OAKLAND | Project Rundown & Development

[craigs]

Gillynova--thanks for the updates!

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Oh my. It really leaves one speechless doesn't it?

Does anyone know if it is real stone?

[Samwill89]

Originally Posted by craigs

Gillynova--thanks for the updates!


Does anyone know if it is real stone?

It is some sort of spray-on concrete over wire mesh. It was very interesting seeing it under construction.

[rbehs]

This is a frustrating story. When this first came up several years ago, I had a feeling that the lot was going to remain empty for a long time:

Why has this Eastlake lot sat empty for years?
UrbanCore says COVID-19 has thwarted its chances of starting construction on its 361-unit Lakehouse Commons apartment complex, which has drawn controversy for years.

by Natalie Orenstein
February 19, 2021

https://oaklandside.org/2021/02/19/w...pty-for-years/

[ATLonthebrain]

I was just talking to a friend about this last weekend when we walked Lake Merritt. Said it clearly has been delayed yet again because we'd otherwise be able to see some equipment on the site prepping for construction. Unfortunate news, but not terribly surprising as it seems it's been one reason after another for this particular developer and this site. Meanwhile there are numerous other projects being announced on the other side of the Lake across the Downtown/Uptown district as well as West Oakland. So $$$ is still flowing to some extent as far as financing is concerned.

ATLotb

[ChelseaFC]

EIR statement released for A's ballpark, along with new design

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/...t-15982247.php

[craigs]

That looks awesome!

[dboakland]

Hope they can the A's stadium happen but I think the NIMBY's are going to go wild.

[homebucket]

It’s beautiful. Just build it.

[ATLonthebrain]

Originally Posted by dboakland

Hope they can the A's stadium happen but I think the NIMBY's are going to go wild.

Pretty sure this one will happen provided the A’s can still privately finance the stadium. Interesting to note that talk of a new AA’s Stadium (site not selected but Howard Terminal was one being considered) was getting hot when I moved here 5-years ago. The project has the impetus to change the trajectory and scale of Jack London Square as far as the pace and level of development. It will make it Oakland’s “Place To Be” all year long with the ballpark, commercial space, and entertainment components which will draw folks in by the thousands. I think that tremendous potential is what’s going to carry the day. What this project represents in the creation of a new live/work/play district with thousands of housing units is extremely compelling. Now if BART would reverse their stance on building a JLS station that would really set it off.

[OhioGuy]

Originally Posted by ATLonthebrain

Pretty sure this one will happen provided the A’s can still privately finance the stadium. Interesting to note that talk of a new AA’s Stadium (site not selected but Howard Terminal was one being considered) was getting hot when I moved here 5-years ago. The project has the impetus to change the trajectory and scale of Jack London Square as far as the pace and level of development. It will make it Oakland’s “Place To Be” all year long with the ballpark, commercial space, and entertainment components which will draw folks in by the thousands. I think that tremendous potential is what’s going to carry the day. What this project represents in the creation of a new live/work/play district with thousands of housing units is extremely compelling. Now if BART would reverse their stance on building a JLS station that would really set it off.

I wish an infill station could be created between the West Oakland station and the subway entrance into downtown Oakland. It looks like the West Oakland station is 2 blocks in length, so an infill station between Market Street and Castro Street seems reasonable... though the elevated rail probably begins its gradual descent into the subway right around that location. But if one could be shoehorned into that area, perhaps with the station on MLK Jr. Way (stairs/elevators extending west up to the platforms a half block further west), it would only be about a 4 block walk to the stadium development. All residential growth could occur from perhaps Market Street east with Port activities segregated to west.

(red = station platform, blue = station entrance)

[craigs]

Oakland (and SF) skyline porn:


source

[MayorQuinbee]

Originally Posted by craigs

Oakland (and SF) skyline porn:


source

Plush!

[rajaxson]

Originally Posted by OhioGuy

I wish an infill station could be created between the West Oakland station and the subway entrance into downtown Oakland. It looks like the West Oakland station is 2 blocks in length, so an infill station between Market Street and Castro Street seems reasonable... though the elevated rail probably begins its gradual descent into the subway right around that location. But if one could be shoehorned into that area, perhaps with the station on MLK Jr. Way (stairs/elevators extending west up to the platforms a half block further west), it would only be about a 4 block walk to the stadium development. All residential growth could occur from perhaps Market Street east with Port activities segregated to west.

(red = station platform, blue = station entrance)

That infill station would be great. If Bart could get some courageous engineers on the job to get that decent/station to work. I remember there being talk regarding directing the second transbay tube coming down the 980 corridor (if/when it gets infilled), could there be a potential to add a station along that route and at Alameda Landing?

[dboakland]

Originally Posted by rajaxson

That infill station would be great. If Bart could get some courageous engineers on the job to get that decent/station to work. I remember there being talk regarding directing the second transbay tube coming down the 980 corridor (if/when it gets infilled), could there be a potential to add a station along that route and at Alameda Landing?

