Council approves disputed apartments

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Nov 20, 2003 | by Cecily Burt, STAFF WRITER

OAKLAND -- After debating for nearly an hour, the City Council approved a controversial affordable housing development for artists and low-income residents, but not without urging changes to its post- modern design to better complement surrounding historic structures.

The 8-0 vote Tuesday denied an appeal filed by Kazem Jabbari, president of the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California. The center is in an historic Mission Revival building next door to the planned Madison Lofts development at 14th and Madison streets near Lake Merritt. However, the developer agreed to make changes to the design and bring it back to the council on Dec. 16.

The appeal stated that the modern, boxy design of the eight- story, 76-unit project by Affordable Housing Associates is incompatible with the cultural center. Jabbari said the close

proximity of the housing for artists and low-income tenants could be detrimental to the religious nature of the center and to the surrounding neighborhood.

Through an attorney, other neighbors told the council the design detracts from the historical Lakeside Garden district characterized by older, ornate apartment buildings. They said the building has no set backs from the sidewalk and will exacerbate the parking shortage in the community.

The new building will be constructed over a surface parking lot used by the Islamic Center and neighbors who lack garage space. The developer received a variance to provide 51 parking spaces instead of 74, and promised to promote public transit among his tenants.

Vice Mayor Nancy Nadel argued for the appeal, saying developer Ali Kashani had still not made noticeable changes to the building's design, despite many hours spent in mediation with her, city staff and the neighbors.

"I hold the (Affordable Housing Associates) West Oakland project up as a model. This, however, is another animal," said Nadel, as she unveiled a list of architectural changes she asked her colleagues to approve, such as adding recessed windows and softening right angles.

"The big problem for me is the design of this building," she said. There is no relationship between this building and the Islamic Cultural Center ... there is not a single curve in the (proposed) building. The surrounding buildings have an elegance I don't see in this building."

But Kashani said the fact he didn't try to copy or imitate the cultural center's design was a sign of respect.

"The goal was to try and show utmost respect to the Temple because it is a historic building," Kashani said. "You either like it or you don't. It's a post-modern building, we wanted it to be very distinct."

Although other council members expressed concerns over the design, they were reluctant to demand more changes without first knowing how they would cost the developer, or without seeing sketches.

Councilmember Henry Chang (At-large) warned that pulling cornices and other design elements from other buildings could result in a design more like "chop suey."

In the end, Kashani agreed to go back to the drafting table with Nadel and city staff, and the council approved the development without subjecting Kashani to another review by the Planning Commission. Kashani will return to the council with new drawings on Dec. 16, when the public will havean opportunity to critique the design only.

"I'm certainly pleased that the City Council approved the project," Kashani said. "We will make every effort to work with Nancy Nadel and city staff to change the design to something (she) likes."