A plan to transform a long-vacant corner in Richmond into a modern hub for living and working is set to be reviewed by the city’s Design Review Board on Feb. 11.
The Ohio Avenue Live-Work Project features seven units in three stories at 300 Ohio Ave. It aims to activate a site that has been empty since at least 1939. Â
​The developer, Keith Chung of Studio CRIT, revised the plans following community and board feedback. Updates include switching from wood siding to more durable fiber cement and replacing glass garage doors with sturdy, black-painted metal.
The roof has also been updated to a beige corrugated metal, a material common to nearby industrial buildings.
The building’s height was capped at 35 feet, and the design includes a 15-foot rear buffer featuring Majestic Beauty Indian Hawthorn trees. Units are proposed at between 1,200 and 1,500 square feet.
​The building’s seven units includes one for an on-site manager. All units are intended to be offered as affordable rentals. Each unit features a ground floor dedicated to workspace and garage parking, while the second and third floors provide the living areas.
The exterior will also feature over 1,100 square feet of landscaping with native California plants and eco-friendly permeable pavers. Additionally, the developer added new safety and design features such as pedestrian door canopies and recessed windows. Â
​Local groups, including the Santa Fe and Iron Triangle Neighborhood Councils, voiced support for the project. The Design Review Board will now decide whether to recommend the project to the Planning Commission for final approval.
