BERKELEY | Projects: Under Construction, Approved, and Proposed

[38 Geary]

And the renderings:









https://sfyimby.com/2023/08/ministerial-...ffordable-housing-in-south-berkeley.html

[38 Geary]

Some nice TOD coming to North Berkeley.

The specs for the North Berkeley BART Redevelopment:
- 7 apartment buildings and several townhome buildings
- 6-8 floors
- 750 units
- Half of the units will be affordable
- Parking for 310 cars

The site:
https://goo.gl/maps/pY8VZn8jqV7EfUYM7

Renderings Revealed For North Berkeley BART Redevelopment



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:30 AM ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

New renderings have been revealed for the North Berkeley BART Station redevelopment in Berkeley, Alameda County. The project will reshape a sea of surface parking with hundreds of homes, an extension of the Ohlone Greenway, and public open space. The detailed illustrations provide a comprehensive view of the proposed transit-oriented district.

The project is being led by North Berkeley Housing Partners, a joint venture of AvalonBay, BRIDGE Housing, East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, and Insight Housing. The current plan will create 750 apartments, half of which will be affordable. Construction would bring seven apartment structures and several three-story townhomes. Of the seven apartments, five will be six floors tall, and two close to Sacramento Street and Virginia Street will rise eight floors tall.

David Baker Architects is collaborating with Yes Duffy Architects for building design. The illustrations provide a detailed overview of how the public will experience the redevelopment from the surrounding streets and inside the public open space. The taller apartments will form a gateway view from Sacramento Street toward the iconic BART Station rotunda.

EinwillerKuehl is overseeing the landscape architecture. A special focus on open space will include trees lining the pathways, several small gardens, and a shaded colonnade section along Ohlone Greenway. Native flowers and plants will draw in local pollinators. Mid-block pedestrian connections will be added on all four sides.

The multi-block BART Station is bound by Virginia Street, Sacramento Street, Delaware Street, and Acton Street. Residential will be provided for 310 cars, with access to the garage on Delaware Street.

Project approval is expected as early as 2024.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/09/renderings-revealed-for-north-berkeley-bart-redevelopment.html

[38 Geary]

And the renderings:





















https://sfyimby.com/2023/09/renderings-revealed-for-north-berkeley-bart-redevelopment.html

[BobbyMucho]

Nice! Did I miss the project schedule? I imagine it'll be 6-8 years out, unfortunately.

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by BobbyMucho

Nice! Did I miss the project schedule? I imagine it'll be 6-8 years out, unfortunately.

It says project approval is expected 2024. Not sure when exactly. Fortunately, Berkeley has been pretty good lately about getting projects approved. I don't see anything egregious about this project that would prevent it from getting approved. After that it'll just be up to securing financing to start construction.

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by homebucket

The specs:
- 95 ft, 8 floors
- 28 units (2 3BR, 12 4BR, 13 5BR, 1 6BR)
- 2 of the 4BR units will be affordable
- 2,070 sq ft for ground level retail
- Parking for 0 cars and 56 bicycles

The site:
https://goo.gl/maps/6qFdGhRS9BFzC1yN6

https://sfyimby.com/2023/06/new-renderings-for-2480-bancroft-way-in-southside-berkeley.html

Meeting Thursday For 2480 Bancroft Way, Berkeley



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:30 AM ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2023

The Berkeley Design Review Committee is scheduled to review plans for the eight-story residential infill at 2480 Bancroft Way in Southside, Berkeley. The project, named ‘The Edge,’ will create 28 large apartments directly across from the UC Berkeley campus, designed to meet the city’s high demand for student living. Ruegg & Ellsworth is responsible for the project as the building owner.

...

Demolition will be required for a single-story commercial structure, clearing up the 0.15-acre parcel between a Walgreens and a four-story mixed-use building.

The Design Review Meeting is scheduled to start this Thursday, September 21st, starting at 6:30 PM. The event will occur in person at the Berkeley Library main branch at 2090 Kittredge Street or online.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/09/meeting-thursday-for-2480-bancroft-way-berkeley.html

[38 Geary]

The specs for 2200 Bancroft:
- 10-15 floors, ? ft
- 1400 beds for student housing
- Amenities include a dining facility, study rooms, fitness space, and lounges

The site:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/poTmJ8wqA99rwu8j9

Predevelopment Funding For Student Housing At 2200 Bancroft Way, Southside, Berkeley



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:30 AM ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2023

The UC Board of Regents has dedicated $7 million to kick-start the pre-development of a new student housing complex at 2200 Bancroft Way in Southside, Berkeley. The project will replace a two-story structure and surface parking with a 1,400-bed dormitory to satisfy the city’s insatiable demand for housing UC Berkeley students.

