Page One

Berkeley developer Ali Kashani’s proposed five-story, mixed-use condo project at 1200 Ashby Avenue is up for sale. 

The 98-unit Ashby Arts project was appealed to the City Council last year when neighbors expressed concern that it would bring density and congestion to the area. Others praised it as a “gateway” to West Berkeley, arguing that the development would clean up the blighted property. 

Kashani’s Memar Properties bought the site at Ashby and San Pablo avenues in February 2007 with plans to convert it into a market-rate condominium or affordable senior-housing project. 

The proposed project’s plans, with permits included, call for 66,300 square feet of residential space and 9,392 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, of which 2,000 square feet can be utilized as a restaurant and bar.  

The project is currently valued at $38 million and will be LEED-certified.