glass railing over the restored neon marquee for a new accessible balcony. The ground level will include the theater entrance, stage, and residential lobby. The second-floor commercial space will include the upper lobby, offices, and seating. Along with two apartments, an amenity lounge for residents on the second floor will include access to the marquee balcony and an audio recording room.

The first basement level will include an orchestra pit, rehearsal rooms, a green room, storage, bathrooms, and two dressing rooms. For residents, the level includes a multi-purpose room and access to the second-level basement bicycle parking and washroom.

The 201-foot tall structure will yield around 158,340 square feet, with 135,130 square feet for housing and 23,210 square feet of the 355-seat theater. Unit sizes will vary, with 145 studios and 73 two-bedrooms. Parking for 105 bicycles and no vehicles will be included, a decision that will promote local public transit and reduce congestion.

Of the 218 apartments, 22 will be designated as affordable for very low-income households. The inclusion of affordable housing has allowed Gilbane to utilize the State Density Bonus program, increasing residential capacity above the 146 units with base zoning.

...

The 0.31-acre property is located between Shattuck Avenue and the western edge of the UC Berkeley Campus. The Downtown Berkeley BART Station is just over a block away. Future residents will be in the heart of the urban core, surrounded by retail, transit, and other housing projects. With a proposed rooftop height of 201 feet, 2115 Kittredge Street may become the fourth tallest building in the city, followed by the 268-foot proposal for 2190 Shattuck Avenue, the 284-foot tower at 2128 Oxford Street, and NX Venture’s skyline-altering 317-foot residential project at 1974-1998 Shattuck Avenue.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/03/new-rend...-berkeley.html

[homebucket]

And the renderings:













https://sfyimby.com/2023/03/new-rend...-berkeley.html

[homebucket]

The site:
https://goo.gl/maps/mzYABM1r5q7TyPJ28

Seven-Story Infill Planned For 2550 Shattuck Avenue, South Berkeley



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:00 AM ON APRIL 1, 2023

A pre-application has been filed for a seven-story infill to rise at 2550 Shattuck Avenue in South Berkeley, Alameda County. While details are limited for the filing, a brief description shares that it will create 75 homes from the small property using SB330 and the State Density Bonus program. 4Terra Investments is the project applicant.

The roughly 0.3-acre property is located along the rising Shattuck Avenue commercial thoroughfare along Blake Street and by Milvia Street. The new housing will rise across from Parker, a two-structure apartment complex with 155 units completed in 2017 by Quarterra Multifamily, designed by LPAS, and now anchored with an Equinox Gym.

...

The property is close to Downtown Berkeley, just 13 minutes away on foot, five minutes via bicycle, and around five minutes with AC Transit buses.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/04/seven-st...-berkeley.html

[homebucket]

Approved!

Zoning Board Approval For 2190 Shattuck Avenue, Downtown Berkeley



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:30 AM ON APRIL 4, 2023

The Berkeley Zoning Board has unanimously approved permits for 2190 Shattuck Avenue, one of the tallest buildings in the city’s pipeline. The 25-story project is expected to rise from the Downtown Berkeley core with 326 homes above retail. Landmark Properties, the project applicant, is likely to start construction as soon as next summer.

The story was first reported by Supriya Yelimeli for Berkeleyside late last month. Yelimeli wrote that Commissioner Igor Tregub noted by the end of the meeting that similar ZAB hearings have lasted long enough to go past midnight, but “both state law and his personal positions on the matter of growing Berkeley’s housing stock have evolved in the last decade.”

The 268-foot tall structure will yield around 417,210 square feet, with 389,710 square feet for housing, 7,500 square feet for ground-level retail, and roughly 20,000 square feet for the 51-car basement garage with garage access along Allston Way. Unit sizes will vary with 21 studios, 71 one-bedrooms, 113 two-bedrooms, 29 three-bedrooms, 69 four-bedrooms, and 23 five-bedrooms. Additional parking will be included for 295 bicycles.

...

The 0.46-acre property is at the corner of Shattuck Avenue and Allston Way, next to the southern end of the Downtown Berkeley BART Station. The existing property includes a Walgreens drug store and pharmacy at the ground level and offices on the second floor.

With the zoning board approval now secured, Landmark’s project is further along than plans for 2128 Oxford Street and 1998 Shattuck Avenue, both of which would rise taller than 2190 Shattuck Avenue. If built today, 2190 Shattuck would be the tallest building in Downtown Berkeley and the second-tallest structure in the city after the 307-foot Campanile tower on the UC Berkeley campus.

