Oakland CBD's Newsletter - Spring 2011

8/6/2019 Oakland CBD's Newsletter - Spring 2011

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&UPTOWNDOWNTOWN

SPRING 2011

THE TIMEHAS COME

Business Is Ticking AgainIn Downtown & Uptown

ews on Oaklands Expanding Uptown and Downtown Districts

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What was the main impetus behind the formationof the CBDs and why was SKS Investments a largesupporter of the CBD concept?

I think it goes back to changing

perceptions. When SKS began

investing in Downtown Oakland

it was similar to South of Market.

We viewed Oakland as a real

diamond in the rough that had the

potential to be better than SoMa.

The growing residential and

transportation infrastructure is one

of the many reasons Oakland isperfect for business, but we knew

that the perception of Oakland

had to change. The formation of

the CBDs gave us that opportunity to divorce Downtown

Oakland from some of the areas troubled spots.

What, in your view, are the CBDs biggest accom-

plishments to date?

I think the biggest accomplishment is simply pulling it

together when previous efforts have failed. I think that in

conjunction with Lake Merritt, our size has been a real

advantage and both CBDs have maintained a clear goal

and purpose. Our ambassador program is something

we are all very proud of. I also believe the more visible

changes like adding hanging plants and banners are some-

thing the CBDs are very proud of.

How do you see the CBDs interacting with the newadministration?

We are excited about the new administration and look

forward to working with them. The door will be open formore dialogue on how to improve the area physically and

how to strengthen public/private initiatives. The city has

been a great partner so far, but I think it could focus more

on economic development and growing stronger ties with

the entrepreneurial community that has the potential to

make long-term investments in Downtown Oakland.

What would you like the Downtown Oakland CBD

to achieve in 2011?

Business growth. I think the formation of groups like

InOak are a step in the right direction and we hope to

continue to contribute to the growth of the tech sector inOakland. We want to reach out to more tech companies

that believe in Oakland and foster that creative energy.

Oakland is an ideal urban working environment.

Oakland Proud

Cloroxs headquarters in DowntownOakland is one of only three-dozenbuildings in the US to achieve thecoveted Platinum LEED EBOMcertification.

Three of the Top ten HMOs in theGreater Bay Area are located inOakland, with the largest beingOaklands Kaiser Foundation HealthPlan Inc., located in the Lake Merritt/Uptown District.

UPTOWN & DOWNTOWN | Spring 2011

CONVERSATION:J.C. WALLACEPRESIDENT,DOWNTOWN OAKLAND ASSOCIATION

Downtown OaklandAssociation President

JC Wallace

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Beautification

HONOR & INTEGRITY:

Safety Ambassador Recovers $20,000 Cashiers Check

Around 4:30 in the afternoon onMarch 3, 2011, Nickolay Levin,the Safety Ambassador TeamLeader with Block by Block, was

on foot patrol when he pickedup a discarded envelope on theground. On his way to dispose ofit, he noticed a check inside acashiers check for $20,000. TheBlock by Block Operations Man-ager, Ted Tarver, was called to thescene and immediately contacted

the business to which the checkwas written. Meanwhile the busi-nessman who had misplaced thecheck was at a bank in the Lake

Merritt/Uptown CBD, extremelyconcerned. The check was thentaken to the bank where it wasreturned to a relieved and smilingbusinessman. All concerned wereextremely proud of the honestyand integrity shown by Levin.

The Lake Merritt/Uptown and

Downtown Oakland Community

Benefit Districts (CBDs) unveiled

the first phase of their district

beautification program to enhance

the public rights of way, on May 11,

with their celebratory clock unveil-

ing ceremony.

The CBDs proudly

unveiled the refur-bished antique art deco

clock at the corner of 17th

Street and Broadway.

For those of us managing

Oaklands Uptown and Down-

town Districts, that broken clock,

with its missing arms

and tattered con-

dition, seemed

the perfect

metaphor

for what waswrong with

Downtown

Oakland, said Lake Merritt/Up-

town District Association President

Deborah Boyer. It appeared as if

time had literally stopped Down-

town, and that broken antique

clock was a reminder of the great-

ness of days gone by.

All of that symbolism changes

now. In fact JC Wallace, President

of the Downtown Oakland Associa-tion, says that with the restoration,

the new old clock will now remind

both the Uptown and the Down-

town that Oaklands proud history

is filled with many examples of how

this community constantly renews

itself.

Boyer added that the clock was

originally located on the corner

of 20th and Telegraph in front of

the old Davidson & Licht Jewelry

store. Following the refurbish-ing by Peter Weil of Washington

Clocks, the clock will once again

adorn the corner of 17th Street

and Broadway.

