On June 13, the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Board of Directors approved a new development at the agency’s Grantville Trolley Station to build 156 affordable units and 254 market rate, student-oriented units. Two developers will be teaming up on the project – Affirmed Housing will build the affordable units and Greystar will build the market-rate units.
“This is a great example about how MTS can help address our region’s affordable housing problems and climate action goals,” said Paul Jablonski, MTS chief executive officer. “MTS is committed to cultivating partnerships to redevelop our top-tier park and ride locations into transit-oriented developments.”
The developers’ proposal includes:
- 156 affordable units
- 254 market-rate, student-oriented units
- 96 replacement parking spaces for MTS commuters
- Total population housed on the property: 1,049
- 38% of units on site affordable
- Construction to begin June 2020; occupancy in June 2022
MTS recently updated its joint development program to more aggressively cultivate other partnerships to redevelop its top-tier park and ride locations into TODs. Program changes include prioritizing density, setting aside 20% of units for qualified low-income families, and identifying partners through a competitive bidding process.
Other properties MTS is actively looking for redevelopment partners include:
- 12th & Imperial Transit Center – 1.5 – 2 acres (500 estimated units)
- El Cajon Transit Center – 7.2 acres (400 estimated units)
- H Street Transit Center – 3.13 acres (125-280 estimated units)
- E Street Transit Center – 4.15 acres (170-390 estimated units)
MTS operates 95 bus routes and three Trolley lines on 53 miles of double-tracked railway. Every weekday more than 300,000 passenger trips are taken on MTS bus and Trolley services in 10 cities and the county. In FY 2018, MTS served more than 86 million riders.
