The Phoenix

Urban Planning Partners helped a development team obtain planning approvals for the Phoenix, a development including over 100 units of affordable housing, half of which are permanent supportive housing for individuals and families who are currently homeless. The project also includes over 200 units of market-rate housing; and a maker space for local artists. Urban Planning Partners was instrumental in getting the Phoenix approved on a tight timeline by:

• Finding a legally defensible and reasonable approach to allow residential land use on a portion of the site zoned for light industrial without a lengthy General Plan Amendment or rezoning process

• Documenting provisions of the Oakland Planning Code that the project could use for administrative approval and associated findings, including a Major Conditional Use Permit for an Expansion of Use, Planned Unit Development permit, and State Density Bonus concessions and waivers

• Working with Alameda County Department of Environmental Health, the project applicant, and the City to navigate the site’s cleanup process and how it related to the CEQA and the planning approval timeline

• Meeting with City staff across departments to build support and obtain the necessary resources to ensure the project went to the Planning Commission before the County’s funding deadline

• Managing and preparing a streamlined CEQA document providing environmental clearance for the project’s approval

Project Stats

• 101 affordable housing units and 215 market-rate units

• 20 miles - the distance the prefabricated units will travel from Factory OS to the project site in West Oakland

• 27,500 square feet of work space for artists

Why We Liked This Project: We had the opportunity to help our community by paving the way for over 100 units of much-needed affordable housing, more than almost any other project currently being planned in Oakland.