The Board of Regents has published a ten-page document providing general details about the project. The $7.06 million budget will be directed, including $5.3 million for architecture design fees, $920,000 for pre-design studies and environmental planning items, $580,000 for campus administration, and $260,000 for surveys, tests, and plans. For construction, the regents write that they will “develop the project using external financing” and that the full budget will “request reimbursing the campus funds used for preliminary plans.”

The plans don’t specify a height, though the bed count suggests they could build between 10 to 15 stories. The 1,400 beds will be spread across mostly triple suites for first- and second-year undergraduates. Amenities include a dining facility, study rooms, fitness space, and lounges.

The funding will allow the school to “refine the building’s detailed program and design, including site plan, massing, and height,” and “the project’s financial feasibility will inform the detailed program and design information.” The plans for 2200 Bancroft Way are part of a master plan to more than double the campus’s dormitory capacity, up from 9,020 beds in 2019 to 19,220-20,750 beds in the future, according to the 2022 Campus Master Plan.

The 0.8-acre parcel is located along Oxford Street between Bancroft Way and Durant Avenue. The site is across from the Edwards Stadium and 2150 Kittredge Street construction site at the southwest gateway to the UC Berkeley Campus. Future students will be less than ten minutes from the Downtown Berkeley BART Station.

A project team and overall construction cost have yet to be established. Construction is expected to last around three years, with work starting as early as the fall of 2025 and completed in the fall of 2028.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/09/predevelopme...200-bancroft-way-southside-berkeley.html

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by homebucket

Looks like this one got a design update. Looks a lot better IMO.

The specs:
- 89 ft, 8 floors
- 207 units (149 studios, 20 1BR, 76 2BR)
- 21 of the units will be affordable
- 5,940 sq ft for ground level retail
- Parking for 19 cars and 92 bicycles

The site:
https://goo.gl/maps/ohDN7B4C8jdYRD7U8

https://sfyimby.com/2023/05/new-renderings-pre-app-for-1598-university-avenue-berkeley.html

Approved!

Berkeley City Council Approves 1598 University Avenue By NX Ventures



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:00 AM ON SEPTEMBER 28, 2023

The Berkeley City Council has approved plans for the eight-story apartment complex at 1598 University Avenue in Central Berkeley, Alameda County. The proposal is one of nine high-density projects by the same developer, NX Ventures, that could bring nearly two thousand homes across the city. Trachtenberg Architects is the project architect.

...

The estimated cost and timeline for construction have yet to be shared.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/09/berkeley-cit...98-university-avenue-by-nx-ventures.html

[38 Geary]

The specs for 2420 Shattuck:
- 17 floors, 181 ft
- 132 units (132 studios)
- 14 of the units will be affordable
- 2,800 sq ft for ground level retail
- Parking for 0 cars and 57 bicycles

The site:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/gqNcsFYa8MieFxkM8

New Renderings Of 17-Story Berkeley Tower Ahead Of In-Person Meeting



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:30 AM ON OCTOBER 18, 2023

New renderings have been published for the proposed 17-story apartment tower at 2420 Shattuck Avenue in Downtown Berkeley, Alameda County. The project is the second tallest of nine plans by the same developer that would create dense urban infills across Berkeley. Nathan George of NX Ventures is responsible for the application.

Trachtenberg Architects is responsible for the design. Updated renderings no longer include a mural at the northeast corner of the building. The corner wall is recessed into the massing, with sheer full-height walls to emphasize the structure’s scale. The exterior will be clad with insulated metal panels and infill panels.

The project will incorporate a few open space to relax or entertain. The ground level will include a community garden for residents and the commercial space. The second floor will connect to a podium-top deck with views across Shattuck Avenue. The rooftop will have a large furnished open space with outdoor seating and dining facilities.

The 181-foot structure will yield around 77,730 square feet, including 2,310 square feet of retail. The project will create 132 studios, including 14 affordable units for very low-income households. Parking will be included for 57 bicycles.

The plan will require merging to lots to create a 0.21-acre property four blocks from the Downtown Berkeley BART Station. Next to 2420 Shattuck, construction is wrapping up on an eight-story residential block named The Lair @ Haste by Austin Group. Across Channing Way, Austin Group had partnered with CA Ventures to open IDENTITY Logan Park, a 204-unit apartment complex.

