The Community Before

Fruitvale, one of Oakland’s seven community districts, is a low-income, predominantly minority community that was experiencing economic stress. The transit village project dates back to 1991, when BART announced plans to construct a multi-layered parking facility next to the Fruitvale station. Although the community agreed that new parking was necessary, the design and location of the facility did not sit well with Fruitvale residents and business owners. Members of the community were concerned that the proposed structure would increase traffic and pollution and further separate the Fruitvale neighborhood from the BART station.

The Community Now

Faced with this strong community opposition, BART withdrew its proposal. A community development corporation known as the Unity Council stepped in and with help from the city’s redevelopment agency, engaged local stakeholders in developing parameters for the Fruitvale Transit Village. Today the transit village includes a mixture of housing, shops, offices, a library, a childcare facility and pedestrian plaza all surrounding the BART station.

The Project Involved:

• Providing 68 units of HUD housing
• Providing 220 units of mixed income housing
• Building a15, 000-square-foot library, 54,000-square-foot non-profit health clinic and 55,000-square-foot child care facility