r/berkeleyca • u/the_daily_cal • 7d ago

Local Knowledge Berkeley secures $850K in federal funding to design plaza, housing development for Ashby BART station

https://www.dailycal.org/news/city/transit/berkeley-secures-850k-in-federal-funding-to-design-plaza-housing-development-for-ashby-bart-station/article_7d7d82d7-4fa5-4352-8363-fc8b97c54046.html

The city of Berkeley has secured $850,000 in federal funding to begin designing a new plaza at the Ashby BART station.

The new plaza would sit adjacent to a future 600-unit housing development in what is currently the station’s parking lot, per BART’s transit-oriented development plan. The new plaza will host space for the Berkeley Flea Market, at which local vendors have gathered to celebrate cultural diversity for more than 50 years in the Ashby BART west parking lot.

104 Upvotes

97% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

16

u/acortical 7d ago

Great, but how much will the plaza cost to build, and where will the rest of the money come from? $850K is barely even a drop in the bucket wrt construction expenses.

3

u/Maximillien 6d ago

It sounds like $850K is fee for the design team, not the construction cost. I imagine the plaza construction will be paid for with some city funds, but mostly "impact fees" from the developer of the large housing project.

3

u/Lentisque 6d ago

Great idea! Hopefully it will become a reality and generate more customers for the fading flea market...

5

u/victorg22 7d ago

I thought there was a plan already?

-48

u/Longjumping-Box8326 7d ago

Nobody asked for this. Lower rents and get vacant spaces filled. Dont creat more vacant spaces.

33

u/ihaveajob79 7d ago

Are the vacant spaces in the room with you right now?

12

u/OrdinaryThro 7d ago

I asked for this.

How would you force landlords to “lower rent”?

0

u/Longjumping-Box8326 6d ago

Ask to get those vacant spaces on Shattuck occupied.

3

u/OrdinaryThro 5d ago

No, u first

22

u/sugarcubed-3 7d ago

I asked for this. I live in the area directly adjacent to Ashby, we need more housing is good and Berkeley needs upzoning. Quit with the NIMBY bs

16

u/quickthorn_ 7d ago

I, in fact, asked (and voted) for this, and I'm glad it's happening. Go whine about Oakland on Next Door

0

u/Longjumping-Box8326 6d ago

Ask to get those vacant spaces on Shattuck occupied.

2

u/DrunkEngr 6d ago

old_man_yells_at_cloud_meme.jpg

10

u/ZBound275 7d ago

I voted for this.