Contact Us

Bay Area Development and Construction Brief: November 4, 2026

Regional housing activity moved forward this week at different stages, from developer selection in Berkeley to a proposed development agreement in San Francisco. For property owners and project teams, the practical distinction is important: a developer selection, a filed proposal, a planning approval, and an issued building permit each represent a different level of readiness. Construction costs and winter building operations also warrant attention as teams prepare budgets and maintain residential properties.

Bay Area Development and Construction Pulse

  • Ashby BART East Lot, Berkeley: On October 27, the City Council voted unanimously to move into negotiations with a team led by Satellite Affordable Housing Associates (SAHA) for a proposed 174-unit affordable housing project. The City also reserved $1 million for predevelopment. This is a developer-selection and negotiation step, not final project approval. [1][2]

  • Candlestick Point Major Phase 2, San Francisco: Public Works held an October 28 hearing on a second request for exceptions and deferrals from subdivision regulations for Final Map No. 12681. The hearing was held, but an outcome was not available in the records checked for this brief. The Board of Supervisors approved the final map in June. Check the Public Works hearing record for the decision before relying on the status. [3][4]

  • Freedom West 2.0, Western Addition: Mayor Daniel Lurie introduced a development agreement on October 20 with Freedom West Homes Corporation and a MacFarlane Partners entity. The proposal covers four blocks and nearly 2,400 homes, with more than 17% expected to be affordable. It remains proposed legislation, not an approved development agreement. [5][6]

  • Laguna Honda campus, San Francisco: Planning approval was reported October 23 for Mercy Housing’s 159-unit affordable senior housing project at 356–402 West Clarendon Road. Building permits were reported as filed and awaiting issuance. A reported construction-cost figure of about $70 million is an estimate, not a complete project budget or bid. [7]

  • Oakland proposals: A revised proposal at 3403 Piedmont Avenue calls for a 20-story tower and conversion of the Saw Mill Furniture Building, for a total of 334 homes. At 2101 Brush Street, a filed proposal from East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation describes a seven-story building with 90 rental units, 89 proposed as affordable. Both are proposals, not completed or approved projects. [8][9]

An older Asian woman using a cane walks on a landscaped path beside a community support professional near a mid-rise senior housing building

Building Operations and Facilities Insight

The November 1 clock change is a useful prompt for a unit-by-unit smoke and carbon monoxide alarm check. A short, documented audit can help property teams identify alarms that need testing, battery replacement, or full replacement before the winter heating season.

NFPA advises replacing the entire smoke alarm when a sealed 10-year-battery unit chirps or its battery dies. For alarms with replaceable batteries, replace the battery at least once a year, following the manufacturer’s specified type. California law also requires solely battery-operated smoke alarms sold or installed in the state to use a nonreplaceable, nonremovable battery designed to power the alarm for at least 10 years, with a hush feature and manufacture date displayed. [10][12]

For carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends placement on each level of the home and near sleeping areas. Replacement timing depends on the model and the manufacturer’s instructions. NFPA reports that nearly three out of five home fire deaths occur in homes without smoke alarms or where alarms failed to operate; working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by roughly half. [11][13]

A practical audit for a multi-unit property:

  1. Test each smoke and CO alarm using its test function.
  2. Check the manufacture date and replacement guidance on the alarm label.
  3. Record the unit or common area, test date, condition, and action required.
  4. Replace expired alarms and replace chirping sealed units rather than treating the chirp as a routine nuisance.
  5. Confirm battery type and installation requirements in the manufacturer’s instructions and applicable local code.

For larger buildings, assign responsibility for access, follow-up, and recordkeeping before starting. Coordinate entry notices and replacements with residents, and refer uncertain code or installation questions to a qualified professional or the local building department.

This operational focus differs from recent briefs on HVAC commissioning, capital reserves, rain readiness, and after-hours emergency preparedness. It applies the same planning principle: a repeatable inspection record is more useful than relying on memory when a small maintenance issue can affect safety or operations.

