Livermore Affordable Housing Project Breaks Ground After Years Of Legal Battles

LIVERMORE, CA — On Monday, local leaders welcomed the kickoff of the Downtown Livermore Apartments, 130 affordable apartments for households earning between 20 and 60 percent of the region's area median income.

The groundbreaking ceremony, which had to move to the L Street Garage due to high winds, was attended by Livermore Mayor John Marchand, Livermore Chamber of Commerce CEO Katie Marcel, representatives for Senator Jerry McNerney, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Treasurer Fiona Ma, and many others.

The project will provide one to three-bedroom apartments located at the southeast corner of the Railroad Avenue and L Street intersection. The community will include two four-story buildings, each with a resident meeting space, on-site laundry facilities, management offices, and more.

The project is funded with more than $6 million from Alameda County Measure W funds, and by the city of Livermore, the Livermore Housing Authority, and the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

The project has faced years of political and legal opposition since it was approved by the Livermore City Council in 2020. Opponents challenged the development in court multiple times, arguing that it was too dense, would worsen traffic and parking, and that the architecture conflicted with the downtown specific plan. The suits delayed construction and contributed to developer Eden Housing losing millions in time-sensitive low-income housing tax credits, according to the developer.

Courts repeatedly sided with the city and Eden Housing. In one ruling, a judge required opponents to post a $500,000 bond, finding the litigation appeared aimed at delaying affordable housing construction.

In January 2026, the California Supreme Court declined to hear opponents' latest appeal, allowing the project to move forward.