With construction now expected to start in the summer of 2024, completion could be anywhere from 2026 to 2028, depending on unforeseen delays and possible construction complications.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/04/zoning-b...-berkeley.html

[homebucket]

The specs:
- 89 ft, 8 floors
- 207 units (21 of which are affordable)
- 6,273 sq ft ground floor garden
- Parking for 39 cars and 82 bicycles

The site:
https://goo.gl/maps/4PAcAt1jo5o7UYk58

Renderings Revealed For 1598 University Avenue In Central Berkeley



BY: YIMBY TEAM 4:30 AM ON APRIL 19, 2023

New renderings have been released ahead of a meeting scheduled to review a mixed-use project proposed for development at 1598 University Avenue in Central Berkeley. The project proposal includes the construction of an eight-story mixed-use building offering residential and commercial spaces. The project calls for the demolition of an existing non-residential structure on the site.

NX Ventures is the project applicant and property owner. Trachtenberg Architects is responsible for the design.

The project site spans an area of 28,936 square feet. The project will bring a mixed-use building spanning an area of 134,409 square feet. The mixed-use will offer 207 residential units, including 21 very-low-income units. The mixed-use will also feature commercial space spanning an area of 5,787 square feet. The project will bring the 207 dwelling units as a mix of 38 two-bedroom, 20 one-bedroom, and 149 studios.

39 automobile and 82 bicycle parking spaces will also be designed on the site. A garden measuring 6,273 square feet will be designed on the ground floor, along with communal facilities like a club room and fitness center, and lounges and decks will be located on every other floor.

The project proposes a cast-in-place concrete base, insulated metal panels for the residential floors, decorative metal screens at the balconies, and aluminum windows with metal infill panels.

The project is seeking a 50% Density Bonus by providing 15% of the base project units as affordable to very low-income households. This project is applying under the Housing Crisis Act, SB 330, which seeks to boost homebuilding throughout the State with a focus on urbanized zones by expediting the approval process for and suspending or eliminating restrictions on housing development and limiting the number of public meetings.

The project is located in the C-U University Avenue Commercial District on the south side of the University Node at the intersection of University Avenue and California Street. The project site is proximate to several bus lines and is within half a mile of the North Berkeley Bart Station. The project is scheduled for the May 11, 2023 meeting of the Zoning Adjustments Board. A Design Review meeting for Preliminary Design Review has been scheduled in April.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/04/renderin...-berkeley.html

[homebucket]

And the renderings:





https://sfyimby.com/2023/04/renderin...-berkeley.html

[homebucket]

Construction Starts For SOM-Designed Bechtel Engineering Center, UC Berkeley Campus



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:30 AM ON APRIL 26, 2023

UC Berkeley has celebrated the official groundbreaking for their latest campus expansion, the Bechtel Engineering Center. The $95 million project makes adaptive reuse of the existing building, transforming the concrete structure into a prominent lightweight glass and steel skin centerpiece designed by Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill. The new engineering center is expected to open in Berkeley by early 2025.

The project will help UC Berkeley expand its engineering student capacity, which has increased by more than 80% since 1980. There are around 6,500 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the Engineering school. The College’s goals for the 35,570-square-foot expansion are to enhance the student experience, build community, and improve campus connectivity. Interior spaces will include offices, assembly spaces, classrooms, event venues, a cafe, and rooftop decks. The interior mapping centers around the three-story open-ceiling forum for circulation, connecting the Garbarini Lounge with the second and third floors.

...

In a press release, SOM describes their design as “a counterpoint to the solid materiality of original buildings in UC Berkeley’s ‘Engineering Neighborhood,” going on to say the adaptation “will prioritize access to light, with a skylight at the center of the building, three stories of floor-to-ceiling windows, and terraces at the ground level and second story.” Embracing the facility’s purpose, innovative structural systems will be exposed. Dean of Berkeley Engineering Tsu-Jae King Liu said, “our new Engineering Center will embody inclusive excellence and innovation with impact, which are the hallmarks of Berkeley Engineering.”

