The Republic of Berkeley

12/19/2024

https://www.berkeleyside.org/2024/12/19/berkeley-housing-united-artists-downtown

The 183-foot tall structure will yield around 214,000 square feet, including 227 apartments, a small entry lobby cafe, and parking for 90 cars. An additional 1,330 square feet will be provided for a single-car parking spot for retail use. Unit types will vary, with 32 studios, 49 two-bedrooms, 80 three-bedrooms, and 66 four-bedrooms. Of the 227 units, the project will provide 23 units as affordable to very low-income households.

12/12/2024

For those who are anti-density don’t kill the messenger. Although I’m a realtor I’m not a commercial realtor. I just keep track of new developments on my map (because I live downtown).

This week there’s been a preliminary application submitted for a 23-story development, with 240 apartments above a 29-car garage at 2029 University Ave.

See the map below for links to the numbered developments with pictures and articles:

From SFYimby:
“If built today, the proposal would be the tallest in the city, which is currently the 186-foot tall Chase Building. Within the city’s (development) pipeline 2029 University Avenue is expected to be the fifth or sixth tallest project in the pipeline, surpassed by 1974-1998 Shattuck Avenue ( #55), 2128 Oxford Street ( #34), 2190 Shattuck Avenue ( #57), 2200 Bancroft Way ( #92), and potentially 2115 Kittredge Street ( #77). The overall height for the latter project has yet to be confirmed, but with plans for 23 floors, the development will likely match or exceed the height of 2029 University Avenue”.
Of course there’s a lot of 6 to 18 story buildings on the map also if you’d like to check them out.

Bookmark this map for articles and renderings, old Street View photos and links by address about Berkeley Development projects:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1DAOhWMGII579mvz7sIghdMN-XJWSAOg&usp=sharing

12/08/2024

Check out the origami show (holiday open studio) down in West Berkeley. Goran is a mathematician by trade but has been doing origami for decades. Very inexpensive gifts. Very cool stuff. Open Sunday from 11-5. Open studio: 1450 Fourth St. #1, Berkeley.

12/05/2024

As a realtor I see this a lot. People bought their place in the Berkeley Hills in the 1960's/1970's for very little and literally can't afford to move somewhere else because their house is paid off and their Prop 13 property taxes are minimal. They have 25 steps up or 25 steps down (most hill properties) and are now in their 80's and are having trouble navigating the steps. If they sell they get their 500k exemption (for couples) but have to pay 1/3 capital gains tax (20% fed/ 13% state) and buy into a more expensive place in the flats that's hopefully "level in" which may or may not exist... The can move their lower property tax to the new property (Prop 19) but most of the new development downtown is apartments (not condos) and they aren't interested in renting but they want to stay in Berkeley because this is their community. The thought of moving to a place thru the tunnel doesn't interest them.

They are the definition of house rich/ cash poor. Their houses are older and suffer from deferred maintenance which was fine before but now insurance companies are starting to crack down on houses 1) in the fire zone, 2) that have older electrical panels or k**b and tube wiring 3) older roofs 4) galvanized plumbing etc. All of these things are extremely expensive to bring up to code and there's no guarantee you can find insurance even if you rectify all of them.

To compound things, Millennials are more interested in living in the flats (or at least walking distance to something) so houses in the hills aren't as desirable as they once were and generally younger buyers aren't as interested in buying "fixers" but the seniors don't have the $ to do listing prep to make the house "move in ready".

It's sort of a mess. We won't even go into what would happen if there was a fire there... What to do? Open to suggestions.

Retiring Councilmember Susan Wengraf says the Berkeley Hills are far more prepared for a wildfire, but still face major challenges.

12/03/2024

Be Kind, Rewind. 2370 Shattuck before/after. Lots of late fees here.

Bookmark this map for articles and renderings, old Street View photos and links by address about Berkeley Development projects:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1DAOhWMGII579mvz7sIghdMN-XJWSAOg&usp=sharing

11/29/2024

Across from the new building at Au Coquelet site (see previous post) is the Stonefire (reversing "Firestone") at 1974 University. This is 8 story/ 98 apartments at the site of the Firestone site. Seems like a new Ramen place is about to open up on the corner. This was one of two tire stores to turn into apartments in this part of town (the other being the Goodyear store on MLK/ University).

