A 335-unit development is poised to break ground in the next few months at 3440 Walnut Avenue in downtown Fremont, mixing 119 affordable apartments with 216 market-rate condominiums in what city officials are calling the first of six residential projects set to start construction across the city this fall. The project, known as Capital at City Center, is designed to bring new housing options to Fremont's urban core at a time when the city is racing to meet ambitious affordable housing targets.
According to East Bay Times, the affordable units at Capital at City Center will range from studios to three-bedroom homes and are intended for individuals and families earning between 30% and 70% of area median income. Leasing on those units is expected to begin in spring 2028. Brookfield Residential Properties is serving as master developer for the overall project, while Brookfield and Pacific West Communities are leading development specifically of the affordable homes, the outlet reports.
Brookfield's own project page describes Capital at City Center as a transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly community with access to Interstates 680 and 880, BART and regional employment hubs — positioning it to serve commuters as well as families looking for a foothold in one of the Bay Area's pricier housing markets.
Part of a Larger Push Across Fremont
City officials say Capital at City Center is just the opening chapter. Six new residential developments are expected to begin construction in Fremont this fall, collectively delivering 918 new affordable housing units across the city, per the same East Bay Times report. Those projects are expected to create additional homes within walking distance of employment centers, retail destinations, public amenities and regional transportation, according to the report.
That wave builds on momentum already underway elsewhere in the city. Centerville Plaza Apartments, a planned 290-unit all-affordable complex at 37352 Fremont Boulevard, is moving forward with 140 apartments planned in its first phase and 150 in its second, along with 5,100 square feet of ground-floor retail space, Mercury News reported in May. Meanwhile, Canvas, a five-story, 92-unit affordable community at 39340 Fremont Boulevard, is already under construction, according to The Registry Northern California Real Estate, which reported that Community Development Partners is developing the project, which pairs a 4 percent tax credit deal with $11 million from the City of Fremont and Bank of America capital.
A City Chasing a 7,000-Unit Target
Fremont opened 567 affordable housing units in 2025, and the city has set a Housing Element goal of creating 7,000 affordable housing units by 2031, according to the City of Fremont. The city has also pointed to additional affordable rental units planned in the coming years for low-income households as part of that broader push.
Income eligibility for projects like Capital at City Center is tied to Alameda County's area median income figures, which the East Bay Times reported at $113,950 for a single person and $162,800 for a household of four as of June 2026. Income caps for affordable units run from $34,185 to $79,765 for one person and from $48,840 to $113,960 for a household of four, per the outlet's reporting.
With construction on Capital at City Center expected to begin in the coming months and leasing not slated until spring 2028, the project represents a long runway for the hundreds of affordable units Fremont has promised its residents. Whether the remaining five projects in this fall's wave move forward on the timeline city officials have outlined remains to be seen, but for now, downtown Fremont is set to be the first test case.