Among the carbon-saving strategies is the use of a more physically light structure. By offsetting weight from existing soil and concrete features, SOM has allowed contractors to maintain the existing concrete foundation, significantly saving on carbon emissions. To save energy, the extended canopy porch design minimizes direct solar exposure, reducing demand for interior climate control. Storm-water management, water conservation, and using sustainability extracted building materials will further contribute to the building’s minimized environmental impact. The school is aiming to achieve at least LEED Gold certification.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/04/construc...ey-campus.html

[homebucket]

And the renderings:















https://sfyimby.com/2023/04/construc...ey-campus.html

[homebucket]

The specs:
- 84 ft, 7 floors
- 75 units (12 studios, 18 1BR, 42 2BR, 3 live-work)
- 1,520 sq ft ground floor retail
- Parking for 3 cars and 32 bicycles

The site:
https://goo.gl/maps/d8wt8yeb7v1tt22c8

Renderings For Housing At 2550 Shattuck Avenue, South Berkeley



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:00 AM ON APRIL 27, 2023

New renderings have been published for the seven-story residential infill planned at 2550 Shattuck Avenue in South Berkeley, Alameda County. The plans will reshape the low-slung property by BART and AC Transit. 4Terra Investments is listed as the project applicant.

The 84-foot tall structure will yield around 72,500 square feet with 53,940 square feet for housing, 1,520 square feet for retail, and 2,465 square feet for the 3-car garage. Unit sizes will vary, with 12 studios, 18 one-bedrooms, and 42 two-bedrooms. Three units, located on the ground floor overlooking Blake Street, will be designated as live-work housing. Additional parking will be included for 32 bicycles.

Kava Massih Architects is responsible for the design. The facade will be clad with horizontal lap siding. Irregularly-wide two-story windows will be scattered across the exterior, and transparent floor-to-ceiling windows will wrap around the base. The filing will include affordable housing to use the State Density Bonus Program and receive protections via Senate Bil 330. The exact amount of affordable units that 4Terra plans to include is not specified.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/04/renderin...-berkeley.html

[homebucket]

Updated renderings are up. Starting to look a lot more refined.

The specs:
- 110 ft, 10 floors
- 75 units (204 studios, 9 1BR, 8 2BR)
- 22 of the units will be affordable
- 4,090 sq ft retail
- Parking for 9 cars and 72 bicycles

New Renderings For 2900 Shattuck Avenue In South Berkeley, Alameda County



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:30 AM ON APRIL 29, 2023

New renderings have been published for the ten-story residential infill at 2900 Shattuck Avenue in South Berkeley, Alameda County. The plan replaces two low-slung commercial structures with 221 new homes above shops, including about two dozen affordable homes. The ambitious NX Ventures developer is responsible for the application.

The 110-foot tall structure will yield around 115,200 square feet with 109,860 square feet for housing, 4,090 square feet for retail, and roughly 4,000 square feet for the nine-car garage. Additional parking will be included for 72 bicycles. Unit sizes will vary somewhat, with 204 studios, nine one-bedrooms, and eight two-bedrooms.

Of the 221 apartments, 22 will be designated as affordable for households earning less than half of the area’s median income. By including affordable housing, NX Ventures will utilize Senate Bill 330 and the State Density Bonus Program. The team is applying for waivers regarding building height limits, setbacks, site coverage limits, and housing density.

Trachtenberg Architects is the project architect. The latest plan set reveals a third design iteration for 2900 Shattuck Avenue. As the document explains, the “east and West facades have been redesigned with an articulated grid, emphasizing horizontal lines. Windows have been enlarged and are framed in two-story groupings to break down the scale of the facade. The gridded pattern created by the frames is articulatead by a juxtaposition of recessed windows with Juliette balconies and extruded bays.”

The initial design is clad with white, black, and copper-tone insulated metal panels. The second design removes the copper-tone cladding and introduces a mural facing Russell Street. Now, the exterior is wrapped with a monochromatic metal-panel facade and a new full-height mural. InsideOut Design is the landscape architect. The project includes a courtyard deck with a turf area and seating on the rooftop. A second rooftop deck will look over the corner of Shattuck and Russell.

The 0.45-acre property is located across from the famed Berkeley Bowl grocery store. The project will rise on the opposite corner of another development on the same block, 2001 Ashby Avenue, by RCD Housing. An estimated timeline for construction and completion has yet to be established.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/04/new-rend...da-county.html

[homebucket]

And the renderings:











https://sfyimby.com/2023/04/new-rend...da-county.html

[homebucket]

Some more nice urban minded infill.

