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Construction for the first phase of the Lake Merritt TOD, a 97-unit senior affordable building and a new paseo, began in October 2024.
Rendering of Building B- Chinatown TOD Senior Housing; courtesy of EBALDC
Project Overview
The Lake Merritt TOD includes the land that was formerly the Lake Merritt Station parking lot (Block 1) and property across 8th Street that currently houses BART’s MET building (Block 2). A 97-unit senior affordable building and a new paseo are currently in construction. Future phases will follow.
The project is aligned with the Lake Merritt Specific Plan and BART’s Strategic Plan, which states, “In partnership with the communities BART serves, we will promote transit ridership and enhance the quality of life by encouraging and supporting transit-oriented development within walking distance of BART stations.”
Development program
The TOD master plan includes the following:
- Housing
- 557 homes
- 97 senior affordable senior housing units
- 100 family affordable units
- 36 affordable units in the market rate residential building
- Non-residential uses
- 500,000 square feet office space, including ~25,000 square feet of below market rate office space
- Open space and community access:
- New paseo
- Improved bikeways and pedestrian safety upgrades around the station
Timeline
2024:
- Construction commenced on Paseo and Building B-Chinatown Senior Affordable building
2022
- City of Oakland approved Final Development Plan for Building B-Senior Affordable Housing
- BART Board approved option terms
2021
- City approval of Preliminary Development Plan (including CEQA)
2020
- Station Access Study completed
- BART Board authorized ENA extension
2019
- Community engagement by development team (through 2020)
2018
- BART issued RFP for Lake Merritt TOD developers
- BART Board authorized negotiations with Strada and East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC)
2014
- City of Oakland adoption of the Lake Merritt Station Area Plan
Additional Information
- EBALDC’s Lake Merritt TOD project page
- Strada’s Lake Merritt TOD project page
Stay Updated
To sign up for updates from the BART TOD program, including solicitations for developers, visit BART's online Profile Center at cloud.info.bart.gov/signup; enter your info in steps 1 and 2; then under "Other" in step 3, check the Transit Oriented Development Projects box.
For any inquiries, please contact Yvette McCoy; Principal Property Development Officer at [email protected]