ASHBY
BART
Bridging Diverse Stakeholders
Yes Community Architects (YCA) is proud to be part of the Adeline Alliance Partners team, alongside DIALOG, Urban International Studios, PYATOK, and Plural Studio, selected to masterplan the redevelopment of Ashby BART’s West Parking Lot into an inclusive transit-oriented village. This 4-acre triangular site adjacent to the station will feature up to 618 mixed-income homes: a 50/50 blend of affordable and market-rate units plus 25,000 square feet of commercial and office space.
YCA brings strengths-based community design to the forefront, centering the richness and cultural heritage of South Berkeley. In neighborhoods with deep-rooted histories and lived trauma, our design process works as a tool for healing, uplifting, and elevating community assets, leaders, and beauty. We acknowledge past injustices while actively co-creating a reparative framework rooted in community agency and trust.
Guided by Berkeley’s Joint Vision and Priorities and Objective Design Standards, the masterplan will reimagine the site as a vibrant, transit-accessible neighborhood that embodies density, equity, and cultural affirmation. Even as Berkeley prepares to shift the Berkeley Flea Market and repurpose the existing surface parking, YCA advocates for adaptive spaces that honor cultural institutions and foster economic opportunity
YCA serves as a bridge-builder, facilitating trust and collaboration among stakeholders including BART, the City of Berkeley, neighborhood groups, nonprofit developers, local artists, and community leaders. Our deep expertise in navigating complex, multi-stakeholder ecosystems positions us to ensure that the project remains both visionary and community-rooted.
Project: Ashby BART Housing Development
Units: 750 homes // 438 parking space garage Developers: BRIDGE Housing, AvalonBay Communities, Berkeley Food and Housing Project, EBALDC
Lead Architect: David Baker Architects
Associate Architect: Yes Community Architects
Equitable Density: By contributing to the region’s goals for affordable housing density—35% systemwide by 2040—this project exemplifies how policy, design, and funding can align to serve justice-centered outcomes .
Community-Driven Visioning: Through expansive public engagement processes, YCA ensures that design remains responsive to community wisdom and cultural integrity.
Transit-Embedded Renewal: Located steps from Adeline and Ashby, the project fosters sustainable, walkable living and strengthens local economic and social networks