[[{“value”:”
Related California and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) have started construction on the first phase of a transit-oriented development at the El Cerrito BART Station, converting 6.5 acres of underutilized station parking into new housing and public amenities. The opening phase of the plan is set to deliver 70 affordable apartments, forming the initial component of a larger community that is expected to total 743 residential units at full buildout.
The master plan calls for a significant reconfiguration of the station area, replacing surface parking with a mix of housing, public space and mobility infrastructure. Over the course of the project, the development is planned to add hundreds of apartments next to the El Cerrito BART Station, with the stated goal of creating a mixed-income neighborhood that is directly connected to regional transit.
Beyond the residential program, the plan includes a 22,000-square-foot public plaza that will extend from Liberty Street to the station entrance. This plaza is intended to function as a pedestrian-oriented connection between the surrounding neighborhood and the BART system, while also serving as a gathering space for residents, riders and visitors.
The development framework also reserves 20,000 square feet for a potential public library, offering the city a future option to incorporate civic uses into the station-area plan. In addition, the project allows for up to 2,100 square feet of commercial space, creating an opportunity for small-scale commercial uses adjacent to the transit hub.
Mobility features are central to the design. The plan incorporates secure bike parking for riders, a new bus zone to improve transfers between transit modes, and a structured parking garage with 145 spaces dedicated to BART users. This configuration is intended to maintain vehicle access for transit riders while freeing up land previously occupied by surface parking for higher-intensity uses.
Funding associated with the transit-oriented development will also extend beyond the project footprint, with improvements directed toward nearby bike lanes and the management of street parking in the surrounding area. These changes are aimed at better integrating the station with the neighborhood street network and supporting non-automotive access to the site.
Ann Silverberg, president and CEO of Related California Affordable, described the El Cerrito Plaza initiative as an opportunity to make more efficient use of BART-owned land by placing housing next to jobs, services and the regional transit system. She noted that the first phase marks a step toward a long-term vision for a vibrant, mixed-income district that is expected to serve El Cerrito residents over multiple generations.
The post Related California, BART Break Ground on El Cerrito Plaza Transit-Oriented Development appeared first on CRE Market Beat.
“}]]
