New Avenue Blog

The Blueprint


Kevin Casey Kevin Casey

Permits denied…and then approved.

Here’s how we helped our clients turn “no” into a “go.” When Principal Designer Amy Guiang contacted the City of Oakland, she was expecting a “yes” but got a “no.”…

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Does Your ADU Need Its Own Parking Spot?
Kevin Casey Kevin Casey

Does Your ADU Need Its Own Parking Spot?

If you’re adding an accessory dwelling unit in California, Oregon, or any other state that allows ADUs, you’ll need to know about the local parking requirements…

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How much do property taxes increase when building an ADU in El Cerrito, CA?

That tax increase breaks down to just $104.16 per month. That’s easily covered by the monthly rental income. The ADU will easily rent for $2,000 per month or more, leaving enough money to pay off the mortgage on the ADU in just a few short years. After that, the rent money is available for the homeowner to use for her main home, education, travel or anything else she may want.

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On The Boards
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On The Boards

From backyard cottages to ADUs and additions, New Avenue has some exciting projects in the works.

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Will I have to pay more property taxes if I add an accessory dwelling in Santa Cruz?
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Will I have to pay more property taxes if I add an accessory dwelling in Santa Cruz?

A one-bedroom accessory dwelling like this one costs around $400,000 including design, permitting, all site work/engineering, and construction. When adding a “granny flat” or accessory dwelling of this size in Santa Cruz, you’ll a tax increase equal to about one-half of one percent of the full cost of the project. Here’s what that means for this property in Santa Cruz.

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Adding a detached office/bedroom in Oakland
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Adding a detached office/bedroom in Oakland

These Oakland homeowners wanted to build a detached office/studio that could also be used as a guest room. They also wanted to remodel part of the main home. The existing office would become a bedroom, and the existing half bath/laundry would be upgraded to include a shower. One of their requirements: preserve the property’s beautiful trees and tea house. Here’s the design.

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