5527 Vicente Way is an Example of the Density Bonus Law in Action

by Muhammad Alameldin, RCPC Board Member

The proposed development at 5527 Vicente Way—set to pour foundation in early January—offers a concrete example of how recent state housing laws might shape construction in Rockridge in the near future. The project involves redeveloping a large residential parcel into 14 for-sale town homes, each three stories, with a mix of two- and three-bedroom homes.

Several neighbors asked during the RCPC-led Community Vision Plan (CVP) process how the California Density Bonus Law functions in practice. In this case, the density bonus allowed for one additional home and provided several waivers from zoning standards that granted authority to build additional units. 

In exchange, one home will be sold at an affordable price to a very low-income household. For a two-person household in 2025, that means an annual income of no more than $63,950.

The homes range from roughly 930 to 1,200 square feet. Although compact, the units are designed to meet modern expectations: open layouts, green building features, individual solar arrays, EV-ready off-street parking and a private yard or deck.

The project is a joint effort between two Rockridge residents, Will Mollard of the development company Workshop1 and Mike Branagh of Branagh Development, the latter of which developed the small row houses at 60th and Telegraph in 2015. Both have worked locally for over a decade and said they approached this site with the goal of creating homes that are attainable for families who want to stay in, or move into, the neighborhood. Construction is underway, with sales anticipated to begin in summer 2026.

The development will pay standard impact fees, including approximately $40,000 for transportation and infrastructure, $52,000 for schools, $140,000 for water and $13,000 for sewer. It is also expected to generate more than $200,000 in one-time transfer taxes and approximately $175,000 in property taxes annually.