OAKLAND | 5727 College Avenue | 352 + 294 FT | 31 + 25 FLOORS

[38 Geary]

Unfortunate that the Trader Joe's won't be returning but hopefully there will be some sort of grocery store space that can be included in the planning.

The specs for 5727 College Ave:
- Two buildings at 31 floors, 352 ft and 25 floors, 294 ft
- 415 units for senior housing
- 5,960 sq ft for ground level retail

The site:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4V3JPj6kF3EkVMAk9

Popular Trader Joe’s in Oakland could be replaced by two apartment towers for seniors



By Laura Waxmann, Staff Writer
April 22, 2026

Months after revealing high-profile plans to turn a Safeway in San Francisco’s Marina District into a housing project, the developer behind that effort is turning its attention to the site of a Trader Joe’s in an affluent part of Oakland. The low-slung grocery store at 5727 College Ave. and its expansive parking lot in the city’s Rockridge neighborhood could be replaced by a pair of towers that would house a 415-unit senior living campus within walking distance of a BART station.

The proposal, filed Wednesday by San Francisco-based Align Real Estate, calls for a 31-story tower at the property, as well as a second tower that would rise 25 stories. As designed by SCB Architects, the modern towers are set on a podium, would feature glass-clad facades and soar above the surrounding neighborhood, which is known for its well-kept residential streets, walkable commercial strip and largely characterized by low-rise development — though Oakland has certainly seen a number of tower proposals pitched or constructed around its transit hubs in recent years. The new project reflects a broader push by Align to convert underused grocery properties into housing, with its plan to create more than 3,500 homes at Safeways in San Francisco. But this proposal has a key difference from those efforts: The Trader Joe’s store that currently operates on the 1.5-acre College Avenue site would not return.

...

But Align, which is working with an undisclosed nonprofit on the Oakland plan, confirmed that the Trader Joe’s store — long a neighborhood mainstay — would shutter permanently once construction starts and won’t be replaced with a different grocer. That Trader Joe’s location was known for being the first in the country where workers successfully unionized, in 2022, a precursor of organizing efforts across the chain, which operates hundreds of stores nationwide. As of this week, no closing date for the grocer has been provided, though a person with insight into the project’s development timeline said Trader Joe’s would likely remain open for several years, unless the grocer decides to shutter sooner. Because a nonprofit will be operating the planned retirement community, maintaining a commercial lease with Trader Joe’s would create “complexities,” the individual said.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/realestate/article/housing-towers-trader-joes-oakland-22199857.php

[unpermitted_variance]

Originally Posted by homebucket

^ I'm surprised they would not want to rebuild the TJ's on the ground floor, as in most if not all of the similar Safeway proposals. Mixed use developments that feature high density residential on top of grocery stores would seem like no brainers.

According to the Oaklandside article, not only will there be no replacement Trader Joe's, but no ground-level retail at all. That seems preposterous at this location, in the middle of a thriving retail corridor and right on top of a BART station. I can only hope that it gets redesigned with these considerations.

I almost wonder if it's a tactic by Align to get the height/scale past the neighborhood opposition. Offer a replacement TJ's as a "concession" in order to keep the project tall.

[38 Geary]

Trader Joe’s Could Become Skyscraper in Rockridge, Oakland

By: Andrew Nelson 5:30 am on April 23, 2026

Preliminary plans have been revealed for a potential mixed-use skyscraper at 5727 College Avenue across from the Rockridge BART Station in Oakland. The 31-story proposal looks to replace a Trader Joe’s grocery store and associated surface parking with a high-rise senior living facility. Align Real Estate is the project applicant, working with the property owner, Albertsons. The applicant is invoking Assembly Bill 130 CEQA exemption, Senate Bill 35, SB 330, and the State Density Bonus Law to streamline the approval process and increase residential capacity. The proposal utilizes the height waiver to propose two towers rising from the shared podium. The tallest portion would rise 352 feet above College Avenue, while the shorter section would rise 294 feet above Miles Avenue. The whole complex might create 415 dwelling units with three different unit types. This includes 371 independent living apartments, 18 assisted living units, and 26 memory care units.

