Construction to begin on 6-story downtown development

The demolition site at 2107 Dwight Way at Shattuck Ave. where a new 6-story mixed use development will be built. Photo: Charles Siler

Demolition has begun on the lot at the corner of Shattuck Ave. and Dwight Way, bringing down the building that washome to furniture store Modernaire, which has moved to a new location.In its place will bea new, 6-story mixed-use housing development, constructionof which is set to begin in September.

Menlo Management Companyis behind thedevelopment at 2107 Dwight Way,whichwill feature 99 rental units, 5,607 sq. ft. of ground floor retail space, and 45 parking spaces. A 2012 Zoning Board report says the housing units will be marketed primarily to students.

The projects architect is Richard Christiani of San Francisco-based firm Christiani Johnson Architects. Christiani says he expects to complete construction in March 2016, 18 months after the scheduled start date. He saiddemolition at the site will be complete soon.

The planned apartment complex at 2017 Dwight Way. Rendering: Christiani JohnsonArchitects

The development will include nine below-market-rate dwelling units. This is the minimum required for a 99-unit building under Berkeley law, which mandates that one in ten units be affordable priced so that a family earning less than the regional median income can afford the rent.

According to the Christiani Johnson Architects website, the Dwight way development will also feature a landscaped central courtyard, a rear yard with outdoor grilling and a movie theater, bike storage and car share facilities.

Modernaire, which specializes in mid-century modern furniture, has moved to 621 San Pablo Ave.,near the junction ofCedar and Hopkins.

[Read more about the construction explosion in downtown Berkeley]

TheDwight way projectis one ofa wave of developments that are set tocausea boom in population and retail space in downtown Berkeley. According to a 2014 brochurefrom the Downtown Berkeley Association, 1,100 new units are plannedfor the downtown area by 2018, potentially increasing the areas population from 3,000 to 5,000.

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Construction to begin on 6-story downtown development