Oakland to Build Affordable Housing Near Fruitvale BART Station

A six-story affordable housing apartment project is coming to Oakland.

According to the website of developer Oakbrook Partners, the new building would create 199 apartment units that will be entirely designated for low-income families and young people.

The Villa Fruitvale, located at 3751 International Boulevard, will include a mix of studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom units. On-site amenities will include a barbecue area, a seating area, an on-site classroom for residents and a play area for children, according to the project’s website.

The site is 0.88 acres and just under half a mile from the Fruitvale BART station. The estimated completion date is 2024

According to the project’s website, families making 60 percent of the local median income and individuals aged 18 to 25 who make up to 40 percent of the local area’s median income would qualify for housing within the facility. According to Census data, the median household income in Oakland is $80,143, so 60 percent of that would be $48,086 and 40 percent would be $32,057.

Affordable housing has become a priority in Oakland as inflation and scarcity contribute to rising housing prices. Also, encampments across the city are shutting down and space in transitional housing is limited. The city has spearheaded projects to get residents housing units.

Oakland is building two affordable apartment buildings at East 12th Street and 2nd Avenue near Lake Merritt. The city will enter into an exclusive negotiating agreement with the East Bay Asian Local Development Corp., a nonprofit based in Oakland, to build 91 apartments for low-income residents on the East 12th Street site.

BCZ Community Development Corp, based in East Oakland, has proposed building a mixed-use complex on a 1.2-acre park at 73rd Avenue and McArthur Boulevard. It would provide 120 affordable units, as well as an event hall to use as a cultural center.