Date Posted: 11.06.2024
Plans have been submitted by The Unity Council for redevelopment of 3073 International Boulevard, site of the 2016 Oakland artist warehouse fire, into 58 permanently affordable apartments for households earning up to 80% of the area median income.
“We are thrilled to support The Unity Council’s expansive view of community benefit: stable permanently affordable housing as a platform to support creativity and culture, healing and well-being, inspired by and firmly rooted in the Fruitvale,” says Mithun partner Anne Torney.
The proposed five-story, 76,900 sf building features an open-air ground floor with artful murals, entry gates and patterned breeze blocks emerging from hardy planting that will enliven the sidewalk and help to build a safe, neighborly, walkable community. A community courtyard in the center of the block allows events to spill onto the street, while breaking down the scale of the project to compliment the rhythm of historic buildings along International Boulevard.
“The project aims to extend and enhance the diverse, tight-knit, entrepreneurial and immigrant fabric of International Boulevard,” said Mithun project architect and Fruitvale resident Logan Kelley.
A proposed curb extension or bulb-out along 31st Avenue with new street trees honors the victims of the warehouse fire tragedy with new growth, providing a respite to appreciate a commemorative art element that will be regionally visible from the BART trains and adjacent busy streets.
Mithun’s San Francisco team is leading design (architecture, landscape architecture and interior design), in collaboration with Yes Community Architects, associate architect, and The Unity Council, owner and developer.
The Unity Council purchased the property in 2023, in support of their ongoing mission to strengthen the diversity of the boulevard and create a walkable community that reflects the area’s culture. Community engagement throughout early stages of the project included door-to-door conversations, meetings with local leaders, events at artist venues, tabling at the BART station and neighborhood listening sessions. Families affected by the 2016 fire were contacted for input on design plans that are still being finalized. The Unity Council, Mithun and Yes Community Architects are working collaboratively with this diverse group on the nature and location of a commemorative memorial element, and welcome additional involvement.
