Project
RCPC's Land Use Committee is discussing the approximately 4-acre Rockridge BART station parking site as a potential location for a mixed-use affordable housing development that could also include a community recreation center for indoor sports, events, and cultural programs at ground level, with regional access and potential funding through a parcel tax.
Site group: Rockridge BART station area
Rockridge BART Station
Four developers (Wallace-Olson, Sprincin-Smith, Inwood, and Wilson Associates) submitted unsolicited proposals to BART for commercial and residential development on the west side of the Rockridge BART parking lot. Three proposals included up to 75 residential units over underground parking plus office/retail on the College/Miles corner; one proposed surface parking only.
BART Board voted to develop and adopt a General Plan for Rockridge Station before conducting an environmental study on a proposed second parking deck — rejecting staff's recommendation to contract for an environmental analysis of a second deck. BART planning staff remained concerned about increasing parking pressures following Measure B passage and spread of Residential Permit Parking.
BART Director and joint development specialist were to meet with the RASP steering committee to discuss BART's commercial development and second deck plans for the Rockridge Station.
BART's proposal to build new garage levels for additional parking and construct commercial and residential developments around the Rockridge station was at the administrative EIR review level. EIR release date was uncertain. RCPC encouraged neighbors to obtain copies and submit comments.
District 1 Councilmember Dan Kalb notes that BART is in the very early stages of planning for the development of housing on part of the Rockridge BART station's west parking lot.
Detailed article and RCPC discussion on AB2923, which mandates BART-adjacent zoning to allow at least 7-story buildings, minimum 75 units/acre, with 20% affordable. BART Vice Chair Rebecca Saltzman confirmed plans to hold a community town hall about developing approximately 1.4 acres of BART-owned property at Rockridge in two lots on the west side of College Avenue. BART committed to no taller than the 7-story minimum and at least 20% affordable units.
The BART parking lot at Rockridge Station is listed by the new RCPC chair as one of several 'opportunity sites' in Rockridge at varying stages of planning, suggesting BART may be considering development there.
BART is beginning to turn its attention to potential development at Rockridge Station. New RCPC Land Use Committee Chair Ken Rich discloses he is currently consulting with BART on North Berkeley and Ashby station developments, and will recuse himself from any votes regarding the Rockridge station. This is the first specific mention of BART actively considering development at this site.
BART held an Open House at the Rockridge station to gather community input and set objectives for a transit-oriented housing development on two BART-owned lots — one on Shafter Avenue across from Market Hall, one along Miles Avenue. BART is seeking a developer by end of 2023 to begin a formal community process.
A letter to the editor from Muhammad T. Alameldin (a policy associate with the Terner Center for Housing Innovation, UC Berkeley) advocated strongly for maximizing housing at the Rockridge BART station, arguing for Transit-Oriented Development benefits including reduced vehicle miles traveled, economic diversity, increased tax revenue, and fire/earthquake-resistant construction. This is a follow-up to the May 2023 BART Open House coverage.
A skeptical letter to the editor from J.W. Yager (Margarido Drive) responded to the July/Aug pro-TOD letter, arguing that TOD in high-cost urban areas can't overcome accessibility and gentrification issues, that BART's failures make car-free living unrealistic, and that housing mandates are mismatched to 2023 conditions. References a 'draft Rockridge Housing Study by the RCPC Land Use Committee in concert with UC Berkeley housing experts' that verified affordability challenges near BART.
BART's Transit Oriented Development plans for the Rockridge station area are described in detail, including new AB 2923 height limits (175 ft. at station, 55 ft. on College Ave) and BART's 2020 and 2024 workplans. BART has determined the site has strong TOD potential but has deferred near-term development due to site impediments (Temescal Creek culvert, easements, limited developable area) and an uncertain financial future, with plans delayed until 2034 or later.
RCPC's Land Use Committee is discussing the approximately 4-acre Rockridge BART station parking site as a potential location for a mixed-use affordable housing development that could also include a community recreation center for indoor sports, events, and cultural programs at ground level, with regional access and potential funding through a parcel tax.
“Although it is still very early to start talking about the Rockridge Station, Councilmember Kalb and I have talked about having an outreach meeting some time this year — a virtual town hall. We want to build as many affordable units as possible.”2021_05 - BART Vice Chair Rebecca Saltzman, quoted in May 2021 issue
“I'm not personally bothered by the idea of a taller building at CCA or BART, but I also don't think they are necessary for this neighborhood to do its part on housing.”2021_05 - New RCPC board member Ken Rich, May 2021
“She is open to the construction of buildings seven stories or taller at both CCA and the BART, and supports ending exclusionary zoning.”2021_05 - New RCPC board member Ashley Pandya profile, May 2021
“Designing safe residential buildings next to BART and the freeway is perfectly possible, and more difficult design challenges than this are accomplished all the time, but it will be complex. There are only a few pieces of land owned by BART at Rockridge which are sufficiently clear of the freeway. Given the urgent need for housing production in Oakland, we should carefully follow this process and see where it leads.”2023_05 - RCPC Land Use Chair Ken Rich
“The BART property development makes no sense to me because it'll have to be built so close to the freeway. Those of us who lived through the '89 earthquake and remember part of the Bay Bridge falling down and the Cypress Structure falling — having housing right next to a freeway is unsafe.”2023_05 - Neighbor Theresa Nelson expressing concern