Empty empires: A few Berkeley landlords are sitting on several vacant buildings

"The five Berkeley buildings owned by members of the Louie family all have a similar look. Their exteriors are weathered, with faded paint and peeling trim. The curtains are drawn in their windows. Some are surrounded by padlocked metal gates. This is the second in a three-part series exploring new data on vacant housing in Berkeley. They look, in other words, like places where nobody lives, and nobody has lived for a while."

"The family owns four apartment buildings where the city says a total of 29 units were empty for at least half of 2024, meaning they will be hit with a $168,000 bill under Berkeley's new Empty Homes Tax. County records identify the buildings' owners as Henry, Phillip and Edith Louie, as well as the heirs of Wai H. Louie. Another Berkeley landlord, Ashok Sabhlok, also owns four properties the city identified as having long-term vacant units."

Four apartment buildings owned by members of the Louie family had 29 units empty for at least half of 2024, triggering $168,000 in charges under Berkeley's Empty Homes Tax. A 14-unit complex at 2416 Roosevelt Ave. has sat vacant for years. The buildings display weathered exteriors, faded paint, peeling trim, drawn curtains and padlocked gates. Landlord Ashok Sabhlok owns four properties with eight long-term vacant units, resulting in a $33,000 bill. The tax charges $3,000 or $6,000 per unit depending on building size. Hanumandla Raj Reddy owns a 51-unit building with the most vacant units in the database.

Read at www.berkeleyside.org