NX Ventures has been responsible for filing nine separate projects across the city of Berkeley that focus on creating dense housing for young professionals and students. The firm could see the construction of around 1,868 apartments as well as the city’s future tallest structure at 1998 Shattuck Avenue.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/10/new-renderin...ey-tower-ahead-of-in-person-meeting.html

[38 Geary]

And the renderings:





https://sfyimby.com/2023/10/new-renderin...ey-tower-ahead-of-in-person-meeting.html

[JManc]

Not Gio's Pizza and Bocce!

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by JManc

Not Gio's Pizza and Bocce!

Yeah, it would've been better if this replaced the Toyota dealership.

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by homebucket

Some more nice urban minded infill.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/05/new-renderings-for-2127-dwight-way-for-downtown-berkeley.html

An update for this one with updated specs for 2127 Dwight:

The specs:
- 71 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 102 bicycles

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

In-Person Meeting Tomorrow For 2127 Dwight Way In Downtown Berkeley



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:00 AM ON OCTOBER 18, 2023

Alongside the 17-story tower covered today, the Design Review Committee is scheduled to review plans for a six-story residential infill at 2127 Dwight Way in Downtown Berkeley, Alameda County. The T-shaped complex will conform around two existing buildings that will remain through construction. Riaz Capital is the project developer.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/10/in-person-me...127-dwight-way-in-downtown-berkeley.html

[38 Geary]

The specs:
- 6 floors, 69 ft
- 126 units (36 studios, 76 1BR, 5 2BR, 6 loft-style, 3 live-work retail)
- 10 of the units will be affordable

The site:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/XdWTuHQom8ZmKYtZA

Environmental Review Process Underway For 2136 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:30 AM ON OCTOBER 24, 2023

The Draft Environmental Impact Report has been published for the six-story apartment complex at 2136 San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley, Alameda County. The new documents allow the public to share their thoughts with the city about replacing the existing single-story commercial structure with over a hundred homes. Realtex Group is the project developer.

Trachtenberg Architects is responsible for the design. Illustrations show the apartment complex will rise six floors directly over San Pablo Avenue, capped with a straight cornice. The west elevation will be stepped down to three floors overlooking the George Florence public park, with fourth-floor terraces for residents and four gabled roofs to express residential vernacular between separate units. The facade will be clad with stucco, cast-in-place concrete, and metal panels.

Thomas Baak & Associates is responsible for the landscape architecture. This will include sidewalk improvements, six private backyards connected to the lofts, a second-level shared courtyard, and rooftop decks on levels four and six.

The 69-foot tall structure will create around 126 dwelling units, including 117 apartments, six loft-style residences, and three live-work retail spaces. Apartment sizes will vary, with 36 studios, 76 one-bedrooms, and five two-bedrooms. The application specifies that ten units will be designated as affordable to very low-income households.

The property is located along San Pablo Avenue between Addison Street and Allston Way. The Berkeley Amtrak Station, serviced by Capitol Corridor, is less than 15 minutes away on foot. North Berkeley BART is just twenty minutes away on foot, while Downtown Berkeley is under 20 minutes away by bus.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/10/environmenta...-for-2136-san-pablo-avenue-berkeley.html

[38 Geary]

And the renderings:







https://sfyimby.com/2023/10/environmenta...-for-2136-san-pablo-avenue-berkeley.html

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by homebucket

The specs:
- 95 ft, 8 floors
- 28 units (2 3BR, 12 4BR, 13 5BR, 1 6BR)
- 2 of the 4BR units will be affordable
- 2,070 sq ft for ground level retail
- Parking for 0 cars and 56 bicycles

The site:
https://goo.gl/maps/6qFdGhRS9BFzC1yN6

https://sfyimby.com/2023/06/new-renderings-for-2480-bancroft-way-in-southside-berkeley.html

An update on 2480 Bancroft Way with new renderings and specs:
- 8 floors, 83 ft
- 28 units (2 3BR, 12 4BR, 13 5BR, 1 6BR)
- 2 of the 4BR units will be affordable
- 2,000 sq ft for ground level retail
- Parking for 0 cars and 56 bicycles

Construction Starting Next Week For 2480 Bancroft Way, Berkeley



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:00 AM ON NOVEMBER 3, 2023

The development team tells YIMBY that construction will start next week for the eight-story apartment at 2480 Bancroft Way in Southside, Berkeley. The Edge, as it is called, will overlook the UC Berkeley Campus by the busy Telegraph Avenue intersection. Ruegg & Ellsworth is the project developer.

