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BART seeks tower developer at Oakland's Lake Merritt station

BART is looking for a developer to build an office and residential tower project atop its Lake Merritt station in Oakland.

The transit agency is seeking partners for a "mixed-use, mixed-income, high rise development" on two blocks totaling 2.8 acres. They include a BART-owned parking lot at 98 8th St. and Metro Center office building at 101 8th St.

BART wants a mix of commercial and residential in a "catalyst project that creates an active neighborhood hub," which it hopes will boost BART ridership and reduce car emissions. It would increase the density of the mostly mid-rise neighborhood and is consistent with BART's 2016 transit-oriented development strategy for its entire system.

Development has been envisioned on the sites for over a decade and a request for proposals was previously planned in 2015. BART must now balance supporting a project that's financially viable with desire for public benefits.

The parcels have height limits of 275 feet. BART wants at least 20 percent on-site affordable housing, affordable commercial spaces for nonprofits, project labor agreements and impact fees. BART said the affordable housing portion could be in a six-to-eight story building, but the rest of the project should be highrise to maximize density.

Around 100 public parking spaces currently exist on the sites for BART customers and aren't expected to be replaced.

...A coalition of Chinatown community groups want a higher affordable housing amount of 35 percent, with "at least 200 affordable housing units." The groups, which have previously appealed other market-rate housing projects in the area, also want control of 120,000 square feet of community and nonprofit space and a $1 million contribution to Madison Park as part of any project.

The urban planning think tank SPUR called on BART to focus on active uses along the streets and for any developer to hire an urban designer, and to minimize parking on the site.

BART is holding an informational conference on the project on Thursday. The deadline for developer responses is April 16, and BART plans to release its short list the week of May 14. The BART Board plans to pick a developer by August.

A project will require approval from the Oakland City Council and BART Board of Directors, which plans to lease the land to a developer.

https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfranc...d-housing.html