This is Karen's story. Karen is a professor living in Berkeley, CA. She lives with her daughter in a beautiful two bedroom one bath home. Karen had the following needs: An independent home for an aging relative who lives with her for several months per year, a sanctuary for her own work, a guest house for a steady stream of family and friends and a little extra income. Karen picked the Short Line that is pictured here . She liked how New Avenue offered a fixed price and chose to customize the design by adding extra storage, several green upgrades, and nicer kitchen and bath finishes.

The short line home has the following pricing:

• Project Management & Oversight: $6,000 Schematic design and development, project coordination, construction progress documentation and invoicing, permitting, scheduling, schematic design and development, contractor mobilization
• Exterior Finished Shell: +$70,000 = $76,000 Demolition and remediation, site work and earthwork, foundation and concrete, framing and carpentry, insulation and moisture protection, windows and doors
• Finished Cottage: +$35,000 = $111,000 Finishes, plumbing, HVAC, electrical, appliances, tile, flooring, fixtures, lighting
• Green Upgrades +8,000 = $119,000 Forestry Stewardship Council certified sustainable lumber, low E windows, air sealing, recycled 100 year standing seam metal roof.
• Kitchen and Bath Upgrades +$7,000 = $126,000 Custom bath tile, tile backsplash in kitchen, modern fixtures, solid counter.

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Karen's New Avenue Experience

• Step 1: Application
  • Design: 0 Months Karen selected the short line model and paid a design deposit.
  • Zoning Application: 2 Months New Ave customized the design to match local zoning laws and obtained the permits.
• Step 2: Permits
  • Construction Documents and Engineering: 1.5 Months New Ave completed construction documents and engineering.
  • Building Permit: 3 Months New Avenue worked with the city to finalize the permits.
• Step 3: Building
  • Financing: Approved during design phase Karen financed the cottage with home equity.
  • Construction: 3-4 Months New Avenue provided a fixed price. Karen added green materials, kitchen & bath upgrades and custom woodwork.

Metal roof, redwood battens, plywood siding

Karen's Cottage

Entry way to Karen's Cottage - The New Avenue Short Line model

A small entry way and garden makes a huge difference.

Construction5

Karen's Cottage - The loft

This loft is 5'9" high at the peak with a queen sized mattress.

Great lights.

Karen's Cottage - The Short Line

A small eating nook and desk is made out of butcher block.

Karen's Cottage - The Short Line

This is an 8' wide kitchen from IKEA.

Karen's Cottage - The Short Line

This 8' kitchen shows a 14 cubic foot fridge, dishwasher, sink and cooktop. The oven is mounted above the fridge

New Avenue Interior

Karen's Cottage - The Short Line

The living area. That's a pull out couch and 5'0" wide double door that swings out.

Floor Plans

Construction

Front

View from loft, looking at front door

Looking down at loft and kitchen

Kitchen and loft

Ladder and kitchen

Loft ladder

Framing, plumbing, panels

Framing

Framing

Foundation

New Avenue "Short Line" design

Studio with sleeping loft completed for Karen in Berkeley in 2010.

New Avenue "Short Line" design

Studio with sleeping loft completed for Karen in Berkeley in 2010.