November 29, 2017

To Neighbors:

You are cordially invited to preview plans for a new multi-family condominium proposed at 1200 San Pablo Avenue.The proposed project includes 57 apartments, 3 live/work units.The pThe project is in the process of being designed by Trachtenberg Architects. No plans have yet been submitted to the City of Berkeley for review. We look forward to the opportunity to share our developing plans and to hear your thoughts.

Please join us:Wednesday, November 29, 2017 6:30pm - 7:30pmBERKELEY PUBLIC LIBRARY, WEST BRANCH - Community Room1125 University Avenue, Berkeley

Snacks and bSnacks and beverages will be served.We look forward to meeting with you!

San Pablo Avenue

Harrison Str

eet

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T R A C H T E N B E R G A R C H I T E C T S

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MEETING NOTES - Pre-application Neighborhood Meeting

Project: 1200 San Pablo Avenue Mixed-Use Date: 11.29.2017 Present: David Trachtenberg, Trachtenberg Architects Isaiah Stackhouse, Trachtenberg Architects Morgan Read, Project Owner Kasey Stevens, Project Owner Neighbors (See attached sign in sheet)

Job No: 1721

Meeting Background: The attached flyer was mailed to the list of residents, property owners and neighborhood groups (list provided by the City) for a meeting held at 6:30-7:45 pm on December 29, 2017 at the West Berkeley Branch Library.

Discussion Topics:

Several neighbors asked if the project site was the former Church’s Chicken fast-food drive-thru or if it included other parcels. The discussion clarified that the project site included only the former Church’s Chicken.

A neighbor asked how many parking spaces would be provided. The group discussed that 44-spaces were proposed, and the number of parking spaces varied quite a bit between various projects in Berkeley. Some, such as in the downtown had no parking, some provide less than half a space per unit and some provide a full space per unit.

A neighbor asked if the project would be condominiums or apartments. The group discussed that the project would be rental units, and that like most projects, they would be condo mapped, but that they were intended to remain rental units and held for the long-term by the Owners.

A neighbor asked if there would be affordable units in the project. The group discussed that the project would be providing either 20% on-site affordable, or a mix of approximately 10% affordable and an in-lieu fee set by the City.

A neighbor asked about the street lighting. The group discussed that the new building would be providing exterior lighting so that the sidewalks would be well lit. The group also discussed that the new building would be providing new sidewalks, street trees and planters.

A neighbor asked why the building was 6-stories, if the building might be reduced to 4-stories, and whether or not we knew if the building across the street at the “Christmas Tree” site would also be 6-stories. The group discussed that the project would proposed at 6-stories and that the site across the street had already been approved as a 4-story building roughly 10-years ago. The Owner of the project across the street had indicated to us that they planned to start construction in the near future on the approved 4-story project as designed 10-years ago.

A neighbor mentioned that the building could have ground level outdoor space provided to the public. While not discussed during the meeting, the project is designed to be set back 3’ feet at the ground level along San Pablo Avenue to provide a wider sidewalk.

A neighbor mentioned that they thought that San Pablo Avenue had been identified as a potential “Density Zone”. There was a general discussion of the Bay Area and State Housing Crises, which some felt building new housing would not solve, but also discussion about how some areas such as north Shattuck where new development has provided eyes on the street and evening activity making the areas much more vibrant and safe places to be at night.

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______________________________________________________________________________________________ Neighborhood Meeting 1200 San Pablo Avenue Mixed-Use TRACHTENBERG ARCHITECTS 11/29/2017

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A neighbor asked if the building would slow down the internet for the neighborhood. The group discussed that new buildings in fact provide an incentive for new internet providers such as Paxio to install new fiber optic lines to an area and that the Owners would be talking with Paxio and other providers about bringing new fiber optic internet to the neighborhood.

A neighbor mentioned how expensive new apartments were in Berkeley, and asked whether or not the rents might allow the building to be built at 4-stories. The group discussed how expensive it would be also to construct the new building. The group also discussed the other initial and ongoing costs of building and maintaining the project as well as providing taxes, school fees, sanitary sewer upgrade fees, affordable housing and affordable housing fees, money for arts, etc., and that ultimately, to be feasible the Lenders who make the project possible, need to have service-to-debt ratio coverage which was already very tight for this project. The group discussed that the project really works because it is intended to be a long-term hold. In general the neighbor’s seemed to be pleased that the project was intended to be a long-term hold that would be well-built and well-maintained.

A neighbor offered the opinion that they felt that Berkeley’s Design Review requires buildings, including the proposed building, to be “articulated” in a way that results in patch-work cookie-cutter designs.

Several neighbors asked if the alleyway to the west of the site would be reopened. The group discussed that, as far as we all knew, the 14’ wide alley was still a public right-of-way and fire-access-way which we would all like to see reopened.

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ATTACHMENT 3 ZAB 02-08-18

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