...

The complex is expected to yield around 782,050 square feet, including 703,700 square feet of housing, 78,340 square feet of parking, and 5,950 square feet for ground-level retail. Plans call for around 75,980 square feet of amenities spread across the podium and towers. The fourth floor would become the community hub, including the main dining room, fitness center, library, swimming pool, and an expansive podium-top terrace.

Solomon Cordwell Buenz is responsible for the design. The proposal features two glassy towers with irregular floor plates rising from a podium. The curved high-rise apartments reflecting the sky will contrast with the podium, which will be covered in more visually heavy materials like glazed green terracotta, natural wood, and stone panels. The ground floor will feature a diversity of street-facing uses to improve the pedestrian experience. Overlooking College Avenue will be the main entrance for residents, a cafe, and a corner cafe. Miles Avenue will feature a landscaped pathway connecting to a secondary lobby and a community auditorium. Five units will include patios and private stoops along Oak Grove Avenue. Vehicular access to the podium garage will be provided along both Miles Avenue and Oak Grove Avenue.

https://sfyimby.com/2026/04/trader-joes-could-become-skyscraper-in-rockridge-oakland.html

[38 Geary]

And the renderings:













https://sfyimby.com/2026/04/trader-joes-could-become-skyscraper-in-rockridge-oakland.html

[38 Geary]

I actually quite like this curvy design. It's giving 300 Spear (The Infinity), which was designed by Heller Manus, although that one is a little taller at 42 and 37 floors.



https://www.hellermanus.com/the-infinity

[dimondpark]

I wonder why they are already saying there will be no ground floor retail? That location is very busy and receives a ton of foot traffic. It would be foolish to not make that into commercial space, even better a TJs. Maybe they are thinking about parking? IDK

Otherwise, I like the design and while that location seems totally out-of-place, I think it works for the most part. Maybe that will encourage more projects of that height up and down Telegraph and San Pablo as well.

[unpermitted_variance]

I take back what I said earlier about no ground-floor retail, looks like that as miscommunication/misinformation. The renderings show a (quite sizeable) cafe space along College Ave. The issue remains the lack of replacement Trader Joes/grocery space.

[dboakland]

Originally Posted by unpermitted_variance

I take back what I said earlier about no ground-floor retail, looks like that as miscommunication/misinformation. The renderings show a (quite sizeable) cafe space along College Ave. The issue remains the lack of replacement Trader Joes/grocery space.

I think the issue with replacing TJs is the lack of dedicated parking. I suspect it was a deal killer for the grocery store.

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by dboakland

I think the issue with replacing TJs is the lack of dedicated parking. I suspect it was a deal killer for the grocery store.

Looks like this project includes 3 floors of above grade parking, presumably reserved for residents + some retail. In general though, if a neighborhood is dense and walkable enough, you won't need that much parking for a grocery store anyway. As others have mentioned, this is already a very vibrant neighborhood with lots of foot traffic. Perhaps the best compromise would be to replace the ground level parking with a space large enough for a grocery store, and adding a floor of underground parking as well dedicated for grocery store patrons, although that would likely increase cost of construction significantly.

[peanut gallery]

Originally Posted by homebucket

I actually quite like this curvy design. It's giving 300 Spear (The Infinity), which was designed by Heller Manus, although that one is a little taller at 42 and 37 floors.

Arquitectonica deserves the credit on that one. Heller Manus did the original designs and was a partner, but Arquitectonica designed what we see today.

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by peanut gallery

Arquitectonica deserves the credit on that one. Heller Manus did the original designs and was a partner, but Arquitectonica designed what we see today.

Gotcha. Thanks for the clarification on that!