There's a groundbreaking Thursday, March 26, for a new mixed-use development at Shattuck Avenue and Dwight Way. Image: Christiani Johnson Architects
There’s a groundbreaking Thursday, March 26, for a mixed-use development at Shattuck and Dwight. Image: Christiani Johnson Architects
There’s a groundbreaking Thursday, March 26, for a mixed-use development at Shattuck and Dwight. Image: Christiani Johnson Architects

A 99-unit, 6-story building planned in downtown Berkeley is kicking off construction in earnest with a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday afternoon.

Demolition began last summer at 2121 Dwight Way, at Shattuck Avenue. Since then, the project has changed hands and promises a wide range of amenities to renters, such as high-quality kitchens, pet-friendly features, shuffleboard and “the latest Wi-Fi technology” in a communal lounge. There’s also 5,100 square feet of ground floor retail space “suited for a café and neighborhood-serving specialties.”

San Carlos-based Olympic Residential Group bought the property — where furniture shop Modernaire used to be located — in February. (Modernaire moved to 1621 San Pablo Ave.) The project is scheduled to be complete by summer 2016.

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Olympic described the units as “Class-A luxury apartment homes,” and said in a statement released Wednesday the project, set to reach 63 feet in height, is aimed at “an eclectic mix of young professionals attracted to the transit-oriented location, empty nesters, University faculty, and UC Berkeley students looking for a high quality housing option near the campus.” 

According to a 2012 Berkeley zoning board report, the project is also set to include a garage with 45 parking spaces: 36 for residents and nine for the commercial space. There are also 28 bike parking spaces included in the plans. According to the developer, the “transit-oriented development will include environmentally-friendly electric vehicle charging stations and car share parking spaces for resident and public use.”

Nine below-market-rate units are also set to be included, according to the zoning board report.

The units are slated to include a mix of studios, one bedrooms and two bedrooms ranging in size from 500 to approximately 1,100 square feet.

An aerial view of 2121 Dwight Way. Image: Christiani Johnson Architects
The landscaping plan for 2121 Dwight Way. Image: Christiani Johnson Architects
The landscaping plan for 2121 Dwight Way. Image: Christiani Johnson Architects

According to Wednesday’s statement from the developer: “The apartments include features such as high quality kitchens that include European-style cabinets, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and full-size front-load washer-dryers. The units also include expansive floor to ceiling windows, nine-foot ceilings, eight-foot doors, hard-surface floors throughout, and air conditioning.”

Olympic plans to pursue LEED Gold certification for the Christiani Johnson Architects-designed building.

As for the project’s amenities, which Olympic describes as “unparalleled in the Berkeley submarket,” they are set to feature “a 3,875-square-foot roof deck with panoramic views of San Francisco, outdoor fireplaces, outdoor kitchen, gas grills, and spacious seating. There is a podium-level communal room that is designed to host small gatherings and opens up to a large landscaped courtyard, featuring a fountain and outdoor seating. The ground floor lounge provides a community gathering space that includes game tables, shuffleboard, high definition television and the latest Wi-Fi technology. The pet-friendly development will have outdoor spaces for resident pet enjoyment, including a dog washing station.”

Olympic was founded in 2012 by Dan Deibel, a Bay Area multifamily development veteran who formerly ran Palo Alto-based Urban Housing Group.

The project’s groundbreaking is scheduled for Thursday, March 26, at 2:30 p.m.

Update, 4:20 p.m. Local writer and photographer Ted Friedman attended the groundbreaking ceremony at Berkeleyside’s request. He shared the following photographs of the event.

From left: Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates, architect Richard Christiani, Dan Deibel, president of Olympic Residential Group, and Downtown Berkeley Association CEO John Caner. Photo: Ted Friedman
From left: Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates; architect Richard Christiani; Dan Deibel, president of Olympic Residential Group; and Downtown Berkeley Association CEO John Caner. Caner called the area “the gateway to downtown.” Photo: Ted Friedman
Construction equipment at Thursday's groundbreaking ceremony for 2121 Dwight Way. Completion is expected within 18 months, according to project reps. Photo: Ted Friedman
Construction equipment at Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony for 2121 Dwight Way. Completion is expected within 18 months, according to project reps. Photo: Ted Friedman
Mayor Tom Bates, at left, said at Thursday's groundbreaking, "It is a great day for us, and a great project for Berkeley."
Mayor Tom Bates, left, said at the groundbreaking, “It is a great day for us, and a great project for Berkeley.” Photo: Ted Friedman

Related:
Construction to begin on 6-story development (07.11.14)
‘Explosive’ downtown Berkeley housing boom under way (01.14.14)
1,000 new apartments planned for downtown Berkeley (02.07.13)

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Emilie Raguso (former senior editor, news) joined Berkeleyside in 2012 and covered politics, public safety and development until her departure in 2022. In 2017, Emilie was named Journalist of the Year...