A new planning application has been filed for a seven-story apartment infill at 2300 Ellsworth Street in Southside, Berkeley. The updated proposal will preserve the historic facade along 2300 Ellsworth Street while increasing unit sizes above. The project, filed by Riaz Capital, is now expecting to create 69 apartments directly across from the UC Berkeley Campus.
Writing to YIMBY, Riaz Capital provided the following statement:
One key item is that we are proposing to retain the facade of the commercial building that is at the corner of Bancroft and Ellsworth. With this change, we also changed what our unit mix is, so while the amount of units decreases, our bedroom and resident count stays the same. Our SB330 application was submitted with mostly 3 bedrooms, and we have decided to go with a blend of 1, 3, and 6-bedroom units in this latest submittal.
The seven-story building will yield around 72,590 square feet, with 6,500 square feet of retail at ground-level. Previous plans filed in September 2022 as part of the Senate Bill 330 application included 127 apartments with unit sizes ranging from studios to three-bedrooms. Both plans include replacement housing for the existing 12 units at 2310 Ellsworth Street. Seven of the 69 residential units will be affordable for very low-income households and two for low-income households.
2300 Ellsworth Street, image via Google Satellite
The proposal will merge two parcels at 2300 and 2310 Ellsworth Street. Demolition will be required for an existing 12-unit residential building.
2300 Ellsworth is one of three projects being developed in Berkeley by Riaz Capital. The firm has also proposed plans for 2127 Dwight Way and 3030 Telegraph Avenue. The combined 301 units from all projects would be a sizable addition to the city’s housing stock.
The 0.36-acre property is located at the corner of Ellsworth and Bancroft Way, across from Edwards Stadium, the southwest corner of the UC Berkeley Campus. The Downtown Berkeley BART Station is five blocks away.
Construction is expected to start in mid-2024, with completion within 18 to 22 months.
Subscribe to YIMBY’s daily e-mail
Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates
Like YIMBY on Facebook
Follow YIMBY’s Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews
“One key item is that we are proposing to retain the facade of the commercial building that is at the corner of Bancroft and Ellsworth. ” — Riaz Capital who filed the application
Not sure what to make of this statement – since for two editions in YIMBY show the proposed façade as having nothing to do with retaining the original. My sense is that one of two things happened – either YIMBY is liking to the wrong project (since that rather [horrible IMO] façade is just a generic picture with no local reference; or RC is mistaken.
So which is it?
The rendering shows is the previous design iteration for 2300 Ellsworth. Riaz has not yet provided renderings for the updated design. The caption for the renderings specifies that the feature image is outdated.
Architects aren’t even trying to design within the surrounding context anymore. They just pursue whatever they’re excited by and value engineer it into banality. Maybe the briefs are just bad, but whoa.
I take it back. I just saw that it’s Saitowitz… the most emblematic abuser of my previously mentioned concerns.
SADowitz
Great that more housing is being created in a good location
I am glad that they plan on retaining the original facade.