Personally I'm a Don's tire guy so I didn't mind these places going away. Would you say this was an improvement?

Bookmark this map for articles and renderings, old Street View photos and links by address about Berkeley Development projects:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1DAOhWMGII579mvz7sIghdMN-XJWSAOg&usp=sharing

11/27/2024

Au Coquelet is now Aquatic U or Studio 2000 (not sure which name will stick). I'm sure people have some pretty good memories going to Au Coquelet late nite maybe after seeing something at the UC Theater.

I don't mean to rile people up with my posts just giving info on what was here before/ after. Sometimes it's an empty dirt lot but sometimes it's a place that has memories.

I was surprised when I posted the pictures of the Trader Joes parking lot that people had such fond memories of those businesses! I did not like that strip mall and I'm glad Trader Joes is there.

This one is a little different. I liked hanging out with friends late night at Au Coquelet. I'm sure the food was bad but it was fun. Honestly I don't even remember ordering food. Just hanging out. I hope they put something good in the retail space in this new building.

Bookmark this map for articles and renderings, old Street View photos and links by address about Berkeley Development projects:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1DAOhWMGII579mvz7sIghdMN-XJWSAOg&usp=sharing

11/25/2024

Before/ After view of Oxford after the construction of the Helen Diller Anchor House. The dorm was built with money donated by a private donation and proceeds from Anchor House’s net operating revenue fund annual scholarships for Pell Grant-eligible students, selected on the basis of academic and personal achievement.

The dorm houses 772 single rooms for transfer students. The total cost was $300 million and was the largest single gift in UC Berkeley history.

From Cal's website:
244 apartments with 772 individual bedrooms
47 studio apartments
30 two-bedroom one-bath apartments
3 three-bedroom two-bath apartments
164 four-bedroom two-bath apartments
--Extensive community spaces and resources, including 8,600 square foot fitness center, spacious lounges and meeting rooms, community room with kitchen, outdoor courtyards and terrace patios

Bookmark this map for articles and renderings, old Street View photos and links by address about Berkeley Development projects:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1DAOhWMGII579mvz7sIghdMN-XJWSAOg&usp=sharing

11/23/2024

Probably no corner has changed more in the last 10 years than Shattuck/ University and it will continue to change when the McDonalds block (where Spat's is) across the street from these new buildings changes to 317-foot-tall structure will yield around 411,610 square feet, with 394,700 square feet for housing and 16,920 square feet of retail space. Of the 599 apartments, there will be 489 studios and 110 two-bedroom units. Parking will be included for 154 cars and 284 bicycles.

Bookmark this map for articles and renderings, old Street View photos and links by address about Berkeley Development projects:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1DAOhWMGII579mvz7sIghdMN-XJWSAOg&usp=sharing

11/21/2024

Grocery Outlet 2010 and the same view 2024. Did you shop at the Gross Out?

Bookmark this map for articles and renderings, old Street View photos and links by address about Berkeley Development projects:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1DAOhWMGII579mvz7sIghdMN-XJWSAOg&usp=sharing

11/20/2024

Trader Joes, Berkeley: After/ before.

08/31/2024

3 bed/ 2.5 bath with views in El Cerrito for $760k?

www.vistaheightscondo.com

02/02/2024

YIMBY or NIMBY here's a good updated/ neutral map of all the proposed developments under construction or in the pipeline for Berkeley. If you click on the numbers they go to articles from various sources about the projects. There's also pictures of what the project should look like and pictures of what's there now.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=1DAOhWMGII579mvz7sIghdMN-XJWSAOg&usp=sharing

I'm a local realtor but this has nothing to do with my job except showing clients what might be built in a neighborhood that they are looking in. Almost all of the 146 projects are rentals (almost no condos).

I started keeping track of this last year as I live right by Berkeley High school which, if you look at the map, is near ground zero. I like to think of myself as neither NIMBY or YIMBY but I'm glad I have a driveway! You might want to bookmark and send to friends or neighbors. I update it weekly.

What do you think of the new projects? Are you a YIMBY or NIMBY?

Eric Gellerman
Red Oak Realty
DRE #02198966
[email protected]
(if you see any mistakes or ommissions to the map please email them to me)