en.Wedoany.com Reported - Developer EBALDC has submitted a preliminary permit application for site preparation and groundwork at 285 12th Street in Oakland. Located at the intersection of downtown Oakland and the Chinatown neighborhood, the site is planned for 65 affordable housing units.

The site has been in the new development approval process since 2016, progressing slowly until the latest plan update in 2024. EBALDC received a state Climate Action Plan grant in December 2025, after which construction preparation began, with hopes that project construction could start within this year.

According to the latest design, the project will provide a total of 77,500 square feet of building area, including 49,050 square feet of residential space, 5,300 square feet of parking, and 3,440 square feet of retail space. The residential component includes 65 units, comprising 15 studios, 16 one-bedroom, 17 two-bedroom, and 17 three-bedroom units.

Studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units will be targeted at households earning 30% to 60% of the area median income, with 13 units reserved for homeless individuals. The project garage will provide 15 vehicle parking spaces and 70 bicycle storage spaces.

David Baker Architects is responsible for the latest architectural design. The plan shows an 84-foot-tall podium structure with a two-story concrete base and a five-story wood frame above, with the building mass divided into three sections. Facade materials include white fiber cement panels, wood siding, and vertical formwork concrete.

The site is located at the intersection of 12th Street and Harrison Street, within walking distance of commercial facilities, parks, and transit hubs. Part of the grant will be used to improve surrounding transportation infrastructure to enhance resident mobility.