We think it makes a great

gateway marker for an entrance to

the Lake Merritt business district

says Boyer.

In 2008, property owners in the

Downtown and Lake Merritt/Up-

town Districts voted to assess them-

selves an additional property tax in

order to bring a number of dra-

matic improvements to the districts.

The properties in the districts are

owned by both private and public

entities alike, and it is this public-

private collaboration that drives the

success of the districts.

The restored clock is just the

beginning of such improvements.

A number of banners and hang-

ing plants have been hung in Up-

town and Downtown, with moreto follow.

Have you seen the new banners

lining Broadway? If you havent,

come on down and see the charm

they bring to our Districts.

For more information visit: www.downtownoakland.org & www.lakemerritt-uptown.org

From left, Steve Snider, District Manager, JCWallace, DOA Board President, Deborah Boyer,

LMUDA Board President, Marco Li Mandri, PrimaryConsultant

Photos:Top,O

CBD.Bottom,RicOmphroy.

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UPTOWN & DOWNTOWN

Spring 2011Downtown Oakland and

Lake Merritt/ UptownDistrict Association

388 19th St. Oakland, CA 94612

Marco Li Mandri, Primary Consultant

Steve Snider, District Manager

Masumi Matsumoto,Designer | m-matsumoto.com

Gallen.Neilly & Associates,Media Consultant | www.gallen.com

Cover Photo

Ric OmphroyCopyright 2011. All rights reserved.

www.downtownoakland.orgwww.lakemerritt-uptown.org

The first quarter of the year saw continued steady business growth in OaklandsDowntown and Lake Merritt/Uptown business communities, according to theboards of each district.

San Diego-based Cubic Transportation Systems, which operates andmaintains BARTs ticket machines, moved 20 employees into space leased latelast year at 1300 Broadway.

Orinda-based digital mapping and preservationist Cyark moved into space ithad leased at 2201 Broadway.

10-person law firm ButlerViadro, LLP relocated from San Francisco to 41413th Street.

Environmental solutions engineers, Terraphase also moved to 414 13th Street.

They currently have job openings for geologists/hydrogeologists & a mid-levelenvironmental engineer.

Internet radio pioneer Pandora, headquartered at 2101 Webster, currently has35 job openings and is expected to expand further following the completion ofits highly anticipated Initial Public Offering (IPO) which it filed in February.

Gateway Bank is relocating its corporate headquarters from San Leandro tothe Uptown (2201 Broadway) with approximately 60 employees.

Accurate Engineering Integrated Construction Services has chosen anoffice in Downtown Oakland, at 1300 Clay Street, as the site of their firstNorthern California location.

Feelmore510 s retail establishment opened at 1703 Telegraph Avenue.

How Green is Oakland?

Oakland is home to 50 environmentalconsulting firms and more than 30

recycling based businesses. Among the

energy production firms based here are

utility scale solar leaders BrightSource

Energy and First Solar, online resi-

dential solar integrator Sungevity, and

the production operations of biodiesel

manufacturer Sirona Fuels. Solar Mil-

lennium and Build it Green are two

locally based organizations finding ways

to introduce more sustainable sources

of electricity and energy efficiency to

buildings.

ALONG NEGAWATT ALLEY

Did you know that Broadway, in

the heart of Oaklands Downtown, isbecoming known as Negawatt Alley?

Its here that ideas for conserving

kilowatts of electricity and therms of

natural gas are born. Some of Nega-

watt Alleys brightest stars include:

Bevilacqua Knight, Inc. (BKi), Califor-

nia Building Performance Contractors

Association (CBPCA), Energy Solu-

tions, Integral Group, KEMA, kW

Engineering, and Lucid Design Group.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES GET A

CHARGE OUT OF OAKLAND

The City of Oakland is hoping to op-

erate two dozen new Electric Vehicles,

thanks to a grant from the Metropolitan

Transportation Commission (MTC).EVs recharge at one-quarter the cost

of gasoline, have one-half the mainte-

nance costs of traditional vehicles, and

produce less air pollution.

Finally, the Free B, Oaklands popu-

lar free shuttle between Jack London

and Uptown, carries 2,000 passengers

a day and is expected to reduce CO2

emissions by 1.937 tons each year.

WELCOME TO THE DISTRICTS:First Quarter Business Activity is Definitely on the Uptick,

Both Uptown and Downtown

Consistently ranked as one of the greenest cities in the nation,

Oakland was recently featured in a San Francisco Business Times

supplement. Here are some of the highlights:

BUSINESS SUPPORT:

OAKLAND BUSINESSASSISTANCE CENTER

270 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza

510.238.7952

www.oaklandbac.com

UPTOWN & DOWNTOWN | Spring 2011

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Oakland CBD's Newsletter - