New renderings have been published alongside the pre-application filing for 2109 Milvia Street in Downtown Berkeley, Alameda County. The 14-story infill will bring 105 new studios close to BART and the UC Berkeley campus. NX Ventures is responsible for the application.
2109 Milvia Street seen from Center Street, rendering by Trachtenberg Architects
2109 Milvia Street retail space, rendering by Trachtenberg Architects
Project plans remain nearly identical to the previous filings, describing a 150-foot tall structure containing 63,510 square feet, with 62,340 square feet for housing and 830 square feet for a small ground-level retail space. Parking will be included for 42 bicycles and no cars. All 105 apartments will be studio units, and 11 will be deed-restricted as affordable housing.
The pre-application was filed to allow the developer to use Senate Bill 330 to streamline ministerial approval. The inclusion of affordable housing also allows the State Density Bonus program to increase its residential capacity by up to 50% through zoning concessions and waivers. Base zoning for the small downtown parcel would have allowed for a maximum of 72 apartments.
2109 Milvia Street facade elevation, illustration by Trachtenberg Architects
2109 Milvia Street streetscape, rendering by Trachtenberg Architects
Trachtenberg Architects is responsible for the design. The exterior has double-height window frames to complement the structure’s verticality. The base will be established with green walls and floor-to-ceiling windows. The rooftop will be capped with an amenity deck offering views of the Bay toward San Francisco.
NX Ventures purchased the site from Century 21 Real Estate this Summer for $3.7 million. 2109 Milvia is the ninth proposal by the same developer that could bring over eighteen hundred apartments to Berkeley.
2109 Milvia Street, image via Google Street View
The estimated cost and timeline for construction have yet to be established.
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Yikes. This is about as soulless and ugly as you can get. Knowing Trachtenberg’s record, there’s no way the finish & build quality will look better than the render. At least it fits in with its neighbors on that stretch of town.