Berkeley council advances Ashby East Lot RFP, authorizes up to $500,000 to acquire site

The Berkeley City Council on Oct. 28 voted to authorize limited housing‑trust fund spending and advance a developer‑selection framework for the Ashby BART East Lot, moving the city closer to soliciting proposals for a transit‑oriented housing project adjacent to the Ed Roberts campus.

City staff presented a framework and draft design standards that staff and consultants said reflect binding terms in the earlier exchange agreement with BART and community priorities captured in a Joint Vision and Priorities document. "This project is a result of a nearly decade‑long effort and collaboration with BART and the community," Margo Ernst, manager for Housing and Community Services, told the council as she introduced the study session.

The framework sets a package of non‑negotiable thresholds that proposers must meet to advance: a minimum of 300 bedrooms; a minimum of 35% of units affordable overall, with 20% of the affordable portion reserved for extremely low‑income households (about 7% of total bedrooms); and a community benefits fund with a minimum developer contribution of $150,000 per year to support South Berkeley. "Those 4 elements, all projects must achieve," consultant Kirsten Lisonbee said when outlining the thresholds.

Staff distinguished those requirements from aspirational goals the city will heavily incentivize. The framework includes a 50% affordability goal above the 35% threshold, a goal to pursue affordable homeownership where feasible and an emphasis on universal design given the site's adjacency to the Ed Roberts campus. Director Klein of the planning department summarized proposed design standards that would be embedded in the RFP, including publicly accessible open space, a preserved access drive for Ed Roberts campus loading, a 10‑foot ground‑floor setback for residential uses and a 15‑foot stepback above the fourth story.

Staff said the city has reserved $8,000,000 of housing trust funds for the two BART sites and that $8,000,000 includes an $8 million allocation for the East Lot. To implement the exchange agreement and, if needed to comply with the state Surplus Land Act, to take title prior to issuing the RFP, staff asked the council to authorize use of up to $500,000 from that $8,000,000 allocation. Staff also said the RFP will be paired with a NOFA and an additional up to $1,000,000 may be made available to support predevelopment activities for proposers.

"It's the city's intention to release an RFP and NOFA early in the new year," Lisonbee said, while noting timing may change depending on Surplus Land Act coordination.

Public commenters urged stronger reparative measures, greater community representation in the evaluation process and disability‑forward design. Victor Pineda, executive director of the Center for Independent Living, urged the council to pursue "disability‑inclusive affordable housing" and to include additional disability‑community expertise on evaluation panels. Members of Friends of Adeline and South Berkeley Now requested more ambitious affordability targets, including calls from some speakers for 100% affordable housing and explicit right‑to‑return provisions for displaced residents.

Councilmembers who spoke praised staff's work but echoed community requests to expand community representation on the RFP evaluation committee and to prioritize economic justice. "Economic justice and wealth building should be front and center here," Councilmember Bartlett said, urging stronger emphasis on homeownership and programs that would help restore intergenerational wealth to Black residents displaced by past development.

After discussion, Councilmember Bartlett moved to adopt a resolution authorizing the city manager to expend housing trust fund dollars to acquire the Ashby East Lot consistent with the exchange agreement. The motion passed on a roll‑call vote with all councilmembers present voting yes.

Next steps outlined by staff: refine the RFP using council and public input, coordinate with the state Department of Housing and Community Development on Surplus Land Act compliance, issue an RFP/NOFA (target: early 2026), evaluate proposals over a roughly six‑month period, and return to council with a recommended developer for approval. The council recessed and adjourned the special meeting at the end of the session.

Authorities referenced in the presentation and staff report included the Ashby–BART exchange agreement, the Joint Vision and Priorities (JVP) document, the city's housing trust fund guidelines and the California Surplus Land Act. The staff report and presentation materials are in the meeting record.