The specs:
- 68 ft, 6 floors
- 66 units (8 1BR, 3 2BR, 5 4BR, 30 5BR, 20 6BR)
- 8 of the units will be affordable
- Parking for 0 cars and 120 bicycles

The site:
https://goo.gl/maps/VzcpYCTo3w3yivd5A

New Renderings For 2127 Dwight Way For Downtown Berkeley



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:00 AM ON MAY 5, 2023

New illustrations have been revealed for a housing project at 2127 Dwight Way in Downtown Berkeley, Alameda County. The six-story project will create 58 new homes while retaining eight units in two existing buildings. Riaz Capital is the project applicant.

The 68-foot tall structure will yield around 72,250 square feet, with 69,200 square feet for housing and 560 square feet for storing 120 bicycles. Alongside the 58-unit building, eight units will be retained in existing buildings at 2129-37 and 2153-59 Dwight Way. Unit sizes will vary with eight one-bedrooms, three two-bedrooms, five four-bedrooms, 30 five-bedrooms, and 20 six-bedrooms.

Eight homes will be designated as affordable housing, with four units for households earning between 30-50% of the Area Median Income, 1 unit for 50-80% AMI, and three 100% AMI units. Riaz will be able to use the State Density Bonus program and Senate Bill 330, thanks to including below-market-rate housing.

Levy Design Partners is responsible for the design. The San Francisco-based design firm has drafted a typical podium-style infill, conforming to the 0.56-acre lot with setbacks and material variation to articulate the massing. LDP writes that the project uses “different materials and planes [to] create a rhythm that enhances the pedestrian experience while minimizing the building’s scale and mass. Along the ground floor, recessed areas with plantings, an angled lobby wall and an exposed exterior stair provide visual interest and create an active presence.”

https://sfyimby.com/2023/05/new-rend...-berkeley.html

[JManc]

Had I known my work situation before I relocated out here, I would have moved to Berkeley; so much going on up there.

[homebucket]

Some more nice urban minded infill.

The specs:
- 89 ft, 8 floors
- 155 units (147 studios, 7 1BR)
- 16 of the units will be affordable
- 1,600 sq ft for ground level retail
- Parking for 0 cars and 60 bicycles

The site:
https://goo.gl/maps/oBaX3ucfbhk4rA9z9

Renderings Revealed For 2733 San Pablo Avenue, Southwest Berkeley



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:00 AM ON MAY 15, 2023

Renderings have been published for a new eight-story residential infill at 2733 San Pablo Avenue in Southwest Berkeley, Alameda County. The project will replace a two-story commercial infill with 155 homes, including some affordable housing. Trachtenberg Architects is responsible for the application.

The 89-foot tall structure will yield approximately 86,000 square feet, with 84,230 square feet for housing and 1,600 square feet for ground-level retail. Apartment sizes will vary, with 147 studios and seven one-bedroom residences. Parking is included for 60 bicycles and no cars.

The applicant will include 16 units of affordable units for very low-income households earning between 30-50% of the Area Median Income. This will allow the project to apply for the State Density Bonus Program and SB 330 to increase the allowed residential capacity and receive streamlined ministerial approval. If the application complies with these programs, the project hopes to receive concessions for the open space and commercial parking reduction.

Facade materials include insulated panels, woodlike impression tiles, and decorative metal screens. The overall massing will be stepped down from its eight-story pinnacle along San Pablo to a four-story wall overlooking the single-family neighborhood behind. Each step will produce two private terraces. A ground-level garden will connect to two clubrooms. The ground-level retail will be on the northern half of the streetscape close to Ward Street.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/05/renderin...-berkeley.html

[homebucket]

And another. Super solid. Excellent street level interaction.

The specs:
- 113 ft, 8 floors
- 166 units (147 studios)
- 17 of the units will be affordable
- 1,040 sq ft for ground level retail
- Parking for 0 cars and 61 bicycles

The site:
https://goo.gl/maps/TYWv5sqGMsSuvquRA

New Renderings For 3000 Shattuck Avenue In South Berkeley, Alameda County



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:30 AM ON MAY 15, 2023

New renderings and a permit application have been published for 3000 Shattuck Avenue in South Berkeley, Alameda County. The updated design reflects a new shift in style by one of the most prolific firms in Berkeley, Trachtenberg Architects. NX Ventures is the project applicant and property owner.

The 113-foot tall structure will yield around 81,550 square feet, with 80,500 square feet for housing and 1,040 square feet for a corner retail space. Each apartment will be a studio, averaging around 485 square feet each. Parking for 61 bicycles and no vehicles will be included, a decision promoting the neighborhood’s public transit and traffic conditions.

