Union city pushes housing plan
Council is final hurdle for 438-unit downtown complex
by Matthew Artz, STAFF WRITER
Fremont Argus, July, 2006

UNION CITY — The dream of a downtown Union City moved a step closer to reality when the Planning Commission on Thursday recommended approval for the most densely populated housing development in the city's history.

Avalon at Union Station, which consists of 438 apartments on six acres of land southeast of the BART station now heads to the council for final approval on July 25.

"This will set the standard for density and design in upcoming projects," Redevelopment Agency Director Mark Leonard said.

The two five-story buildings, which would include bike racks and an egress for nonresidents to access the BART station, are the first in a series of planned high-density housing, retail shops and office space to be built near the Union City BART station.

Not everyone is thrilled with the concept of an interconnected downtown.

Several residents of the Brookstone neighborhood said they fear a proposed pedestrian/bicycle bridge connecting their relatively isolated community with Avalon and the BART station on the other side of a flood channel will crowd their park and increase crime.

"I don't want strangers in my neighborhood all the time," said Julie Bauer, a mother of two. "Have you seen the people who loiter at BART?"

Leonard said the bridge was an important access improvement to help people get to BART and the future downtown without having to drive. The council ultimately will decide whether and when the bridge is built.

The developer, AvalonBay Communities, is scheduled to break ground next summer. First, though, it must remove toxics from the site at Union Square's auto row, which has been home to nine auto shops.

The project is listed as an apartment complex, but Avalon retains the right ultimately to convert them to condominiums.

Under city housing laws, 67 units must be made permanently affordable for low and very low-income residents.

Staff writer Matthew Artz covers Union City for the Argus. He can be reached at (510) 353-7003 or e-mail martz@angnewspapers.com.