Community

Oakland Chinatown Development Approved Despite Community Displacement Concerns

Published

8 years ago

August 26, 2016

The Planning Commission recently voted 4-2 to approve the W12 project, which will bring two, seven-story market rate apartment buildings to Oakland Chinatown. The 416-unit development is slated to go along 12th street between Webster and Harrison.

Two weeks ago, when the development project was up for discussion, the commission voted to delay approval of the project amid concerns that the developers had not had enough discussion with community members.

The previous decision to delay was made in favor of affordable housing advocates with the Chinatown Coalition, who said they want more housing but need more time to negotiate a formal Community Benefits Agreement package with the project developer, San Francisco-based Martin Development Group.

“In the past two weeks we have been meeting around the clock with community groups to make sure our community members’ voices are represented,” said Alvina Wong, a community organizer with the Asian Pacific Environmental Network and member of the Chinatown Coalition.

“This is a big project in the heart of downtown. There needs to be more thoughtful engagement.”

Many community members who came to last week’s meeting expressed disappointment in the current project and argued that the coalition needed more time to negotiate with the developer.

“We want to make sure there is a significant amount of affordable housing,” said Wong. “If there were more time, I’m sure the ideas and proposals would be able to be fully baked.”

Along with issues of affordable retail spaces for local and immigrant businesses, and clearer support for Amethod Downtown Charter Academy School, which currently occupies about half of the block where the project will be built, one of the main concerns for the community is affordable housing.

Prior to this Tuesday, there was no plan to include affordable housing in the project. Instead, the developer opted to pay Oakland’s new affordable housing impact fee of about $2.3 million.

According to the Planning Commission’s final decision letter, the developer has agreed to a number of voluntary conditions, including to provide 4,900 square feet of affordable retail space, a $100,000 cash contribution to the Lincoln Recreation Center, and a goal of 25 percent Alameda County hires for construction.

The developer also agreed to sell a quarter block of the project to non-profit housing developer East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation (EBALDC) or another affordable housing developer.

In order to do so, though, Jason Osler of the Martin Development Group brought up a clause in the city’s affordable housing policy that allows developers to apply for an impact fee waiver “if the project is deemed unfeasible by paying the impact fee.”

As a result, the sale of the smaller parcel will be dependent upon whether the developer is able to waive paying the impact fee.

Osler could not be reached to comment.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Up Next

Faith Leaders Call on Legislators to Commit to Jobs, Justice and Human Rights

Don't Miss

Uber Agrees to Meet Oakland Local Leaders After Community Pressure

Oakland Post

Click to comment

Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

7 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.