"Boutique" Auto Showroom, Repair Shop Proposed on Eastshore Highway

A modern, environmentally-friendly auto showroom and repair shop on Eastshore Highway could one day welcome drivers entering Albany from the west.

The 24-foot tall structure, which was presented to the on Tuesday, is set to feature glass and metal building materials and a range of sustainable features, such as sunshades, skylights, fixtures for solar panels and operable louvers to regulate temperature.

president Tim Southwick purchased the property from ; the space at one point was , but has never been developed.

Southwick runs a Toyota service center in Albany at , and in Berkeley on Shattuck Avenue. 

He surprised commissioners Tuesday by taking any consideration of building signage off the table until a potential operator for the shop has been identified. He said it will definitely be an automobile business, but that he has not yet identified a potential operator.

Architect Philip Banta of Emeryville walked commissioners through the plan designs on Tuesday. 

"One of the main virtues to this project is simplicity," he said, describing its industrial glass and metal materials, which will maximize light and open space.

The 8,304-square-foot building, as currently designed, will feature a nearly 5,000-square-foot service shop, 2,700-square-foot sales area and a 719-square-foot mezzanine area to be used for storage and utilities. 

The service shop will be enclosed in corrugated metal siding and is set to reach 19 feet tall; the glassed-in sales area will reach nearly 24 feet. City staff said the building height is appropriate for the location and consistent with nearby structures.

A glass wall will divide the two sections, so customers will be able to look into the repair area to see work being done on vehicles. 

The glass walls surrounding the showroom will be overhung by a metal roof; steel columns will surround the building. Banta said the color palette for the building would be "very neutral."

Commissioners found little to criticize in Banta's presentation.

"For me it's a little tough," said Commissioner . "I don't think I can find a thing wrong with it." 

Moss did urge Southwick and Banta to pay special attention to what kind of signage the structure will sport, adding that he hoped it would pick up the materials of the building so it "feels part of the whole experience," like the Target development to the south.

Commissioner  said he liked the project's sustainable elements. He said that considering the signage later might pose challenges in coming up with an appropriate design. 

(Project conditions imposed by the city, noted Tuesday night's staff report, will "limit excessive banners and flags" on site.)

Chairman  called it "a handsome proposal."

"It's striking. It's appropriate," he continued. He said, due to its size and Albany's zoning code, the building would be required to meet LEED Gold standards. "I see no reason it wouldn't be able to."

Arkin said he also appreciated the "gestures toward a landscape" in the plans, and that he expects greenery to be compatible and bay-friendly.

City planner Anne Hersch said the project's environmental review document was nearly complete, and that it includes a "negative declaration," meaning that it will state there is no substantial evidence the project will have a significant effect on the environment.

The document will include a 30-day public review period when it is complete.

Owner Southwick said, initially at least, the business would be more of a "showroom with a repair shop," rather than the alternative. 

"It's something that will knock your socks off as you enter Albany," he said. 

Southwick said initially Target was not interested in selling the space to him, but "they finally agreed to it because it's such a small size." 

Southwick has described the project as "a boutique auto salon."

"Since a specific user has not yet been identified and the site is considered small by auto sales industry standards, the applicant has referred to the site as a 'boutique auto salon,'" explains the staff report prepared by the city for Tuesday's meeting. 

The business's proposed hours of operation are from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. The operation will have nine fulltime staff members. 

Tuesday's meeting allowed only for feedback to be given to the applicant, rather than a vote by the commission. The project will come back before the body for a formal vote at a later date. 

Southwick said he'd like to see the business open in 2012.

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