Berkeley’s efforts to help lead the charge to build hundreds of new apartments at the Ashby and North Berkeley BART stations have landed the city at the top of the transit agency’s list for short-term development plans.
The City Council unanimously voted to work with BART on the planning process, and established Berkeley’s broad vision for the site.
BART has the authority to build what it wants at the station, but the City Council and neighbors weighed in this week.
BART must determine the zoning for stations by 2020 and Berkeley must update its zoning to reflect that by 2022. One-third of the housing must be affordable and there are height limits.
The renovated plaza will have café tables and chairs, new trees, a sculpture, a sound installation, and a stage for the dozen of live performances planned each month.
Hundreds of people gathered Thursday night to hear what kind of housing could be built at the North Berkeley BART station. Officials vowed to be as transparent as possible.
Berkeley and BART officials are holding a meeting Thursday night to allay fears and start the discussion about what could be built. There are no current plans to build anything.
Over the next six months, there will be changes to how patrons access BART as the refurbishment of the BART Plaza continues.
When construction is completed in September 2017 Berkeley will have a BART plaza with a more open layout, better lighting, a signature glass awning, new bus stops, and places for special events.
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