Obsolete business park eyed for transit-oriented development

A sprawling and obsolescent 1980s-era business park in Pleasanton, CA, is being scrutinized for possible redevelopment as a transit oriented residential neighborhood centered on a BART station. The city brought in consultants, including Daniel Solomon of WRT/Solomon ETC, to present options for the 875-acre Hacienda Business Park. Solomon proposed high-density, mixed-use infill around the transit stop, and redesigning existing roads to turn them into urban, pedestrian-friendly streets. Another consultant pointed out that up to 5.6 million square feet of office space could be built in the park without substantially increasing traffic, if stringent controls are put in place to get employees out of their cars. About 1,500 units of conventional suburban housing were built in the HBP in the past, and residents of those homes are wary of the project — especially high-density housing and plans to narrow streets.