Pacific Development and Affirmed Housing Win BART Deal for 643 Homes in Fremont’s Emerging Downtown

• Pacific Development and Affirmed Housing have been selected to negotiate with BART on a proposed 643-home transit-oriented development at Fremont BART Station.
• The plan includes 176 affordable homes, a landscaped public plaza, ground-floor cafes and pedestrian and bicycle connections.
• The project would redevelop underused station parking lots near Tule Pond, potentially bringing more than 1,500 residents into Fremont’s developing urban center.
• The development team hopes to secure project approvals in 2027 and start construction in 2028, though the plan remains in the planning stage.

What BART Selected for Fremont Station

BART’s board has selected Pacific Development and Affirmed Housing to advance the first phase of a major housing project at Fremont Station. The preliminary proposal calls for 643 homes on BART-owned land currently used for surface parking, giving the transit agency an opportunity to put underused property to work while expanding housing near public transportation. The project would include three residential buildings, a public plaza and ground-floor cafes. Many homes would overlook Tule Pond, a 17-acre wetland and stormwater treatment area next to the station.

Fremont economic development official Donavan Lazaro described the broader ambition directly: “We have never had a downtown of our own, so we are now building one from scratch.”

What the 176 Affordable Homes Mean

Of the 643 proposed homes, 176 would be affordable, providing a mix of housing options within walking distance of BART. The project also envisions pedestrian and bicycle access from Mowry Avenue, a landscaped plaza near the station entrance and a neighborhood cafe with play and art studio space. For investors, the proposal illustrates how transit agencies can use public land to bring residential density into established employment centers. A larger nearby population could help support retail and services while creating additional potential riders for BART. The selection is not a final development approval. BART has authorized an exclusive negotiating agreement with the team, meaning the developers must continue working through project planning, design, financing and approvals before construction can begin.

What Fremont’s Downtown Transformation Could Unlock

Fremont has grown into a major advanced-manufacturing center, but its development pattern has historically been shaped by separate suburban communities, industrial campuses and retail districts rather than one traditional downtown. The city is now building a denser center around Capital Avenue. About 1,000 homes have already opened in the emerging downtown area, with another 3,500 in the pipeline, according to the reporting. Adding hundreds of homes at the BART station could connect that growth to transit and provide more customers for nearby businesses.

Pacific Development partner Sean Murphy said the team intends to prioritize the nearby wetland, calling Tule Ponds “a really important natural resource that everyone has turned their back on for decades.” He added, “We are going to really focus on it.”

What Investors Should Watch Next

BART’s wider transit-oriented development program has delivered 4,232 homes, including 1,298 affordable units, across completed projects, with thousands more in predevelopment. Fremont is part of that broader effort to turn transit-adjacent land into housing and neighborhood amenities. The development team hopes to obtain approvals in 2027 and begin construction in 2028. The schedule and final project details remain subject to negotiation, approvals and financing. For landlords and investors, the project’s significance extends beyond its unit count. If delivered, it could help create a stronger downtown retail base, increase transit use and make Fremont’s central district more attractive to residents and businesses.