MattBaran
@mattbaran.bsky.social
Architect. Developer. AIA. NCARB. Founder @ Baran Studio. Professor @ USF, AAU, UCB ARCH & MREDD. Posts on design, construction, R.E., entrepreneurship & tech.
OAK. LAX. DTW. LAS.
www.baranstudio.com
OAK. LAX. DTW. LAS.
www.baranstudio.com
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MattBaran
@mattbaran.bsky.social
· Oct 12
SB-684 projects are now moving forward in CA. They seem to increase density in an effort to increase supply and decrease housing costs.
Bordertown is one of the first mini-lot subdivisions that Baran Studio completed, and it pre-dates SB-684.
Bordertown is one of the first mini-lot subdivisions that Baran Studio completed, and it pre-dates SB-684.
Oakland, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and San Clemente have not.
November 7, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Oakland, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and San Clemente have not.
30 days to deem complete then 60 days to provide comments. Another 60 days after we respond. Third party plan check always finds something to comment on even if I submit a set that’s been approved before. Berkeley still beat this. And it’s RTI. Oakland is over 6 months just for entitlement.
November 6, 2025 at 2:27 AM
30 days to deem complete then 60 days to provide comments. Another 60 days after we respond. Third party plan check always finds something to comment on even if I submit a set that’s been approved before. Berkeley still beat this. And it’s RTI. Oakland is over 6 months just for entitlement.
We followed local height, access, open space and front setback limitations.
Final Parcel Map, Demolition Permit, and Building Permit approved in about 4 months. 🤯
Pre-construction and hazardous materials abatement completed and demo has begun!
Let’s goooooo!
Final Parcel Map, Demolition Permit, and Building Permit approved in about 4 months. 🤯
Pre-construction and hazardous materials abatement completed and demo has begun!
Let’s goooooo!
November 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
We followed local height, access, open space and front setback limitations.
Final Parcel Map, Demolition Permit, and Building Permit approved in about 4 months. 🤯
Pre-construction and hazardous materials abatement completed and demo has begun!
Let’s goooooo!
Final Parcel Map, Demolition Permit, and Building Permit approved in about 4 months. 🤯
Pre-construction and hazardous materials abatement completed and demo has begun!
Let’s goooooo!
Construction has STARTED!
This 2 unit fee simple subdivision is the FIRST all-new development the City of Berkeley has approved under SB 684 🏘️
We used 100% the underlying R-2 Zoning to qualify for state law that reduces most lot requirements… ⬇️
This 2 unit fee simple subdivision is the FIRST all-new development the City of Berkeley has approved under SB 684 🏘️
We used 100% the underlying R-2 Zoning to qualify for state law that reduces most lot requirements… ⬇️
November 4, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Construction has STARTED!
This 2 unit fee simple subdivision is the FIRST all-new development the City of Berkeley has approved under SB 684 🏘️
We used 100% the underlying R-2 Zoning to qualify for state law that reduces most lot requirements… ⬇️
This 2 unit fee simple subdivision is the FIRST all-new development the City of Berkeley has approved under SB 684 🏘️
We used 100% the underlying R-2 Zoning to qualify for state law that reduces most lot requirements… ⬇️
🏘️ Have a conversation with planning, or submit a pre-app using SB 330 to lock in the regs.
If it all checks out, you’re on your way to more housing!
If it all checks out, you’re on your way to more housing!
October 11, 2025 at 5:08 PM
🏘️ Have a conversation with planning, or submit a pre-app using SB 330 to lock in the regs.
If it all checks out, you’re on your way to more housing!
If it all checks out, you’re on your way to more housing!
🏘️ See what fits (this is important). Just because the density calculation looks good in your proforma doesn’t mean it works on your site. You’ll need a quick site test-fit to see how your site will lay out and function. Call me (or at least hit follow).
October 11, 2025 at 5:08 PM
🏘️ See what fits (this is important). Just because the density calculation looks good in your proforma doesn’t mean it works on your site. You’ll need a quick site test-fit to see how your site will lay out and function. Call me (or at least hit follow).
🏘️ Check zoning requirements. Use the greater of 66% of 30 units/acre or 66% of your zoning’s base density as your minimum, up to 100% max. You may need to create a remainder lot to keep it to 10 units max.