Permitting, Codes, and Compliance Watch

  • San Francisco data-center moratorium: Ordinance 215-26 adopted an interim citywide zoning moratorium on data centers, effective October 16 through November 30, 2026, unless extended. The ordinance includes exceptions for accessory uses and certain repair or maintenance work at existing facilities. State law allows a qualifying interim moratorium to be extended, subject to required findings and hearings. A proposed extension of roughly ten and a half months was introduced October 27, 2026, and the Board of Supervisors is scheduled to review the Planning Department's investigative report on November 10, with a vote on the extension expected at a later meeting. Until that vote, the moratorium remains set to expire November 30, and owners considering affected uses should confirm the current legislative status and consult the Planning Department before making project assumptions. [14][15]

  • Single-stair egress guidance, San Francisco: The Code Advisory Committee’s October 14 agenda included discussion and possible action on DBI Information Sheet EG-06, concerning secondary egress for four- to six-story R-2 occupancy buildings. The item could lead to a recommendation to the Department of Building Inspection. It is at the advisory stage; the agenda does not establish adoption of a new requirement. Check the committee and DBI for later action. [16]

  • Family Zoning Plan litigation, San Francisco: A pro-housing lawsuit challenging the City’s Family Zoning Plan has a first merits hearing scheduled for November 18. A separate CEQA challenge is also described in legal analysis, but no November merits date was identified for that case. The scheduled hearing is a future event, not a decision. Project teams evaluating zoning pathways should seek project-specific legal and planning advice and check the court record for updates. [17]

Workforce, Materials, and Vendor Notes

The latest AGC analysis, released October 15, reports that the U.S. producer price index for inputs to new nonresidential construction rose 11.9% from September 2025 to September 2026. The reported indexes include diesel fuel, up 115.2% year over year; steel mill products, up 27.6%; copper and brass mill shapes, up 30.0%; aluminum mill shapes, up 25.2%; truck freight, up 19.3%; and precast concrete products, up 10.5%. These are national producer-price index changes, not Bay Area subcontractor bids or project-specific quotations. AGC also reported steel order books filled through spring 2027 and some contractors receiving allocation warnings. The October PPI release is scheduled for November 13. [18][19]

A market counterpoint: CME Group’s October steel commentary reports softwood lumber prices 14.2% above the year-earlier level, while prices declined for a second consecutive month in September. Steel sheet prices rose as supply tightened. These index observations describe market movement, not forecasts or local purchase prices. AGC also notes that soft demand may limit contractors’ ability to raise bid prices as costs increase, which can put pressure on margins, especially on metals-heavy work. Owners can reduce uncertainty by requesting current, scope-matched supplier quotations and confirming quote validity, lead times, and allocation terms before locking a schedule. [20][18]

A Latina project manager and a Black estimator in safety helmets discuss material lead times beside organized steel sections and lumber at a construction site

Featured Project or Case Study

Ashby BART East Lot moves into predevelopment negotiations

Berkeley’s October 27 City Council action advances a transit-adjacent affordable housing proposal from competitive developer selection into negotiation. The selected team is led by SAHA, with Habitat for Humanity East Bay/Silicon Valley and Deborah D. Matthews Consulting. Related California and The Kelsey were named as the alternate team if negotiations with SAHA do not proceed. The site is the BART-owned East Lot near Ashby station, separate from the West Lot housing effort. [1][2]

The City’s staff report describes a preliminary 174-unit concept, including rental housing and 12 for-sale townhomes. The proposal was described as fully affordable, with design commitments that include accessibility and community engagement. These details are preliminary and subject to further planning, financial modeling, and community input. The Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate an Exclusive Negotiating Rights Agreement and reserved $1 million in Affordable Housing Mitigation Fees for master planning and predevelopment. That authorization does not commit the City to final project approval or construction. [1]

The next work is consequential for both scope and feasibility: negotiating the agreement, developing schematic plans and financial projections, planning services and parking, and organizing community engagement. Future City decisions will determine whether the project advances beyond this stage.

The selection process also illustrates how public owners can use predevelopment funding to help a selected team test project feasibility before final entitlements. For nearby owners and operators, the lesson is to track the decision sequence rather than treating early unit counts as fixed. Atlas Premier follows public approvals for regional construction context; City records identify the SAHA-led team as the prospective developer, not Atlas. [1]

Industry Calendar

  • SPUR Digital Discourse: “Preparing for El Niño: What Cities, Community Groups, and Advocates Are Doing Now”
    Wednesday, November 4, 12:00–1:15 p.m. Pacific; online. Hosted by SPUR with Nuestra Casa. Cost not listed; registration required. Register through SPUR. [21]

  • San Francisco Planning Commission hearings
    Thursdays, November 5, 12, and 19, at 12:00 p.m. Pacific; Commission Chambers, Room 400, City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, San Francisco. Host: San Francisco Planning Department. Public hearings; cost not listed. Agendas are posted six calendar days before each hearing. The November 26 meeting is listed as canceled. Check the hearing page for agendas and participation information. [24]

