Preliminary permits have been filed for two new homes at 1521 Holly Street in North Berkeley, Alameda County. The application utilizes the city’s recent Middle Housing zoning changes, which provide expedited approval for qualifying projects. Oakland-based designer John Newton is responsible for the application.
The pre-application looks to replace an existing single-family housing with two detached homes. Further information about floor count or unit sizes has not been published.
The development invokes the city’s Middle Housing zoning changes, which went into effect late last year. The amendment has opened up residential neighborhoods across the city for incremental density increases. According to the city, “Middle Housing includes buildings like duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, courtyard apartments, and other small-scale multi-family housing types in Berkeley’s neighborhoods that currently consist of mostly single-family homes.”
The property owner is listed as an individual and current resident of 1521 Holly Street. The estimated cost and timeline for construction have yet to be shared.
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Aside from not showing any proposed images or renderings, perhaps do some investigative review into the architect here? A simple & quick ,google search reveals:
California Architects’ Board review of John Newton:
John Newton
Oakland—The Board issued a three-count citation that included a $2,500 administrative fine to John Newton, dba John Newton Design & Development, an unlicensed individual, for alleged violations of Business and Professions Code section 5536(a) (Practice Without License or Holding Self Out as Architect). The action alleged that Newton submitted plans for three three-story residences to the City of Berkeley. These plans were not stamped by a licensed professional. The plans prepared by Newton indicated three distinct living levels in each of the houses, which are not exempt from the requirements of the Architects Practice Act pursuant to Business and Professions Code sections 5537(a) and 5538. Newton paid the fine, satisfying the citation. The citation became final on February 20, 2020.
So here we have an individual (John Newton) posing as an actual , licensed architect, submitting drawings to the DBI without any architectural stamp on them (an important submission requirement) and subsequently creating houses without worrying about ethics, proper programming, respect to the neighborhood fabric, and compliance as required by code.
Interesting to see what this looks like knowing this info.