Dive Brief:
- Nearly 3,000 parcels of transit agency-owned land in California hold potential for new housing development, according to a new analysis by nonprofit housing advocacy group Enterprise Community Partners.
- As many as 240,000 affordable homes could be developed on the nearly 8,000 acres of identified land, 22% of which is currently vacant or used for parking, the report found.
- “Housing on land owned by all kinds of transit agencies has the potential to achieve a multitude of positive outcomes,” the report states, “including addressing housing needs; increasing transit ridership and reducing driving; meeting climate goals; and providing new revenue sources for transit agencies.”
Dive Insight:
California needs to build 2.5 million housing units by 2030 to meet demand, according to the state’s 2022 Statewide Housing Plan. At least 1 million of those new homes must be affordable for low-income households, per the plan.
Several transit agencies in the state already have transit-oriented development programs that increase housing underway, according to Enterprise.
The report highlighted the Pacific Station North Apartments in Santa Cruz, California, a partnership between the city, Santa Cruz Metro and developers For the Future Housing and Eden Housing to turn an aging transit hub into 128 new affordable housing units — along with ground-floor retail and commercial space and a new Metro bus transit hub.
“The Pac North project presents a truly innovative partnership between the City and Santa Cruz Metro to reach mutually beneficial goals of creating a new transit hub and revitalizing underutilized lots for new affordable housing,” Enterprise said.
A large number of the parcels identified by Enterprise also meet walkability goals, with 82% located within half a mile of at least one bus stop, 24% within half a mile of at least one light rail stop and 16% within half a mile of at least one metro stop.
A majority of the developable parcels — 1,507 — are in Southern California, and 800 are in the Bay Area.
A bill passed by the California legislature last year also allows for higher densities and heights for new residential development within a certain distance of transit stations in certain counties. Of the parcels identified by Enterprise, 41% meet the bill’s criteria for higher densities.
