Re-imagining Communities

The Pleasant Hill Station community is a new transit-oriented development (TOD) surrounding a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Station. As the Bay Area’s first mixed-use, urban development around a BART Station, Pleasant Hill is a model for other TODs in the region, and the nation. A 7-day urban design Charrette, attended by neighborhood residents, BART users, local business owners, government agencies, community leaders, and activists, highlighted the 9-month long project. The BART property, previously used as surface and structured parking for commuters, was freed up for development by adding to the existing parking structure. Complete build-out will include civic uses, ground-floor retail, townhomes, apartments, and three mixed-use 12-story buildings. Laurence was a partner of LCA Architects & Town Planners who were the leaders of the Charrette that established the plan, the codes, and the architectural character. Two mixed-use blocks and the plaza, which were all defined in the Charrette, were recently built (with architecture by MVE & Partners).