Protected: Chinatown BART Development

In October 2024, EBALDC broke ground on a 96-unit, permanently affordable senior housing development in Chinatown—a key Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) project. This redevelopment is done in partnership with Strada Investment Group and the Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART). As part of this effort, EBALDC and residents successfully advocated for renaming Lake Merritt BART to Chinatown BART, approved by BART officials in December. 

Community Engagement-Art

Civic Design Studio and its art squad of 40+ Oakland youth, in collaboration with ABG Art Group & Twin Walls Mural Company, is leading the creation of a permanent public art installation at Chinatown BART, aligned with EBALDC’s broader development efforts. Alongside the permanent artwork (see below), there will be a mural inspired by poems on Rootedness – this is where we need YOUR help. Please fill out this feedback survey HERE. 

• Civic Design Studio provides an artist apprenticeship pathway from high school to professional creative careers. Their Art Squad leaders serve as designers and facilitators, collaborating with artists, industry professionals, and community leaders to create impactful public art. 

• ABG Art Group, an Oakland-based creative agency, specializes in contemporary public art production, consulting, and connecting communities with diverse artists. 

• Twin Walls Elaine Chu and Marina Perez- Wong are the dynamic duo behind the mural arts collaboration Twin Walls Mural Company. They believe in the power of visual narratives to capture and reflect a community’s history, struggles, dreams and intentions. 

以下是上述英文内容的中文翻译： 

 

如何申请 EBALDC 的可负担住房：HOW TO APPLY – EBALDC | EBALDC 

2024 年 10 月，东湾亚裔本地发展公司（East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation，简称 EBALDC）在唐人街启动了一项包含 96 个永久可负担单位的老年人住房开发项目，这是一项重要的以交通为导向的发展（TOD）项目。作为这一努力的一部分，EBALDC 与居民成功推动将 Lake Merritt BART 站更名为 Chinatown BART，并已于 12 月获得 BART 官员批准。 

Civic Design Studio（公民设计工作室）和其由 40 多名奥克兰青少年组成的艺术小队，正与 ABG Art Group 及 Twin Walls Mural Company 合作，在 Chinatown BART 创建一个永久性的公共艺术装置，该项目与 EBALDC 更广泛的发展工作保持一致。除了永久性艺术作品（如下图所示），还将有一幅受“扎根感”主题诗歌启发而创作的壁画 —— 这正是我们需要 您 帮忙的地方。 

Civic Design Studio 提供从高中到专业创意职业的艺术学徒培养路径。其艺术小队的队长担任设计师与协调人，与艺术家、行业专业人士以及社区领袖合作，创作具有影响力的公共艺术作品。 

ABG Art Group 是一家总部位于奥克兰的创意机构，专注于当代公共艺术制作、艺术咨询，并致力于将社区与多元艺术家群体联系起来。 

Twin Walls Mural Company 的 Elaine Chu 和 Marina Perez-Wong 是该壁画艺术合作团队的活跃成员。她们相信视觉叙事的力量可以捕捉并反映一个社区的历史、斗争、梦想与愿景。 

如需进一步协助或简化版本，也可以告诉我！ 

 

 

The project’s community benefits and amenities include:

• Over 40% of approximately 560 residential units will be affordable and below market-rate
• Approximately 550,000 sq ft of commercial space, 20% will be below market-rate
• Extensive public open space and ground floor retail in Phase I
• Childcare center planned for Phase II

Project History

In 2009, Asian Health Services and the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce partnered to host a series of community design charrettes for community stakeholders, and BART and the City of Oakland commenced their Lake Merritt BART Station Area Plan process. These multi-year processes generated a tremendous amount of public engagement and new ideas about what this area of Chinatown should grow into over the next generation.

In 2018, BART released a Request for Proposals for the development of two parcels at the Lake Merritt BART Station. EBALDC and Strada’s response was heavily inspired by the ideas and desires that neighborhood residents, businesses, cultural groups, and nonprofits had expressed during the previous decade of community planning.

In 2019 and 2020, EBALDC and partners led a series of public engagements to shape aspects of the project design.

• Families and stakeholders voted on public space amenities at Lincoln Summer Nights 2019, a regular festival at Lincoln Square Park.
• In January 2020, more than 50 attendees who shop, live, own businesses, go to school, or commute through Chinatown attended an in-person event to influence project design. Stakeholders were excited to see the project realized, especially for its ability to bring affordable spaces, culture-building businesses and multigenerational programming, and emphasized a need for pedestrian safety in public spaces.
• In June 2020, EBALDC held a virtual focus group with small local business stakeholders to inform layout and operation of ground floor commercial spaces and adjacent public space, known as the paseo. Participants advised the team to create small, turnkey retail and street food spaces and invest in outdoor amenities and placemaking to for customers. They also advised on operations and technical design.
• In October 2020, a virtual workshop collected feedback on elements of the BART station access plan and the design of the paseo. Key takeaways were safety, transit access, and placemaking.
• In mid-2021, the project expects to host a series of additional community design workshops on building design, retail, and public placemaking elements.

To learn more about the history of the project, click here.

 

Project Timeline

• Phase 1 (Buildings A & B)
  • Mid 2022 Project Entitlements
  • Mid 2023 Start Construction
  • Early 2025 Finish Construction
• Phase 2 (Buildings C & D)
  • Mid 2025 Project Entitlements
  • Mid 2026 Start Construction
  • Late 2028 Finish Construction

 

Our Team

PUBLIC AGENCY PARTNER

Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART)

JOINT VENTURE PARTNERS

   

East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) & Strada Investment Group

DESIGN TEAM

     

Pyatok Architects, SCB Architects, EinwillerKuehl Landscape Architecture

 

How to Apply to EBALDC Affordable Housing: HOW TO APPLY – EBALDC | EBALDC 

Contact Us

If you are interested in staying engaged, attending future community design meetings, advocating for the project, or learning more about the project, please email us at chinatownbart@ebaldc.org.