NCTD Board votes to enter Exclusive Negotiation Agreements for two station development projects
The North County Transit District (NCTD) Board of Directors voted Thursday in favor of entering into Exclusive Negotiation Agreements (ENA) with West Village Partners, a partnership between Sea Breeze Properties, LLC and FABRIC Investments, Inc. for the Carlsbad Village Transit Station Redevelopment Project and Raintree Partners for the Poinsettia Transit Station Redevelopment Project. The board action is the first step toward transforming the existing transit stations into vibrant community gathering spaces where residents and visitors can live, work, play and ride.
“We are excited to partner with West Village Partners and Raintree Partners on these transit-oriented development projects and are confident their experience and knowledge of the Carlsbad community and similar projects, combined with our vision for the future of transit, makes them the right fit for these projects,” said Matthew O. Tucker, NCTD’s executive director. “We are eager to start collaboration and the planning process.”
A Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued from April through July of 2022 for mixed-use development projects at NCTD’s Carlsbad Village and Poinsettia Transit Stations. Redevelopment of the sites will maximize underutilized land around the existing stations and create engaging mobility hubs that help increase ridership and regional connectivity, enhance the overall transit experience and support sustainability goals.
Proposers were evaluated based on the criteria in the RFP, which emphasized transit prioritization and transit amenities. Entering the ENA will allow all parties to work through the next steps in the planning process, including project designs and engaging with the community on project features. The selected developers will be required to work within the city of Carlsbad’s entitlement process that is customary for all new developments.
West Village Partners was selected for redevelopment of the 11.33-acre Carlsbad Village Transit Station site.
“We have tremendous experience in developing mixed-use, community-based projects of this scale as seen with our North City project in San Marcos,” said Darren Levitt of Sea Breeze Properties, LLC.
“We are dedicated to working with the community to energize and reimagine this site and are confident that our vision will have a positive impact on the Village for generations to come. Given our long-standing history and presence in Carlsbad Village, we believe we have a unique understanding of the community's culture and needs. We firmly believe this project will capture that understanding and result in a development that complements the Village and transforms the way people experience transit,” stated Brendan Foote of FABRIC Investments, Inc.
Raintree Partners was selected for redevelopment of the 11.47-acre Poinsettia Transit Station site.
“We are looking forward to partnering with NCTD on the Poinsettia Station project,” said Jason Check, managing partner of Raintree Partners. “Our goal is to create an engaging environment that extends off the train and into the community, making transit more enjoyable and convenient for commuters, residents and Carlsbad visitors.”
Benefits of the redevelopment projects include generation of revenue through long-term ground leases, increased transit ridership, creation of jobs and affordable housing and a reduction of automobile reliance. NCTD envisions the redeveloped transit stations will serve as mobility hubs, places where transit riders connect with opportunities for work, shopping and dining. In addition to supporting NCTD’s long-term goals, the projects will also help fuel economic growth, support local and state climate change and air quality goals and advance the region’s transit connectivity.
“NCTD’s redevelopment plans address the region’s growing need to promote the use of a sustainable, efficient and accessible transportation network while providing a sense of a thriving community at these transit stations for decades to come,” Tucker said.
Carlsbad Village and Poinsettia Transit Stations are just two of the 11 sites being considered for redevelopment by NCTD, all of which are in various stages of redevelopment. The other projects include Oceanside Transit Center, Escondido Transit Center and seven SPRINTER Station parking lots.
