Zoning Permits Filed for 2298 Durant Avenue in Berkeley

New permits were filed earlier this month for a proposed development at 2298 Durant Avenue in Berkeley. The site’s owners, Valiance Capital, came forward in March with revised plans to build a seven-story apartment building on the site. The zoning permits filed this month will require city approval to change the existing non-residential property into a 45-unit mid-rise.

Demolition permits for the existing building were filed last November, already helping to clear the way for the new development. However, the unit totals and composition had remained in question until the March pre-application fixed the number at 45 new residential units, with two to be designated for very-low-income residents.

2298 Durant Avenue Site Footprint, image by Studio KDA

Studio KDA is responsible for the building’s design. As part of the zoning application, the studio included a basic site layout and massing diagram for the site, showing designs for a roughly cubic structure, with its blocky form intentionally broken up by intentional insets. Previous illustrations show the façade materials consisting of dark grey metal and wood-like infill panels. The complex features a small ground-level courtyard along Ellsworth Street.

2298 Durant Avenue, Previous Rendering, Image by Studio KDA

The full building scale is planned at just under 50,000 square feet, making it significantly more massive than the current property. This increase in scale is reflective of the neighborhood surrounding the property, as both the University of California and private developers have poured money into building new housing throughout Berkeley’s Southside neighborhood in response to a critical housing shortage.

The area is well-suited for all of the increased development. Future residents will have access to multiple public transportation options, walkable shops, restaurants, and parks. Meanwhile, the site is an easy commute to both the UC Berkeley campus and downtown Berkeley.

2298 Durant Avenue Site Location, image via ArcGIS Online

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