  • BOMA International Post-Election Webcast: “What the 2026 Election Means for Commercial Real Estate in Congress and the States”
    Thursday, November 12, 12:00–1:00 p.m. Pacific. Online. Hosted by BOMA International. Free. Register for the webcast. [22]

  • BOMA OEB webinar: “Fire Alarm Systems: Managing Today’s Impairments and Planning for Tomorrow”
    Wednesday, December 2, 1:00–2:00 p.m. Pacific; online by Zoom. Hosted by BOMA Oakland/East Bay. Cost not listed. Event details and registration. [23]

For a specific project, the most useful next step is to confirm which approvals, procurement decisions, and building-system checks are still outstanding before setting a budget or schedule.

Ready to move your project from concept to completion?

Contact Atlas Premier Services and Consultants today.

Atlas Premier Services and Consultants
Strategic Solutions. Trusted Execution.
Lake Merritt Plaza
1999 Harrison Street, 18th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (888) 999-8417
Email: admin@atlas-premier.com
Website: www.atlas-premier.com

Sources

  1. City of Berkeley, “Ashby BART East Lot Developer Selection for Exclusive Negotiation and Reservation of Predevelopment Funding,” City Council agenda report, October 27, 2026. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  2. Berkeleyside, “Berkeley picks affordable housing plan for Ashby BART parking lot,” October 28, 2026. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  3. San Francisco Public Works, “Public Works Hearing,” hearing notice for October 28, 2026. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  4. San Francisco Board of Supervisors, “Final Map 12681,” legislative file. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  5. Office of the Mayor, City and County of San Francisco, “Mayor Lurie Moves to Bring Nearly 2,400 New Homes to Western Addition, Following Years of Community Advocacy,” October 20, 2026. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  6. San Francisco Board of Supervisors, “Freedom West 2.0 Development Agreement,” legislative file. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  7. Andrew Nelson, “Plans Approved For Affordable Senior Housing at Laguna Honda Hospital Campus, San Francisco,” SF YIMBY, October 23, 2026. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  8. Andrew Nelson, “Proposal Grows to 20-Story Affordable Housing at 3403 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland,” SF YIMBY, October 22, 2026. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  9. Andrew Nelson, “Plans Revealed For 2101 Brush Street, West Oakland,” SF YIMBY, October 28, 2026. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  10. National Fire Protection Association, “Changing Clocks and Batteries.” Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  11. National Fire Protection Association, “Smoke Alarms in U.S. Home Fires,” June 2024. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  12. California Health and Safety Code § 13113.7. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  13. U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, “CO Alarms.” Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  14. San Francisco Planning Department, “Interim Zoning Moratorium for Data Centers,” Planning Code summary, 2026. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  15. San Francisco Board of Supervisors, “Interim Zoning Moratorium for Data Centers,” File 261021, Ordinance 215-26. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  16. City and County of San Francisco, Code Advisory Committee, “October 14, 2026 Meeting.” Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  17. Daniel Gershwin, Megan A. Jennings, and Alyssa Netto, “Family Zoning and SB 79 in Court: What’s Next for San Francisco Housing?” Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass, September 2, 2026. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  18. Associated General Contractors of America, “Construction Input Costs Rise 11.9% From September 2025 to September 2026,” October 15, 2026. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  19. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Producer Price Index News Release Schedule.” Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  20. CME Group, “Steel Insights,” October 2026. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  21. SPUR, “Preparing for El Niño: What Cities, Community Groups, and Advocates Are Doing Now,” event listing. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  22. BOMA International, “BOMA Post-Election Webcast: What the 2026 Election Means for Commercial Real Estate in Congress and the States,” event listing. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  23. BOMA Oakland/East Bay, “Fire Alarm Systems: Managing Today’s Impairments and Planning for Tomorrow,” event listing. Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.
  24. San Francisco Planning Department, “Planning Commission Hearings.” Direct link. Accessed November 1, 2026.

Disclaimer: This content is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, engineering, construction, regulatory, or other professional advice. Reading this content does not create a client or contractual relationship with Atlas Premier Services & Consultants. Because every project and property is different, consult qualified professionals regarding your specific circumstances. Atlas Premier Services & Consultants makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not responsible for third-party content or references. Testimonials, examples, and case studies are illustrative only and do not guarantee similar results.

Share the Post: