The Cascade Townhome Project aims to build 46 townhomes on a long-vacant lot in the Richmond Annex neighborhood.
On Wednesday, Jan. 14, the Richmond Design Review Board is set to consider the proposal from developer AMG & Associates for the 2.58-acre property at 5620 Central Ave, formerly the home of the Dolan Lumber Yard. The site has remained vacant for over two decades and has been the subject of several larger failed development attempts, often sparking neighborhood concerns regarding building density and flood risks from the nearby Cerrito Creek. located about a half-mile from the El Cerrito Plaza BART station.
According to city documents, the project consists of eight separate three-story buildings. Each home will feature three bedrooms, a private balcony, and an attached two-car garage on the ground floor. To enhance the community space, the developer plans to include a central recreation area with a playground, picnic seating, and bike racks. The architectural design uses fiber cement siding and stucco in natural tones, such as sage and rust, intended to complement the surrounding neighborhood, according to city documents.
Five of the townhomes will be reserved as affordable housing for moderate-income families. By including these units, the developer is utilizing the State Density Bonus Law to request specific waivers. These include removing the requirement for ground-floor shops and allowing for buildings that are longer than typically permitted. Additionally, the developer will dedicate a portion of the land to the city to allow for wider streets, new sidewalks, and street trees along Central Avenue and San Mateo Street.
City planners are recommending approval of the project, noting that it aligns with Richmond’s long-term goals for the area. They describe the townhomes as a appropriate transition between nearby commercial businesses and existing residential blocks. While the new buildings will be taller than some neighboring homes, a concrete-lined drainage channel on the property’s edge provides a natural buffer. No formal public comments have been filed yet, but residents will have the opportunity to speak at the hearing this Wednesday.
Site’s long and complex history
The site has a long and complex development history spanning over two decades. The property has remained vacant since closure of the Dolan Lumber Yard. Over the years, the site has cycled through several failed housing proposals: in 2015, the city initially approved a five-story, 155-unit affordable housing complex, which was delayed by legal challenges and eventually stalled due to economic viability concerns. By 2018, the developer returned with a proposal for 46 units, similar to the current plan, but it also failed to move forward. Most recently, in July 2023, the city approved a much larger 393-unit apartment building under state streamlining law SB 35, though that project never reached the construction phase. The current Cascade Townhome project represents a return to a lower-density design for a parcel that has remained empty despite ten years of shifting residential plans.
