Mandela Gateway

Location: West Oakland, CA

Project Type: Housing

Historically one of Oakland’s first commercial hubs and home to its jazz, blues, and gospel music scene of the 1940s and ’50s, the transit village at the West Oakland BART station combines transit-oriented development with affordable housing in a move to revitalize the neighborhood. PGAdesign designed a pedestrian-friendly landscape for multi-level housing that features community spaces and a unique palette of colorful, resilient plants in raised planters.

Paying respect to West Oakland’s rich cultural past, with a positive nod to the future, the landscape design provides a setting for residents to create a vibrant community. PGAdesign’s plan specified a unique palette of resilient, colorful, lively plants, many of which are native to Africa. The inviting entry plazas and wide, tree-lined sidewalks promote safety and encourage renewed neighborhood pride.

Awards

• 2006 Award of Excellence for Housing & Community Development, NAHRO
• 2006 Award of Excellence for Residential Development, California Redevelopment Association
• 2006 Best Affordable Project (30 du/acre or more), Gold Nugget Award
• 2006 Best Low-Rise Apartment Project (up to 3 stories for rent), Gold Nugget Award
• 2006 Attached Urban Project of the Year, Gold Nugget Award
• 2006 Best Urban Project, Affordable Housing Finance Reader’s Choice Awards

Lydia Tan, Executive Vice President, BRIDGE Housing