Studio KDA is responsible for the design. The infill-style building will conform to most of the lot, with its primary north-facing facade carved by three private decks. Additional articulation will visually break up the east and west facades. The sidewalk improvements and rooftop deck will be designed by 122 West Landscape Architecture.

The developer has used the State Density Bonus program to increase residential capacity to 28 units. Two of the four-bedroom units will designated as affordable to very low-income households. Parking will be included for 56 bicycles. The 83-foot tall structure will yield around 37,500 square feet, including an amenity rooftop deck and roughly 2,000 square feet for retail. The developer is expecting the space to be occupied by a future restaurant.

https://sfyimby.com/2023/11/construction-starting-next-week-for-2480-bancroft-way-berkeley.html

[38 Geary]

Meeting Tonight For Berkeley Southside Rezoning



BY: ANDREW NELSON 5:30 AM ON NOVEMBER 14, 2023

Berkeley’s growing neighborhood could soon rise higher. The Berkeley Planning Commission is scheduled to vote today to upzone Southside, a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood dominated by college students and small businesses on the south side of the UC Berkeley Campus. If approved, the rezoning would increase the area’s maximum housing capacity up by over 2,500 dwellings.

The proposed Southside Zoning Code amendment can potentially increase the city’s housing capacity by roughly 2,650 more units through several zoning code changes. There is a focus on creating student-oriented housing in the neighborhood to capture the immense demand for housing from UC Berkeley students. The rezoning is required by the City’s 2023-2031 Housing Element.

The most immediate change will shift eight blocks of the neighborhood to Residential Southside Mixed-Use, or R-SMU zoning. Likewise, the city will adjust the maximum allowable height of R-SMU and Telegraph Commercial (C-T) to 85 feet. Zoning for the eastern hillside portion of the neighborhood will remain unchanged.

Another consequential change is the establishment of minimum densities, ranging from 60 dwelling units per acre on the outskirts of Southside, to 200 units per acre for parcels along the busy Telegraph Avenue. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the amendment will remove all lot coverage standards and eliminate a cap to maximum density. The public document states that “a unit per acre measurement does not correlate direclt with population density for student-oriented typologies, which can range widely from small studios to group living accommodations to large shared units.”

https://sfyimby.com/2023/11/meeting-tonight-for-berkeley-southside-rezoning.html

[38 Geary]

https://sfyimby.com/2023/11/meeting-tonight-for-berkeley-southside-rezoning.html

[JManc]

Are they ever going to do anything about People's Park? I walked by there a few months ago and that area is in desperate need of a 20-story building. lol

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by JManc

Are they ever going to do anything about People's Park? I walked by there a few months ago and that area is in desperate need of a 20-story building. lol

It's been in a courtroom battle by NIMBYs.

Here is the latest:

UC Berkeley’s contentious People’s Park project gets boost as Newsom signs bill into law
Sarah Ravani
Sep. 8, 2023

Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a state bill into law that amends California’s environmental law so housing projects no longer need to study the noise generated from future residents — a big win for UC Berkeley in its quest to build at the historic People’s Park.

AB1307, by Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, whose district includes Berkeley, could allow the university’s controversial development to move forward. UC Berkeley, which provides housing for only 23% of its students, the lowest rate in the University of California system, has proposed a 148-unit complex for 1,111 students at People’s Park and a separate building with 125 beds.

A state appeals court ruled in February that UC officials did not adequately explore alternative student housing sites and had dismissed legitimate neighborhood concerns about “loud student parties” — dealing a win to neighborhood groups that had sued to block the construction.

...

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín, who is running for state Senate, posted on X, formerly Twitter, that “Student noise is not ‘pollution.’

“We are committed to getting student housing and supportive housing at Peoples Park to provide housing security for students and our unhoused neighbors,” Arreguín wrote.

Opponents to the proposed project have said the university should look at other potential sites for housing and instead take care of the park as a historical landmark.

Harvey Smith, the president of the People’s Park Historic District Advocacy Group, which opposes the project, criticized Newsom’s signing of the bill Thursday and said it is disturbing that the legislation was allowed to move forward with “so little input.”

https://www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/article/people-s-park-uc-berkeley-housing-18355069.php