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Wow, a locally based developer, has filed revised plans for an 8-story apartment building at 3403 Piedmont Avenue in Oakland, increasing the proposed unit count from 93 to 105. The boost comes after oWow previously increased units from 73 in November. This move is part of a trend where developers are adding more units to make projects financially feasible due to high costs and tough market conditions.

    The revised application includes 29 affordable units, earning oWow the state density bonus allowed by Assembly Bill 1287. The law allows developers to include up to twice as many units as local zoning permits if they include a certain percentage of affordable housing. oWow has used this law to supersize two other projects in Oakland and San Francisco.

    Rising construction costs and low rents have made several residential projects unfeasible, prompting developers to use the density bonus to refloat their projects. Other developers, such as Gilbane and Yes Duffy Architects, have also employed AB 1287 to boost unit counts in Berkeley. oWow is known for using mass timber construction to build housing quickly and at lower cost, and is currently working on several other high-rise projects in Oakland.