Plans to raze the shuttered Babitt’s Auto Repair Services and former gas station site at 2527 San Pablo Avenue, at the corner of Blake in West Berkeley, are in the works. And as proposed, a six-story building will rise up to 67 feet in height.
While principally only zoned for development of four stories and 50 feet, the development team is planning to invoke California’s Density Bonus Law to allow for the extra height.
And as designed byRony Rolnizky, the development would yield 63 apartments, including 33 two-bedrooms and 20 one (or junior one) bedrooms, over two 1,600-square-foot retail spaces fronting San Pablo Avenue and a garage for 56 stacked cars behind.
The adjacent Angelic of Berkeley parcel isn’t included in the plans, at least not as proposed.
No design award here, just solid housing on a major thoroughfare. I look forward to more of it on San Pablo in the future. There are many, many more plots just like this ripe for housing.
All of San Pablo should be zoned for 6 stories. Connecting Oakland to Richmond, a major Transit corridor, It’s pretty much the East Bay’s Version of Geary Boulevard.
This is so right!
“the East Bay’s Version of Geary Boulevard”
Is that meant as a compliment?
its pretty clearly meant as a comparison.
Sure. There are some good Irish bars on Geary….
Build anything, and soon along this street! More foot traffic, more housing, better amenities, better quality of life. I own a lot that backs up to San Pablo and would not be happy about a six story building towering over me but I knew it was a possibility when I bought it. I would like to see larger apartments (3BR) so that families don’t need to make the jump from renting to a single family home when another child arrives.