Legacy at Livermore

In the heart of Downtown Livermore, a long-abandoned plot sat idle for years, constrained by strict height restrictions, tough planning requirements, and the complexity associated with the previous use, and fronting on all sides by streets. Turning this challenging property into a thriving community asset required vision, persistence, and technical precision.

That vision became Legacy at Livermore, a luxury mixed-use community developed by Legacy Partners, engineered by Kier + Wright, and Architect is BDE. spanning two buildings, one building with wrapped garage, and another detached with retail at the bottom floor. The project offers 222 residential units, various types from Studio apartment to three bedrooms.  Residents enjoy elevated amenities like a rooftop pool and spa, fitness center, game and media rooms, barbecue and lounge areas, EV charging, and secure bike storage, while the community itself opens its doors to the public with landscaped courtyards, new pedestrian connections, and 14,000 square feet of vibrant ground-floor retail.

For Kier + Wright, the project represented both opportunity and complexity. The site carried a legacy of contamination, requiring soil remediation and careful coordination with environmental consultants as well as the County to develop a soil management plan. Every move of earth was calculated, from stockpiling to capping, to ensure safe redevelopment. Below the surface, massive city storm drains bisected the property, forcing engineers to redesign around infrastructure that couldn’t be disturbed. At the surface, existing utilities and tight frontage conditions demanded careful phasing, traffic integration, and creative utility coordination to minimize disruption in a busy downtown.

The project’s challenges didn’t stop there. Construction paused when Katerra Construction went bankrupt, causing the project to pause.  Kier + Wright remobilized with a new team and ensure every step aligned with the original design intent. Through extensive surveying, staking, and on-site collaboration, the team safeguarded progress and kept the project moving forward despite setbacks.

The result is more than just a residential development. Legacy at Livermore transforms a once-forgotten parcel into a connected, sustainable destination that strengthens the city’s downtown. With permeable pavement, integrated landscape treatment, and public pathways, the project delivers environmental resilience and community value. What was once a vacant lot is now a hub of urban living, connecting people to place and reshaping Livermore’s downtown for generations to come.