Affordable Homes and Jobs in Antioch
The currently vacant 375 acres surrounding the future Hillcrest eBART Station is an incredible opportunity to create a new community for Antioch that includes jobs, housing, and transit. The Hillcrest Station in Antioch will be the end of the line for Phase I of the eBART system, which will extend BART service into east Contra Costa County and provide a much needed transportation alternative for local residents.
eBART will move forward in two phases. Phase 1, which broke ground in October 2010, will be within the Highway 4 median, and will stretch for nearly 10 miles from the current Pittsburg/Bay Point station to a future station at Hillcrest Avenue, with one station in between at Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg. Phase 1 is currently funded at approximately $500 million, and is expected to be complete by 2016. Phase 2 will extend from Hillcrest Avenue into Oakley, Brentwood, and possibly beyond. Phase 2 is not funded and the timeline is unknown. Read more about eBART.
TransForm has worked to ensure bicyclists, pedestrians and buses can safely and comfortably access the Hillcrest eBART station. Working with the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, the City of Antioch, BART staff and other stakeholders, TransForm made recommendations on station design elements, including traffic calming measures, wider sidewalks, bike lanes, and more.
Planning a Walkable Community for All
Since the summer of 2007, TransForm and Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organization (CCISCO) worked with community leaders on the city of Antioch's plan for the land surrounding the future Hillcrest Avenue eBART station. Early in the process, CCISCO's community leaders identified local job opportunities and truly affordable homes for families as top priorities.
On April 14, 2009, the Antioch City Council voted unanimously in support of the station plan, which included several components that incorporate the community's goals:
- Stronger policies for affordable homes for families
- A requirement for a local hire strategy for developments in the plan area.
- Requirements for continued public involvement during the master plan review process.
TransForm continued to work with CCISCO to support a local hire policy that will generate job opportunities for east Contra Costa County residents in building the eBART system. On October 27, 2011, the BART Board of Directors unanimously passed the Project Stabilization Agreement which included a requirement that local area residents work 25% of all project hours.
City Contact Information
For more information on the status of the station areas, contact Victor Carniglia with the City of Antioch at vcarniglia@ci.antioch.ca.us or call him at 925.779.7036.
Bold Plan Passes for Future Antioch BART Station Area
Residents Support a New Vision for Antioch with More Homes, Jobs, and Services Close to Transit
On April 14, 2009, the Antioch City Council unanimously approved a plan that will create 2,500 new homes, 5,500 new jobs, and over 2 million square feet of commercial retail in a walkable community around the future Hillcrest eBART station. The plan includes nearly 400 homes affordable for working families, as well as a child care center and local parks.
This is a tremendous turn-around for Antioch, a city that has historically approved low-density development on the edges of the city and rejected previous opportunities to create more walkable neighborhoods with homes available for people at a range of incomes.
Not only is this a bold vision for the city, but an achievement for all of eastern Contra Costa County. This is the first approved station area plan for the future eastern Contra Costa County BART corridor (eBART), which will extend BART ten miles from the current Pittsburg/Bay Point Station.
What a Difference Community Involvement Makes!
Starting in the summer of 2007, TransForm partnered with Contra Costa Interfaith Supporting Community Organizing (CCISCO), a faith-based, grassroots community organization representing over 35,000 families in Contra Costa County.
As a part of the Great Communities Collaborative, TransForm and CCISCO have worked to educate, organize, and mobilize Antioch residents to ensure that the station area plan would benefit working families. Over 200 residents, for many of whom English is a second language, participated in shaping the city's plans.
Early in the process, CCISCO's community leaders identified local job opportunities and truly affordable homes for families as top priorities. TransForm also worked with the Contra Costa County Building Trades and labor allies on the city council to require a local hire strategy for the plan area.
Together with Greenbelt Alliance, TransForm sponsored a tour of affordable homes near east bay BART stations to spur dialogue between the city and community members on how to create quality affordable homes in Antioch.
Finally, CCISCO members did extensive research with city officials to create a report on how to promote local jobs and affordable homes in the eBART plan, which they presented to three city council members at a recent townhall meeting. All three of the council members later supported adding stronger policies into the plan before it was approved.
The April 14 vote was the culmination of almost two years of building partnerships and organizing community support for a plan that would provide local job opportunities and affordable homes for families of all incomes.