Oakland Builds Affordable Senior Housing Over BART Station

The City of Oakland recently broke ground on 97 new affordable homes for low-income seniors in Chinatown near Lake Merritt. The Chinatown TOD Senior Housing project will serve households earning 30-60 percent of Area Median Income, with 44 units of permanent supportive housing reserved for people exiting homelessness. 

Also known as Lake Merritt BART Senior Affordable Housing, the Chinatown TOD Senior Housing project is located just above the Lake Merritt BART station, providing easy transit access to residents. Local area amenities include a senior center, grocery store, pharmacy, library, park, and medical facilities all within a half mile of the development. 

The East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation, along with community partners, is currently working on site development, with plans to add even more affordable units in phase three of their project plan. HCD contributed over $24 million from the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities Program jointly administered by the California Strategic Growth Council, and $6 million from the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program to make this development a reality. 

Plans for on-site amenities include a computer room, community room, public paseo, and a rooftop community lounge and garden. Each home will come with standard appliances and air conditioning, and a large commercial kitchen on the ground floor will be available for residents’ use.