BART Picks Developers for 643 Homes at Fremont Station: What Happens Next

by Chris Renois

Plans for new housing at the Fremont BART Station moved forward this month. On October 22, 2026, the BART Board of Directors authorized staff to enter into an exclusive negotiating agreement with a team made up of Pacific Development and Affirmed Housing to build the first phase of transit-oriented development at the station, according to BART's Fremont project page. The team's preliminary concept calls for 643 new homes, 176 of them affordable.

Where the homes would go

The site is BART's east parking lot. BART describes this Phase 1 area as about 8 acres on the northeast side of the station. According to BART's request for proposals, it is roughly bounded by Mowry Avenue on the north, the elevated BART tracks on the west, the bus and shuttle area on the south, and Tule Pond and Waterside Circle on the east. Today the lot holds about 1,200 rider parking spaces.

The land south of the bus area, toward Walnut Avenue, is not part of this phase. BART's adopted goals say the Hayward Fault runs beneath that area, so it can't be developed. The parking lots on the west side of the station, near Washington Hospital and the Fremont Office Center, are set aside for a possible later Phase 2.

What's proposed

BART lists these highlights from the team's preliminary site plan:

643 homes, including 176 affordable homes
A landscaped plaza near the station entrance
New walking and biking access from Mowry Avenue
A neighborhood café with play space and art studio space

Coastside News published an AI-assisted summary of the board meeting. It reported that the plan includes one market-rate building and one family affordable building, plus about 5,200 square feet of non-residential space. The developers would also pay for new streets and utilities on the site. BART has not yet published building heights. Under the zoning summarized in the request for proposals, buildings on the site could be anywhere from 4 stories (42 feet) to 12 stories (145 feet). The limit is 7 stories in transition areas, and residential parking is capped at 0.5 spaces per home under state law AB 2923.

Where it stands in the approval process

This vote is not a final approval. An exclusive negotiating agreement gives one development team the sole right to negotiate a deal with BART for a set period. The Coastside News summary says the board voted 9-0, and that BART staff will bring deal terms back to the board later. It also reported a 30-month exclusive period with an optional 18-month extension. The original request for proposals had described a 24-month period, so the final terms may differ.

The request for proposals spells out the next steps:

During the negotiating period, the developers are expected to seek land-use approvals through the City of Fremont. The city is the lead agency for any environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act.
The developers must dig trenching studies to pin down where the Hayward Fault runs and to set required buffers before building.
If the BART board approves a development concept and term sheet, the two sides would negotiate a long-term ground lease. BART generally leases its land for these projects rather than selling it.

No construction start or completion date has been announced.

How we got here

BART's timeline shows in-station open houses on September 25 and October 8, 2025. The board approved the project's goals and objectives on January 22, 2026, and BART asked developers for proposals on April 28, 2026. According to the Coastside News summary, BART received two proposals in July. A panel of BART, Fremont and VTA staff reviewed them.

The goals call for a mostly residential project that fits Fremont's Downtown and City Center community plans. The site falls in the city's City Center-Transit Neighborhood zoning district. BART's affordable housing policy requires at least 20% affordable homes in each of its developments. That is stricter than Fremont's own ordinance, which, according to the request for proposals, lets rental projects set aside 10% of units as affordable or pay a fee.

What it means for BART riders and neighbors

BART says at least about 700 rider parking spaces will remain in the other station lots once Phase 1 construction begins. In its fall 2025 count, 550 spaces were in use across all the Fremont Station lots. The goals also call for keeping drivers from cutting through the site between Mowry and Walnut Avenues.

What Bay Area homeowners, buyers and landlords might do

Neighbors: If you live near Mowry Avenue, Tule Pond or Waterside Circle, watch for City of Fremont planning notices and hearings once the developers apply. That's the main chance for public comment on design and access.
Small landlords and investors: This project is still years from opening, and its size and timing could change during negotiations. If you're weighing a purchase in central Fremont, treat it as one factor among many, and talk with a lender or tax professional about your own situation.
People looking for affordable housing: No applications or waitlists have been announced. Keep an eye on BART's project page and the City of Fremont's housing division for future notices.
Stay updated: BART offers email updates on its transit-oriented development projects through its online Profile Center, as described on the Fremont project page.

We'll keep following this project as it moves through negotiations and city review.

Sources

Thinking about buying or selling in the Bay Area? Chris Renois can walk you through how these changes affect your home and your plans. Call or text (650) 512-9817, email chrisrenois@therealexperts.com, or get a free home value estimate.

This article is general information for Bay Area homeowners and buyers, not legal, tax or financial advice. Laws, rates and deadlines change; please confirm details with the original sources linked above or a qualified professional. Chris Renois, California DRE #02030130.