Planning Commission clears 1622 Eleventh Avenue conversion despite tenant concerns

The Planning Commission unanimously approved a mandatory discretionary review request for 1622 Eleventh Avenue during its March 22 meeting, accepting the planning department’s recommendation not to take further discretionary review and to approve the project.

Planning staff characterized the proposal as a conversion that would construct front and rear horizontal additions and a one‑story vertical addition to create two family‑sized dwelling units from a single‑family house. The department concluded the design reflected neighborhood preferences and would result in a net gain of housing.

During public comment, neighbors raised two central concerns: whether the property was currently occupied (raising tenant‑displacement questions) and the potential loss of sunlight to an adjacent garden business. Naomi Kelly, representing the project sponsors, said the house was at times rented to students on month‑to‑month leases and that the occupants had notified the sponsors they were leaving; she said construction would not begin until occupants voluntarily vacated. "We do not plan to start construction until the students voluntarily vacate," Kelly said.

Commissioners discussed the planning department’s due diligence and noted that disputes about tenant status would be resolved by the rent board if appropriate. After questions from the commission and public comment, a roll‑call vote adopted staff’s recommendation to not take discretionary review and to approve the project.

Next steps: sponsors may proceed with required permits after confirming vacancy of existing occupants and complying with any conditions identified by staff.