Related California Starts Affordable Housing Project at El Cerrito Plaza BART Station

• Related California has begun construction on 70 affordable apartments at the El Cerrito Plaza BART Station in California.
• The project is the first phase of a larger 6.5-acre transit-oriented development planned to deliver 743 homes.
• Construction is expected to finish in late 2027, with additional housing phases planned at the station site.

Related California Begins Transit-Oriented Housing Project

Developer Related California has started construction on a new affordable housing development at the El Cerrito Plaza BART Station, marking the first phase of a large transit-oriented project planned for the station area. The development will bring 70 affordable apartments for households earning between 30 percent and 60 percent of Contra Costa County’s area median income (AMI). The project is part of a broader plan that will eventually transform 6.5 acres surrounding the BART station into a mixed-use residential hub. Transit agencies and housing developers across California have increasingly partnered on projects like this to add housing directly next to major transportation infrastructure.

What The Development Will Deliver

The broader master plan for the El Cerrito Plaza site calls for 743 total apartments across multiple phases. Beyond housing, the development will include a 22,000-square-foot public plaza designed as a community gathering space near the station. Plans also call for approximately 21,000 square feet of retail space and 20,000 square feet reserved for a potential public library. Parking for BART passengers will remain part of the site, maintaining access for commuters using the regional transit system.

What The Project Means For Transit-Oriented Development

The project highlights the growing role of transit-oriented development (TOD) in addressing housing shortages while supporting public transportation usage. Additional improvements tied to the project include new bike lanes on surrounding streets, designed to improve accessibility and reduce reliance on cars near the station. The development team includes architecture firms Pyatok and Van Meter Williams Pollack, landscape architecture firm Einwiller Kuehl, BKF Engineers, Satellite Affordable Housing Associates, and Holliday Development. The first phase is expected to be completed in late 2027, with future phases adding hundreds of additional apartments to the El Cerrito Plaza area.