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Project includes more low-income units than city mandates  

Editor: 

Mr. Kubik's letter of December 23, 2000 contains several errors in relation to the development at 2700 San Pablo that Panoramic Interests is undertaking with Jubilee Restoration.  

The project proposes to have 20 percent of the units set aside for very low income residents, defined as households with 50 percent area median income. The city requirement currently allows for 20 percent of the units to be set aside for low income residents, defined as households with 80 percent AMI, or 10 percent of the units set aside for very low income residents, defined as households with 60 percent AMI.  

In other words, what we have proposed goes beyond the city requirements. 

I am not in any legal dispute with the city now, nor am I anticipating one. I have asked for clarification on the interaction of state law with the ordinance and the state mandated density bonus for providing affordable housing. 

The San Pablo project is proposed as a 50 foot, four-story building, and fully complies with the city zoning ordinance. It will be the first new housing project on San Pablo Avenue in more than 40 years, and will also be one of the few developments at all in the city that will accept new Section 8 certificate holders. 

Re: the GAIA Building. The structure is the height that was approved by the City Council and the building department -- with the last floor ending at 87 feet. 

The elevator, which must service the roof deck, under the ADA, goes higher to the 106 foot, again in conformance with zoning regulations and building regulations.  

Berkeley is in the midst of an acute housing crisis, and is, by the Planning Department's own figures, the only city in Northern California to have lost housing in the last 20 years.  

If we are to maintain our reputation for social justice and diversity, the citizens and the city must do more to promote affordable housing. (Panoramic Interests has built more in the last five years than all other private developers combined.) 

Patrick Kennedy 

Piedmont resident 

Panoramic Interests 

Berkeley