Move-ins are set to begin in mid-April at the newly completed ArtHaus Jack London, a 130-unit micro-apartment property converted from the Z Hotel on Jack London Square in Oakland, California.
The renovation process, executed by Oakland-based Diaz Capital, made use of California's Density Bonus Law, which allows developers to increase the number of units allowed in a project as long as a portion of the building is dedicated to affordably priced housing.
The majority — 128 — of the property’s units are studio apartments, plus two one-bedrooms, converted from 102 former hotel rooms. The furnished units measure 255 to 464 square feet in size, according to the property’s listing on Apartments.com, and include stainless steel kitchen appliances and balconies or patios in select apartments.
"This legislation empowers developers to contribute to the social fabric of our communities by addressing the housing challenges in our state,” said Riaz Taplin, founder of Riaz Capital, in a release. “ArtHaus Jack London stands as a testament to the positive impact coherent policy can have in creating more housing."
ArtHaus Jack London’s new look is inspired by the Saguaro Hotel in Palm Springs, California, particularly the bold color palette based on the colors of the Mojave Desert. A central courtyard features an outdoor pool surrounded by palm trees. A fitness center, restaurant and coworking spaces are located on site, and residents are provided with complimentary membership to Riaz Capital’s ArtHaus Studios workspace.
In keeping with the creative theme, the property features two exterior murals. The first is a pre-existing piece installed in 2021 to fulfill then-11-year-old artist Maika Ting’s wish through the Make-a-Wish Foundation, in collaboration with muralist Hueman. The mural reads: “It doesn’t get easier/you just get stronger.”
The second is a blue-toned geometric mural by Oakland artist Fernanda Martinez, which wraps the remaining exterior.
ArtHaus Jack London is the third large-scale adaptive reuse project by Riaz Capital in Oakland, following The Rose on Bond, a conversion of a Spanish Revival-style church into 60 units, and the ArtHaus Studios workspace, converted from an unused warehouse.
