Bay Area

Post Salon to Discuss Proposal to Bring Costco to Oakland Community meeting to be held at City Hall, Thursday, Dec. 18

The proposed resolution would give authority to the City Administrator to negotiate terms for an exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) with Deca Companies and Costco Wholesale Corporation to pursue a potential Costco development at 2008 Wake Ave. in the North Gateway Development Area of the former Oakland Army Base, adjacent to the Port of Oakland.

Published

8 months ago

December 14, 2025

Oakland Post

Costco. Courtesy image.

By Post Staff

The Oakland Post Salon will host a community meeting with District 3 City Councilmember Carroll Fife and city staff to discuss a proposal for building a Costco in Oakland.

The public meeting will be held Thursday, Dec. 18, from 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, Oakland City Hall, 3^rd Floor at 1 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza in Oakland.

At the meeting, residents will have the opportunity to:

Hear about a proposed resolution from Fife for Costco in Oakland
Find out details from the City Administrator and Oakland’s Real Estate Division
Ask questions, share ideas about benefits residents are looking for
Make sure decision-makers know what residents need.

“As the D3 Council representative, my primary objective is to improve the lives of my constituents, who have endured generations of disinvestment and neglect,” said Fife. “For too long, our West Oakland community has lacked access to essential services, often forcing residents to leave Oakland to find quality options – including groceries. Our families deserve access to affordable groceries, and we want to keep those dollars and tax revenues within our city. This proposed ENA is an important step toward bringing a world-class retailer to Oakland and creating hundreds of good-paying jobs right here in District 3.”

Deca Companies, a San Francisco-based real estate investment and development firm, is leading the development project. Deca has extensive experience with major projects across California, including the redevelopment of the Phillips 66 Refinery in Southern California, large mixed-use California projects in Perris, Bakersfield, and Mead Valley; along with electric vehicle charging lots and industrial projects across the Bay Area and Southern California.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Councilmember Fife to bring a major grocery retailer to West Oakland,” said Travis Duncan, vice president of Deca Companies. “This project sends a clear message: Oakland is open for business. We’re proud to be part of the team working to help alleviate the food desert and bring affordable, high-quality groceries that can serve folks in Oakland and people from across the East Bay.”

Tony Beatty, longtime broker for Costco in the Bay Area noted, “While I cannot comment on the specifics of potential opportunities that are currently being evaluated, existing Costco locations in the Bay Area perform very well, and we have been looking at potential expansion opportunities where they can best serve their members.”

If approved by the full City Council, the City Administrator would be authorized to negotiate terms for an exclusive negotiating agreement with Deca Companies and Costco Wholesale Corporation, a critical first step. If negotiations are fruitful, the resulting ENA would come before the City Council for approval.

In the interim, community outreach and engagement will continue to ensure residents are included in the decision-making process in a meaningful way, according to a statement from Fife’s office.

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Agricultural Engineer Effie Gant Plans Bay Area Farmers Market Initiative

Published

2 weeks ago

July 18, 2026

bpusa-syndication

Agricultural Engineer Effie Gant displays watermelons from her Sacramento farm at the Temescal Festival in Oakland. Photo by Carla Thomas.

In her 80s and still actively working as an agricultural engineer, Effie Gant continues to break barriers in urban farming and community leadership.

The certified USDA grower and respected urban farmer, based in South Sacramento, was recently spotted vending at the Freedom Farmers’ Market by the Temescal Street Fair on Saturday, July 11, where she proudly displayed dozens of sweet, juicy watermelons.

Festivalgoers gathered not only to purchase her produce but also to enjoy activities like the popular watermelon-eating contest. Yet beyond the festive atmosphere, Gant has a larger vision.

Gant is now setting her sights on the Bay Area, where she plans to launch a farmers’ market to increase access to fresh, locally grown food.

Known for her leadership in sustainable agriculture and food justice, she brings decades of hands-on experience and community advocacy to regions where food access remains inconsistent.

She has built a strong reputation through her work with Meadowview Urban Farm and the Yisrael Family Urban Farm, cultivating crops such as watermelons, honeydew melons, and collard greens. Her approach emphasizes sustainability, education, and empowering residents to grow their own food, even in small urban spaces.

As a USDA-certified grower, Gant blends technical expertise with grassroots engagement to combat food insecurity.

Beyond farming, Gant serves as CEO and President of Highways to Hedges, a nonprofit focused on environmental justice and community development. She is also president of the Hampton Station Neighborhood Association and board chairman for HHCORE, where she advocates for safety, equity, and economic opportunity.

Her proposed farmers market will connect small-scale farmers with urban communities while elevating Black farmers and other underrepresented growers.

“I want to teach the next generation about farming and how lucrative it can be,” Gant said. “You don’t need hundreds of acres. You can start with one acre or even your backyard.”Gant also noted her involvement in a collective of farmers who supply produce through government-supported programs.

“We operate as a team, and we all benefit,” she said.

Through workshops, speaking engagements, and hands-on training, Gant and her organization continue to educate communities about agriculture and food justice. Her market initiative will emphasize affordability, cultural relevance, and nutrition education.

Her broader work includes creating edible forests in partnership with Soil Born Farms, planting fruit trees directly in neighborhoods to expand food access. As a mentor with the Center of Expertise on Food Justice and Health Equity, Gant remains a leading voice in building sustainable and resilient food systems.

Gant says she welcomes the community to join her in creating a new farmer’s market.

“Farming is essential to life,” she said. “I want to train as many people as I can to use food and farming as a tool for empowerment, health, and long-term change.”