R E J U V E N A T E                                      808  A Street

New construction, Senior Housing

  53,000 sf, Hayward, CA

Located 2 blocks from BART and across the street from a Lucky’s supermarket, a 1 acre, blighted, urban infill site ideal for Senior Housing has been sitting vacant in downtown Hayward for over 30 years.  The location happens to occupy a natural northern terminus for a major urban pedestrian axis (Watkins Street) which fronts the Public Library with its surrounding park and the landscaped City Hall plaza with its terraced lawn, sensory garden and granite fountain.  “B” Street serves as a tree-lined cross axis leading from the downtown Hayward BART Station across Watkins to an historic, pedestrian-friendly small shop retail district.

Our response to the invitation to become part of this urban geometry is to create a vine-covered archway at the end of Watkins that contributes a “green” landmark to the City while providing a vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian gateway to the building.  The high-density project brings together 60 units for active seniors with 6000 sf of flexible commercial space at the ground level east of the arched entry and a bicycle friendly lobby and business center for residents to the west.  Three floors of units above are arranged around a 4500 sf outdoor courtyard supported by the archway, facing the southern sun, and crowned by a truss-work of photovoltaic panels that frame a richly landscaped community space towards A Street.

A 2nd floor 1400 sf common room connects directly to the courtyard extending community functions to the outdoors.  At its heart is an edible garden alcove with tending plots available for residents.  Each floor holds a different satellite common room: gym, laundry, and library, overlooking the courtyard. These services engage the residents in activities that build their internal community, while the project as a whole helps rejuvenate this section of downtown by activating its street with retail and restaurants, by creating a green gateway that supports a City-oriented courtyard, and by visually concluding a main urban axis.  Three EV charging stations, unbundled low ratio parking, a photovoltaic system, recycled materials, and on-site food production add to the 808 A St. identity as an ideal 21st century urban infill solution.