October 11, 2025 at 5:08 PM
🏘️ Check zoning requirements. Use the greater of 66% of 30 units/acre or 66% of your zoning’s base density as your minimum, up to 100% max. You may need to create a remainder lot to keep it to 10 units max.
🏘️ Find an empty single family parcel with subdivision potential, or a multifamily parcel - with or without a unit or units.
🏘️ Fill out the SB checklist from your local agency (or get one at the link below) to confirm your project qualifies.
🏘️ Fill out the SB checklist from your local agency (or get one at the link below) to confirm your project qualifies.
October 11, 2025 at 5:08 PM
🏘️ Find an empty single family parcel with subdivision potential, or a multifamily parcel - with or without a unit or units.
🏘️ Fill out the SB checklist from your local agency (or get one at the link below) to confirm your project qualifies.
🏘️ Fill out the SB checklist from your local agency (or get one at the link below) to confirm your project qualifies.
We know increasing supply is key to lowering the cost of housing. SB-1123 can help.
Here’s the process for 1123 feasibility that I’ve been running with developers all over California🧵⬇️
Hope it helps!
Pictured below: AI Render of SB-1123 test fit for 6 units on an R-1 Lot in Los Angeles
Here’s the process for 1123 feasibility that I’ve been running with developers all over California🧵⬇️
Hope it helps!
Pictured below: AI Render of SB-1123 test fit for 6 units on an R-1 Lot in Los Angeles
October 11, 2025 at 5:08 PM
We know increasing supply is key to lowering the cost of housing. SB-1123 can help.
Here’s the process for 1123 feasibility that I’ve been running with developers all over California🧵⬇️
Hope it helps!
Pictured below: AI Render of SB-1123 test fit for 6 units on an R-1 Lot in Los Angeles
Here’s the process for 1123 feasibility that I’ve been running with developers all over California🧵⬇️
Hope it helps!
Pictured below: AI Render of SB-1123 test fit for 6 units on an R-1 Lot in Los Angeles
Check out this interactive map that shows how SB-79 will (may?) play out across the state.
Link below.
Link below.
October 11, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Check out this interactive map that shows how SB-79 will (may?) play out across the state.
Link below.
Link below.
Supply & demand deniers are sure to claim it’s a conspiracy and do everything they can to stop developers from ‘making money’.
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
Are new laws speeding up California home permits? Here’s what the data says
In recent years, California lawmakers have made strenuous efforts to streamline housing permitting and close the supply-demand gap — and catch up with other states. Has it helped?
www.sfchronicle.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Supply & demand deniers are sure to claim it’s a conspiracy and do everything they can to stop developers from ‘making money’.
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
Supply & demand deniers are sure to claim it’s a conspiracy and do everything they can to stop developers from ‘making money’.
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
Are new laws speeding up California home permits? Here’s what the data says
In recent years, California lawmakers have made strenuous efforts to streamline housing permitting and close the supply-demand gap — and catch up with other states. Has it helped?
www.sfchronicle.com
September 26, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Supply & demand deniers are sure to claim it’s a conspiracy and do everything they can to stop developers from ‘making money’.
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/a...
“The economic conditions kind of override everything”
Even less would be built if it weren’t for new state laws. California is consistently outpaced by other states and the country as a whole. Affordability continues to suffer. The shortage is deepening and prices are set to skyrocket.
Even less would be built if it weren’t for new state laws. California is consistently outpaced by other states and the country as a whole. Affordability continues to suffer. The shortage is deepening and prices are set to skyrocket.
September 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
“The economic conditions kind of override everything”
Even less would be built if it weren’t for new state laws. California is consistently outpaced by other states and the country as a whole. Affordability continues to suffer. The shortage is deepening and prices are set to skyrocket.
Even less would be built if it weren’t for new state laws. California is consistently outpaced by other states and the country as a whole. Affordability continues to suffer. The shortage is deepening and prices are set to skyrocket.
The result is a culture where challenge is avoided instead of growing from it, institutions over-protect instead of prepare, and public discourse collapses into shouting matches because there’s no gray area left.
Ultimately this messes with individual psychology and poisons collective conversation.
Ultimately this messes with individual psychology and poisons collective conversation.
September 26, 2025 at 7:55 AM
The result is a culture where challenge is avoided instead of growing from it, institutions over-protect instead of prepare, and public discourse collapses into shouting matches because there’s no gray area left.
Ultimately this messes with individual psychology and poisons collective conversation.