The bulky L-shaped floor plan will shelter an inner-block landscaped courtyard with a garden for residents. The courtyard will connect directly to the Lobby through a clubroom amenity space. The rooftop deck will feature outdoor seating, dining facilities, and an entertainment area. InsideOut is responsible for landscape architecture.

The filing utilizes the State Density Bonus Program and SB 330 to increase the site’s permitted residential capacity while streamlining ministerial approval. The project will include 17 affordable housing units, providing for very low-income households.

Berkeley-based Trachtenberg Architects is responsible for the design. The new facade scheme overlooking Shattuck Avenue and Ashby will be one block from 2900 Shattuck Avenue, another ten-story residential infill by Trachtenberg for NX Ventures. Both projects have received the same facelift, shifting away from the architect’s tri-tone vernacular with a singular project.

The exterior materials will include off-white and grey insulated metal panels and dark grey metal infill connecting windows. The streamlined project no longer includes the busy collaging of articulated shapes to obfuscate its massing. The new program appears more honest in its approach, not trying to appear like several buildings on one parcel while using full-height bay window vernacular for a more dynamic exterior.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/05/new-rend...da-county.html

[homebucket]

And the renderings:











https://sfyimby.com/2023/05/new-rend...da-county.html

[OneRinconHill]

How did Berkeley finally get a building boom? They've been the most anti-development city for decades.

[homebucket]

The specs:
- ? ft, 8 floors
- 201 units
- 3 live/work units
- Ground level retail
- Parking for 9 cars

The site:
https://goo.gl/maps/5wFsq5hxESZiEwEz9

Pre-Application For Eight-Story Housing In Downtown Berkeley



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:00 AM ON MAY 19, 2023

Preliminary plans have been submitted for an eight-story residential project at 2100 Milvia Street in Downtown Berkeley, Alameda County. The infill would replace the roughly 0.8-acre property with 201 homes. San Francisco-based 4Terra Investments is the project sponsor.

The Senate Bill 330 pre-application will enable the developer team to use state law to expedite the approval process while providing affordable housing. The filing also uses the State Density Bonus program to increase residential capacity.

The infill will create 201 apartments, three live/work units, and ground-floor retail. Parking will be included for nine cars. The bicycle parking capacity is not specified. The filing only specifies a little other information about the project, including the architect, unit size variety, or amenities.

The property is located at the corner of Milvia Street and Addison Street, close to the Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park. Residents will be a block from the Downtown Berkeley BART Station. SRM Associates, an address linked to Marina Village Yacht Harbor, is the property owner.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/05/pre-appl...-berkeley.html

[homebucket]

This one is an interesting floor plan, with the high numbers of rooms per unit. Probably aimed towards students and young professionals living together, more so than large families.

The specs:
- 89 ft, 8 floors
- 48 units (28 4BR, 13 5BR, 7 6BR)
- 5 of the units will be affordable
- 2,810 sq ft for ground level live/work units
- Parking for 0 cars and 175 bicycles

The site:
https://goo.gl/maps/S5n2FkUkuC7ZeYzt9

Renderings Revealed For 2587 Telegraph Avenue In South Berkeley



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:30 AM ON MAY 19, 2023

New renderings have been revealed for the eight-story mixed-use infill at 2587 Telegraph Avenue in South Berkeley, Alameda County. The project will replace the low-slung commercial structure with 48 homes and live/work housing. The Rhode Island-based Gilbane Development Company is the project applicant.

The 89-foot tall structure will yield around 111,120 square feet, with 108,380 square feet for housing and 2,810 square feet for ground-level live/work units. Parking for 175 bicycles and no cars will be included, contributing to the city’s public transit while reducing congestion. Unit sizes will include 28 four-bedrooms, 13 five-bedrooms, and seven six-bedrooms. This composition aims to capture the region’s housing demand for students and young professionals.

KTGY Architects is responsible for the design. The large building will rise over the busy commercial artery, with its facade carved by balconies. Exterior materials include profiled panels, wood-like cladding, plaster, and masonry veneer.

The ground level will include a large lobby, a fitness center, an amenity room, and bicycle parking. Three live/work units will face along Telegraph Avenue. The rear property will fit a landscaped courtyard into an irregular shape. Additional open space will be created on the eighth floor, facing north toward the UC Berkeley Campus.

Five units will be designated as affordable for very low-income households earning around 30-50% of the Area Median Income. The application uses the State Density Bonus Program and SB 330 to streamline ministerial approval and increase capacity.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/05/renderin...-berkeley.html