Ashby BART Station Area
As described in the Draft Adeline Corridor Plan (2-22), “The Ashby BART subarea is comprised of two large parcels adjacent to the Ashby BART Station, as well as the public street right-of-way and station area between them. The two parcels are owned by BART, but the City retains an option to the ‘air rights’ over the parcel on the west side of Adeline. The parcel on the east side of Adeline is a 1.9-acre surface parking lot. The parcel on the west side is a 4.4-acre surface parking lot, the northern portion of which is used by the Berkeley Flea Market on weekends. Beyond the parking lots, this subarea consists of wide, busy streets, with high volumes of station-bound pedestrian, bicycle, and bus traffic. The streets are not as conducive to safe and comfortable pedestrian activity as they might be. There are grade changes and design features that limit the visibility and accessibility of station entrances.”
The collaborative community process identified a number of “big ideas” (2-16) that help achieve the five strategic goals of the Plan: Land Use and Community Character, Housing Affordability, Economic Opportunity, Transportation, and Public Space. One of the “big ideas” especially considers development at Ashby BART:
Photo: Natalie Orenstein / Berkeleyside
Redevelop the Ashby BART Station Area as a vibrant neighborhood center with high-density mixed-use development, structured parking (including some replacement parking for BART riders), ground floor commercial and civic uses, and new public space. The BART development should incorporate green construction and become a model for sustainable transit-oriented development. It should unify both sides of Adeline Street, and provide public space for community gatherings, special events, and civic celebrations.
The Community Advisory Group’s discussions should connect to the “big ideas” from the Adeline Corridor Plan, which include neighborhood priorities and amenities such as the Berkeley Flea Market, South Berkeley Farmers’ Market, Ed Roberts campus, and others in the context of requirements stipulated by AB 2923 TOD zoning standards.
See Chapters 3, 4 and 7 of the Draft Adeline Corridor Plan for more on the Ashby BART Station Area.