Ultimately this messes with individual psychology and poisons collective conversation.
Once in that mindset, nuance disappears: disagreement feels like violence, discomfort feels like danger, and those who challenge your worldview are the enemy.
It encourages catastrophizing (treating setbacks as existential threats) and moral tribalism (splitting the world into “us” vs. “them”).
It encourages catastrophizing (treating setbacks as existential threats) and moral tribalism (splitting the world into “us” vs. “them”).
September 26, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Once in that mindset, nuance disappears: disagreement feels like violence, discomfort feels like danger, and those who challenge your worldview are the enemy.
It encourages catastrophizing (treating setbacks as existential threats) and moral tribalism (splitting the world into “us” vs. “them”).
It encourages catastrophizing (treating setbacks as existential threats) and moral tribalism (splitting the world into “us” vs. “them”).
If you believe I belong to one “side” or the other:
You may be suffering from a cognitive distortion called dichotomous thinking. It leads people to see life as a battle between pure good and pure evil, victims and oppressors, safe and unsafe.
You may be suffering from a cognitive distortion called dichotomous thinking. It leads people to see life as a battle between pure good and pure evil, victims and oppressors, safe and unsafe.
September 26, 2025 at 7:55 AM
If you believe I belong to one “side” or the other:
You may be suffering from a cognitive distortion called dichotomous thinking. It leads people to see life as a battle between pure good and pure evil, victims and oppressors, safe and unsafe.
You may be suffering from a cognitive distortion called dichotomous thinking. It leads people to see life as a battle between pure good and pure evil, victims and oppressors, safe and unsafe.
This CA SB-684 project was approved for West Oakland last week.
This one has been through a lot. Multiple owners, multiple entitlements, multiple permits.
Really hoping it sticks this time because there aren’t many people building in Oakland, and that’s going to have an impact down the road.
This one has been through a lot. Multiple owners, multiple entitlements, multiple permits.
Really hoping it sticks this time because there aren’t many people building in Oakland, and that’s going to have an impact down the road.
September 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
This CA SB-684 project was approved for West Oakland last week.
This one has been through a lot. Multiple owners, multiple entitlements, multiple permits.
Really hoping it sticks this time because there aren’t many people building in Oakland, and that’s going to have an impact down the road.
This one has been through a lot. Multiple owners, multiple entitlements, multiple permits.
Really hoping it sticks this time because there aren’t many people building in Oakland, and that’s going to have an impact down the road.
It’s also important to keep in mind that it is much more difficult to design something of quality with limitations on space, budget and time.
Choose your direction wisely.
Choose your direction wisely.
August 27, 2025 at 4:39 PM
It’s also important to keep in mind that it is much more difficult to design something of quality with limitations on space, budget and time.
Choose your direction wisely.
Choose your direction wisely.
You get what you pay for…
Quality matters, but not everything calls for the highest quality.
Matching quality to context is essential.
In a development deal, if you over-build you’ll never recapture the expense. If you under-build you leave money on the table.
Finding a balance is key.
Quality matters, but not everything calls for the highest quality.
Matching quality to context is essential.
In a development deal, if you over-build you’ll never recapture the expense. If you under-build you leave money on the table.
Finding a balance is key.
August 27, 2025 at 4:39 PM
You get what you pay for…
Quality matters, but not everything calls for the highest quality.
Matching quality to context is essential.
In a development deal, if you over-build you’ll never recapture the expense. If you under-build you leave money on the table.
Finding a balance is key.
Quality matters, but not everything calls for the highest quality.
Matching quality to context is essential.
In a development deal, if you over-build you’ll never recapture the expense. If you under-build you leave money on the table.
Finding a balance is key.
Neighbors often tell you that if you had just notified them, they would have been nicer.
In my experience that’s not the case.
They’re almost always angry about change.
(Photo of our Chapman project in Jingletown. Ask me about the neighbors!)
In my experience that’s not the case.
They’re almost always angry about change.
(Photo of our Chapman project in Jingletown. Ask me about the neighbors!)
May 27, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Neighbors often tell you that if you had just notified them, they would have been nicer.
In my experience that’s not the case.
They’re almost always angry about change.
(Photo of our Chapman project in Jingletown. Ask me about the neighbors!)
In my experience that’s not the case.
They’re almost always angry about change.
(Photo of our Chapman project in Jingletown. Ask me about the neighbors!)