Transit Oriented Development Shifts Into High Gear Near BART Stations in the Bay Area

Transportation and land use are being considered together at a new scale in the Bay Area, as transit oriented development pops up next to BART stations all over the region.

2 minute read

July 21, 2019, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Public Transit Ridership

Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock

John King surveys the San Francisco Bay Area for examples of the transit-oriented building spree taking place near BART stations, like at MacArthur Station in Oakland:

A seven-story building with lime-green accents covers land that five years ago held parking lots. It’s part of a 385-unit apartment complex being marketed as “sleek and modern with a retro vibe ... perfect for your life on the go.” A few yards away, workers have nearly completed the concrete frame for a 24-story apartment tower that will open next spring.

In a feature story filed under "Bay Area Housing Crisis," King reports that projects have opened recently at seven East Bay BART stations, and projects at three more that could break ground soon. "Cities across the system are putting plans in place to allow bigger buildings near BART," writes King.

"Long touted by boosters as pedestrian-friendly 'transit villages,' such projects on BART-owned land are gaining traction as never before. The change is fueled by factors including the region’s incessant housing demand and a new state law that loosens development restrictions on BART property."

The idea of adding large buildings and large amounts of housing units to BART-adjacent properties has been occasionally controversial, but the recent development activity acts on planning goals set as long ago as 1972, and formalized by a formalized planning policy in 2005.

"The current policy, adopted in 2016, seeks to add up to 18,000 units by 2040, filling 250 acres at 27 stations," according to King. "It also sets a goal that 35% of these units should be reserved for below-market housing."

There is a lot more to see and consider in this big feature, with infographics, images, and soundbites that match the scale of the endeavor underway in the Bay Area.

Thursday, July 18, 2019 in San Francisco Chronicle

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 21, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of California High-Speed Rail station with bullet train.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself

The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

May 19, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Red SF Muni ticketing machine.

San Francisco Muni Raises Fares a Second Time

A 10–cent fare hike for adults is part of the agency’s plan to chip away at a growing budget deficit.

May 21 - San Francisco Examiner

Electric car charging station with several Chevy Bolts charging in parking lot of store in Bellingham, Washington

Electric Grid Capacity Could Hamstring EV Growth

Industry leaders say the U.S. electric grid is unprepared for the increased demand for power created by electric cars, data centers, and electric homes.

May 21 - GovTech

Top view new development riverside residential and commercial neighborhood with vacant land in Texas, USA.

Texas Bill Supports Adaptive Reuse in Commercial Areas

Senate Bill 840, which was preliminarily approved by the state House, would allow residential construction in areas previously zoned for offices and commercial uses.

May 21 - The Texas Tribune