The Berkeley City Council has approved a 28-story residential tower at 1998 Shattuck Avenue, which could possibly become the tallest building in the city at 312 feet (95 meters), surpassing the University of California, Berkeley’s 307-foot (94-meter) Campanile. The high-rise plans to add 599 residential units and bring approximately 16,000 square feet (1,486 square meters) of commercial space, including a rooftop restaurant.

The development, led by NX Ventures and Trachtenberg Architects in collaboration with Rhoades Planning Group, will span a full city block and include 58 apartments reserved for very low-income residents. The site sits directly adjacent to the downtown Berkeley BART station, aligning with the Bay Area’s vision for high-density, transit-oriented housing.

Despite its approval on 3 June, the project faces challenges due to rising construction costs and tariffs on imported materials. According to Mark Rhoades of Rhoades Planning, additional expenses for high-rise fireproofing and durability add US$125 to 150 per square foot compared to mid-rise construction. These financial hurdles, combined with higher steel tariffs imposed during the Trump administration, make groundbreaking likely to be postponed.

The project is part of a broader shift in Berkeley’s housing policy. Once known for its strong NIMBY sentiment, the city has recently embraced new state laws such as SB 330, which streamline approvals and curb local resistance to new developments. This project contributes to Berkeley’s obligation to plan for nearly 9,000 new housing units by 2031, under state mandates.

Since 2012’s Downtown Area Plan, which allowed for seven high-rise buildings in the city center, Berkeley has approved all proposed high-rises under the plan. Recent approvals include Landmark Properties’ 25-story, 326-unit tower at 2190 Shattuck Avenue and Core Spaces’ 26-story, 456-unit tower at 2128 Oxford Street. Still, developers remain cautious, with Rhoades noting that few are actively seeking building permits due to the ongoing future financial uncertainty.

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