Housing
The Mandela Hotel Project – Community Benefits
Tulsee Nathu
After decades of failed projects in West Oakland, the Oakland City Council, under the guidance of District 3 Councilmember Lynette Gibson- McElhaney, is considering welcoming another West Oakland project that creates much needed jobs, community benefits, and new business opportunities.
The Mandela Hotels project is being developed by Oakland Native Tulsee Nathu, a MILLENIAL MINORITY WOMAN. This 222 room hotel is a limited services hotel, to be located at Mandela Parkway and Beach Street. The Mandela Hotels project features substantial benefits to the West Oakland community.
The project will benefit and engage the West Oakland community in many areas including:
1) THE CARPENTER’S UNION WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE HOTEL. According to the Regional Carpenter Council, the project is estimated to create approximately 100 – 125 construction jobs during the construction phase -short-term; generating close to $38,000,000.00 in local union wages.
Mandela Hotel project is also estimated to produce approximately 40 long-term sustainable, living wage – NOT LESS THAN 15.00 per hour – operational positions when the hotel opens for business.
2) The Mandela Hotels project has established a partnership with the Oakland Private Industry Council (PIC) to assist with it local hire goals. The PIC will conduct multiple job fairs and outreach campaigns among West Oakland community resources to maximize opportunities to engage, solicit and recruit qualified applicants prior to the opening of hotels. OPIC will make it best efforts to ensure its local hire efforts result in hiring 50% of the hotels’ operational staff from West Oakland residents.
3) Mandela Hotel Project has partnered with the Oakland Unified School District, to act as corporate sponsor of Ralph Bunch Academy and McClymond’s High School students eligible for Laney Colleges’ Pathway Program. The hotel will support intern and externships, training and hiring students for the hospitality and tourism programs, including the culinary arts.
4) Mandela Hotels Project will donate $10,000 per year to the proposed est Oakland Go- Round (WOGO) free shuttle, to travel along the Mandela Parkway when the hotel is open for business; it will serve West Oakland Seniors, residents, hotel guest and employees.
5) Mandela Hotels Project will pay a living wage for all positions.
6) Mandela Hotels Project has adopted a local hire policy. PIC has been engaged to conduct job fairs and recruiting campaigns to solicit and recruit qualified West Oakland resident applicants. Considerations will be given to West Oakland residents with prior criminal history, veterans, homeless and other barriers to employment, e.g., we ban the box.
7) Mandela Hotels Project will create multiple revenue streams into the City of Oakland:
- Fees, Permits and related services are estimated at $1,600,000.00 during construction phases
- Property, Sales, and Employment Taxes are estimated at $350,000.00 per year
- Transit Occupancy Taxes are estimated at $1,200,000.00 per year
8) Oakland’s population is growing; TOT taxes will help hire more Teachers, Fire Fighters, Police Officer, support art districts, etc.
9) Being a limited service hotel, with banquet and meeting rooms, the hotel will allow local restaurants and event planners to provide catering service at the hotel.
10) The Mandela Hotel’s approval and related infrastructure improvements will serve as a catalyst for West Oakland’s new business development.
11) The Mandela Hotels Project will partner with Biz-Alert-est Oakland orks (BA-WOW) to support its “Under Maze” project for purposes of giving the West Oakland community new and improved infrastructure, will beautify the surrounding areas and stimulate local businesses and neighborhoods with new vibrant lighting packages, landscaping, and clean safer environments.
12) Mandela Hotels Project will allow est Oakland Commerce Association (WOCA) to conduct their once per month meetings at the hotel free of charge.
Payal Nathu
This project is a win win for West Oakland and a win win for Oakland. The project’s Appeal will be heard by Oakland’s City Council in September, 2019. Individuals and organizations are encouraged to support the project; the date will be published as soon as it is determined – stay posted and save the date.
Editor’s note: Maurice Arnold, the author of this article, is a supporter of the Mandela Hotels Project.
