Zoning Worksheet Filed for Office to Residential Conversion in North Oakland

A small office building at 6355 Telegraph Avenue in the Bushrod neighborhood of North Oakland has filed initial paperwork for a partial conversion to residential apartments. The preliminary designs brought by Earthquake and Structures, INC, call for the conversion of the upper two levels into six residential units, leaving the lower floor as the original office spaces.

The conversion plans are an interior-only remodel, and will not make any changes to the exterior, windows, doors, or framing. The existing building footprint and street accesses will also remain the same. The building is currently home to several small office units, including doctor and therapist’s offices. Although the application describes the upper floors as to be converted, details on if or how the commercial spaces are to be organized have not been released.

Although Telegraph Avenue serves as a commercial corridor through parts of North Oakland, the Burshrod neighborhood is already largely residential. While the property is currently zoned for commercial, the readjustment to mixed-use residential would be contextually appropriate given the location. The area is considered highly walkable, close to many shops and restaurants along both Telegraph and nearby College Avenue. Additionally, the location has good access to multiple bus lines and is only a 15-minute walk from the Ashby BART station.

High-profile office-to-residential conversions are often talked about in relation to large buildings in downtown regions of cities, but the increased vacancy rates and regional housing crisis have created incentives for smaller-scale conversions of neighborhood commercial buildings as well. While not as flashy as big building conversion, the architectural nature of smaller office buildings like 6355 Telegraph Avenue often makes them easier candidates for conversion.

6355 Telegraph Avenue Site Location, image via Google Earth

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