City Government
Oak Knoll Development Plans to Transform East Oakland and Create 5,000 Jobs and $1 Billion in Economic Activity
As city meetings to discuss approvals for the Oak Knoll project near, criticism of the developer by some bay area anti-growth activists have suggested that this project will not be good for our community. City Council President Larry Reid, however, has been telling a very different story and has actively promoted some big numbers when it comes to economic benefits from the Oak Knoll development. He regularly talks about the project generating 5000 jobs or adding $5.2 million annual in recurring revenue to the City. So where do these numbers come and what do they mean for Oakland?
In late 2016 SunCal, the developer of Oak Knoll commissioned Sacramento based consulting firm DPFG to conduct a detailed study of the economic impacts and benefits that the Oak Knoll project would bring to the local economy. DPFG worked closely with Implan, a nationally recognized economic modeling firm.
“The results of our review indicate that Oak Knoll will produce significant economic benefits to the local economy, including impact fee benefits, construction benefits, employment benefits, earnings increases, and tax revenue generation,” said Chris Austin, DPFG Managing Principal.
According to the DPFG report, each year the project is expected to bring $28.5 million of new sales from businesses in Oakland by the new homeowners in the community. The report also revealed the Oak Knoll development would create over 5,000 new jobs over the construction of the project and an estimated $335 million in increased worker earnings.
Austin explained that given the size and cost of the project — the initial development and subsequent residential and non-residential construction — the estimate of 5,000 jobs is very realistic.
“Using our methodology, the cost of a construction project combined with data on the specific geographic area of the project location, produces a very accurate picture of the number of construction jobs that are necessary to implement a project. We have prepared this analysis with Oak Knoll,” said Austin.
The report does more than talk about jobs. The bigger impact is long-term generation of revenue to the City of Oakland and Alameda County and what that money can do for the community.
For example, DPFG claims that the property taxes alone from the development will generate approximately $8.1 million a year that can be directed toward city, county, BART, EBRP the Oakland Unified School District and other agencies. They estimate that the sales from new residential spending will generate $58.9 million.
Chris Austin explained how the project will also create a jobs and revenue domino effect of benefits to the entire city of Oakland and the region. Although the DPFG report was presented to the City, it is public information that should be read by those who criticize new developments. Councilmember Larry Reid argues that the Oak Knoll Project helps to address his community’s need for economic development, jobs and new sources of revenue.
Austin said, “If city leaders value economic development, job creation and new revenue to the community, and if the city wants growth, they should approve projects like Oak Knoll.”
Austin and Reid may be right. The Oak Knoll development is one of a handful of major projects. And, according to the DPFG study, it is projects of this size that can make things happen and ultimately attract other developers and businesses that can provide community benefits.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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