Antioch Creates Bold Plan for the Area Surrounding Future BART Station

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.

Working with BART for a Better Station

The City's unanimous approval and the community support at the Council meeting demonstrate Antioch's new commitment to a truly transit-oriented vision.

Unfortunately, BART currently plans to build the future station near a PG&E transformer station. By simply moving the station 1000 feet east, they could locate this station directly in front of the transit village, instead of power lines.

On April 23, 2009, the BART Board approved a motion to seek the additional funding to move this station to the better location. TransForm is committed to work with BART and the city of Antioch to secure this funding.

Next Steps

TransForm and CCISCO will continue to work with the city and residents to ensure the community vision we built into the city's Specific Plan is realized in the landowner's development plans, and ultimately built for the benefit of all. Contact Chris Schildt to learn more and get involved in our efforts.

City Contact Information

For more information on the city's process, contact Victor Carniglia with the City of Antioch at vcarniglia@ci.antioch.ca.us or call him at 925.779.7036.