Theoretically yes. Practically, I think its very unlikely. I worked on the second BART Transbay tube concept back in the 2000's and the engineering and costs issues are extremely challenging especially on the SF side and a stub line into JL Square or Alameda really doesn't work. The most likely second TB Tube will be pretty much parallel to the first.

[rajaxson]

Originally Posted by dboakland

Theoretically yes. Practically, I think its very unlikely. I worked on the second BART Transbay tube concept back in the 2000's and the engineering and costs issues are extremely challenging especially on the SF side and a stub line into JL Square or Alameda really doesn't work. The most likely second TB Tube will be pretty much parallel to the first.

Unfortunate. Are the hurdles mainly dealing with the terrain and dredging? or is it more finding a suitable inlet and dealing with the ports/other landowners?

[dboakland]

Originally Posted by rajaxson

Unfortunate. Are the hurdles mainly dealing with the terrain and dredging? or is it more finding a suitable inlet and dealing with the ports/other landowners?

No the expense comes with having to tunnel through large parts of San Francisco to reconnect to the original BART line. If you drop a similar tube next to the existing Tube you just have the difficulty of expanding the Embarcadero Station which in itself is daunting. I suspect there won't be a second Tube for at least 30 years.

[BobbyMucho]

Originally Posted by dboakland

No the expense comes with having to tunnel through large parts of San Francisco to reconnect to the original BART line. If you drop a similar tube next to the existing Tube you just have the difficulty of expanding the Embarcadero Station which in itself is daunting. I suspect there won't be a second Tube for at least 30 years.

Wasn't there a recent (within the last few years) study that looked at viability for a few different alignments? I'd imagine there's plenty of real data and info on this by now and that it's mostly a $$$ challenge, no?

[timbad]

and the tunnel does not have to be BART necessarily. not sure how it impacts $$ of building the crossing itself, but standard-gauge rail certainly has its own advantages such as more widely available, and potential, tie-ins with other systems. seems to me a connection from Transbay Center to Jack London would be an extremely helpful one to have. the trick would be to make sure you also have a solid connection with BART in East Bay if you went that route.

[rajaxson]

Originally Posted by BobbyMucho

Wasn't there a recent (within the last few years) study that looked at viability for a few different alignments? I'd imagine there's plenty of real data and info on this by now and that it's mostly a $$$ challenge, no?

I recall that as well. I remember a proposal that was presented at a SPUR event that discussed connecting via Cesar Chavez in SF at a Mission St junction. I couldn't find a graphic online, so I quickly made a crude image showing this proposal. I also found some gems from the ConnectingOakland.org website showing potential Howard terminal station.

[rajaxson]

SF Business Times Reports:

Oakland PG&E property sold, slated for
redevelopment into office high-rise



A joint venture between San Francisco-based Ellis Partners and Boston-based Intercontinental Real Estate Corp. has scooped up a six-story vacant office building and adjacent parking lot in Oakland’s Uptown District with plans to redevelop the property into an office highrise. The deal closed on Friday, according to a spokesperson for the joint venture who declined to disclose the price. The Mercury News, citing Alameda County Recorder's Office documents, reported it was $23.5 million. The seller was a limited liability company registered to utility giant Pacific Gas & Electric. Ryan Venezia of Cushman & Wakefield’s Northern California Capital Markets group represented the seller. By Laura Waxmann – Staff Reporter, San Francisco Business Times Apr 5, 2021 Updated Apr 6, 2021, 10:58am PDT Additional details about the redevelopment plans for the 74,000-square-foot, 1950s vintage building and lot at 1919 Webster St. were not available on Monday, but the developers said in a press release that they are evaluating a variety of options for the site and that the planned new office building will be “designed to meet the evolving needs of tomorrow’s workforce.” The building may be most notable for the five-story-high mural on one side, a menacing version of "Stomper," the Oakland A's elephant mascot. Commissioned by the A's, it was painted in 2017 by a professional street-art trio known as the Illuminaries; its fate under the redevelopment is unknown. Ellis and Intercontinental are the joint developers behind the The Key on 12th, a project that featured the renovation of the historic Key System Building in downtown Oakland and construction of an adjoining 18- story office tower. The project is anchored by the University of California’s Office of the President and Credit Karma. The Webster Street property, located at the center of the Lake Merritt Office District, is considered an “Office Priority site” in the pending Downtown Office Specific Plan, according to its new developers. “This is an important high-rise development site sitting at the center of the rapid changes taking place in downtown Oakland,” said Ellis Partners Partner Jason Morehouse. Ellis Director of Development Dean Rubinson added that the joint venture will “listen carefully to our local stakeholders as we move forward to create a landmark building that helps the City meet the broad needs of the community while preserving Oakland’s unique character.” He added that the joint venture is contemplating going "higher" than The Key at 12th, potentially adding more than 18 stories, and that the team is moving forward with the preliminary stages of design and the selection of the design team and contractors. "We are hopeful that we will make a submission to the city sometime this year," he told me.