BART Board Awards Lake Merritt Transit-Oriented Development Exclusive Negotiating Agreement to Joint Venture of EBALDC and Strada Investment Group

On September 13, 2018, the BART Board approved staff's recommendation to select the developer team comprised of the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) and Strada Investment Group, to advance transit-oriented development at the Lake Merritt station.

The plan proposed by the EBALDC/Strada joint venture calls for four new buildings on BART-owned lots above the station. The proposal features 519 units of housing, 44% of which would be affordable, and 517,000 square feet of commercial space for offices and shops.

Now that BART staff has the green light to enter into negotiations, the next two years are expected to be focused on project refinement and community engagement. It’s too early to determine when the project might be finished and what it might cost – those important details are expected to be worked out during the negotiations.

The project is aligned with the Lake Merritt Specific Plan and BART’s Strategic Plan, which states, “In partnership with the communities BART serves, we will promote transit ridership and enhance the quality of life by encouraging and supporting transit-oriented development within walking distance of BART stations.”

Project Background

BART is seeking a developer or developer team to complete a mixed-use, mixed-income high rise development on two BART owned parcels adjacent to the Lake Merritt BART Station.

On May 25, 2018 BART invited four teams to respond to the Request for Proposals (RFP), from the eight teams that originally submitted a statement of qualifications in spring 2018. These teams are led by:

East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation / Strada Investment Group

Hines Interest Limited Partnership

Lane Partners

McGrath Properties, Inc. / Brookfield Residential

The teams submitted proposals August 5. An evaluation committee comprised of BART staff, City staff, and community and regional stakeholders reviewed the proposals, interviewed the four teams, and selected a first and second ranked choice based on criteria published in the RFP. BART staff recommended on September 13 that the Board authorize BART to execute an exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) with the top ranked developer team.

September 2018 Board Meeting Materials

Materials from the recent BART Board meeting can be accessed via the following links:

View the Board Agenda for September 13

Download the staff report (pdf)

Download the staff presentation (pdf)

Developer Solicitation Documents

Download the Lake Merritt TOD Request for Proposals (PDF <1 MB)

Download the Lake Merritt TOD Request for Qualifications (PDF - 1.5 MB)

Download the Sign-In Sheets from the Pre-Submittal Meeting

Download the Questions and Answers from the Pre-Submittal Process

Site Overview

The properties offered are depicted in the image below. BART is also designing a new plaza and transit operations facility on the plaza block immediately above the Lake Merritt station. More information on this project can be found at www.bart.gov/LakeMerritt.

Community Engagement

Prior to releasing the RFQ, BART hosted three stakeholder meetings to inform and refine the goals and objectives for the project, which are guided by existing documents including BART TOD policies and guidelines and the Lake Merritt Station Area Specific Plan. Information on the meetings, including stakeholer feedback is provided below.

Stakeholder Meeting #1

Presentations from the December 11th Stakeholder Committee Meeting, can be found below:

Lake Merritt BART Station Transit Oriented Development--Stakeholder Committee Meeting #1 Presentation

Economic and Market Conditions (EPS)

Goals & Objectives Brainstorm Boards

Stakeholder Comments on Objective Boards

Stakeholder Meeting #2

Materials from the January 29, 2018 Stakeholder Committee Meeting can be found below:

Lake Merritt BART Station Transit Oriented Development - Stakeholder Committee Meeting #2 Presentation

Draft Goals and Objectives

Stakeholder Comments on Draft Goals & Objectives

Stakeholder Meeting #3

Materials from the Febrary 22, 2018 Stakeholder Committee Meeting can be found below:

Stakeholder Meeting Agenda

Revised Draft Goals and Objectives with Highlighted Changes from Meeting #2

Stakeholder Comment Letters

Chinatown Coalition Comments

Sierra Club Comments

AC Transit Comments

SPUR Comments

Sign Up for Updates

For specific inquiries regarding transit-oriented development at Lake Merritt BART Station, please email hlindel (at) bart (dot) gov or ymccoy (at) bart (dot) gov. You may also sign up for email updates from the Real Estate and Property Development Department, by registering for general BART emails and selecting "Transit-Oriented Development Projects."