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Council approves adaptive-reuse permit to convert office into four housing units in downtown San Bernardino
Summary
Council approved Development Permit D23-19, converting a 2,430 sq. ft. former office into four 607.5 sq. ft. residential units and adding covered parking under a 2018 adaptive‑reuse ordinance.
The San Bernardino City Council on July 16 approved a development permit to convert a 2,430-square-foot commercial office building into four residential units under a city code provision that allows adaptive reuse of office space.
Mike Sáenz of the Planning Division presented the proposal and staff recommendation, describing the project as Development Permit D23-19 and referencing Ordinance MC1479 (2018), which added a chapter to the city’s development code to permit conversions of commercial office to residential use. The permit application covers four units of about 607.5 square feet each and construction of covered parking, and the staff report included site plans, elevations and landscaping details.
Public commenters supported the conversion as a way to put vacant office space back into productive use. Speakers and council members noted that some older office buildings cannot be adapted due to building-code or structural constraints, but that this property was suitable for conversion.
Councilmembers expressed support for the project as a local housing gain and applauded the planning commission’s unanimous recommendation to approve. Following presentation and public comment, the council voted electronically to approve the permit, with the staff packet and resolution recorded in the public record.
What happens next: Staff will complete building-permit review and construction inspections under the usual ministerial processes; the approval implements the city’s 2018 adaptive-reuse ordinance for eligible office buildings.
Speakers quoted in this report spoke in Spanish at the meeting; quotes are taken from the official record.
"Nuestra recomendación es que el consejo adopte resolución aprobando el desarrollo de 23 19, permitiendo conversión de los edificios existentes..." — Mike Sáenz, Planning Division.
Actions recorded - kind: motion motion: "Approve Development Permit D23-19 to convert 2,430 sq ft of existing office space into four residential units (607.5 sq ft each) and construct covered parking per MC 14 79 and Resolution 2025-024." mover: not specified second: not specified tally: {"yes":5,"no":0,"abstain":0,"absent":1} outcome: "approved" notes: "Vote recorded electronically; staff to issue permits following standard plan-check procedures."
