Preliminary Permits Filed for Four-Unit Housing Development in West Berkeley

Preliminary permits have been submitted for a four-unit residential development located at 1631 5th Street in West Berkeley, Alameda County. The proposal involves subdividing an existing narrow, vacant 0.13-acre parcel to construct four new single-family houses. This initiative leverages California's Senate Bill 684, which aims to streamline the approval process for lot subdivisions and increase housing capacity, alongside Berkeley's Middle Housing Zoning program designed to facilitate smaller multi-unit residential buildings.

The City of Berkeley is currently listed as the property owner, having acquired the site in the 1970s through the Berkeley Redevelopment Agency using Community Development Block Grant Funds. The city is presently evaluating an off-market offer to purchase the property, received earlier this year. Situated between Cedar and Virginia Streets, the site benefits from proximity to the retail corridor of 4th Street and the Berkeley Amtrak station. While preliminary permits are filed, details regarding the estimated construction cost and timeline have not yet been disclosed. This project highlights how municipalities are utilizing new state and local regulations to address housing needs on publicly owned land.