A new design review meeting has been scheduled to discuss plans for demolishing a four-unit residential building and replacing it with a 66-unit residential project located at 2138 Kittredge Street in Berkeley. The project is being brought by the Austin Group as part of a recent densification trend in Berkeley’s downtown area.
The project’s total scale is proposed to reach 42,893 square feet in area and 82 feet high. Of the 66 units included, 3 are to be designated very low income, and 2 are to be designated extremely low income. Unit types within the property will vary with studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms. The ground level will also include the resident lobby, bike room, and leasing office.
2138 Kittredge Street floor plan, illustration by Niles Bolton Associates
Niles Bolton Associates is responsible for the building’s design. Illustrations from their proposal show an articulated facade with narrow floor-to-ceiling windows in white and sandstone hues. Darker materials will contrast with the pale exterior around the base level.
The property is located between Oxford Street and Shattuck Avenue, half a block from the southwest corner of the UC Berkeley campus and two blocks from the Downtown Berkeley BART Station. The building’s close proximity to the businesses and transportation options of Downtown Berkeley makes its location highly walkable. Furthermore, its walking distance from UC Berkeley’s campus may appeal to students or staff at the university.
The design and application plans to meet the requirements for the state density bonus to create the large structure on a 6,750 square foot lot. However, concerns have been raised about the historic significance of the buildings to be demolished. The current property street view looks at the 1935 Georgian Colonial brick addition, while the rear of the lot is occupied by the 1903-04-built John C. Fitzpatrick house. The building is not a landmark in Berkeley, but during a Landmark Preservation Commission meeting in 2024, the building was one of over fifty sites to be considered for potential landmark designation.
2138 Kittredge Street, image via Google Street View
As is, the project looks to be moving forward, and the upcoming design review meeting will focus on the reasonability of the new building’s plans. Details on the meeting can be found here.
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Yuck. And it would destroy this cute little cupcake of a building. Brick buildings like this are extremely rare in California. I hope it has historical status – not that matters anymore….
There are, in fact, thousands of old brick buildings in California.
You ever been to Philadelphia, Boston, or Baltimore? St. Louis even? Chicago?
Have a gander and get back to me.
Wood and stucco are king in California.
I’ve seen The Wire plenty of times to know that those “old brick buildings” aren’t as cute as you’d make them out to be.
It’s not 1900. Let’s move on
Scotty, tell us why that building should have a historic landmark designation. Use real words. “cupcake” has no meaning.
Also, can you guess why brick buildings in California are rare?
Are you willing to hire me? Do I work for you?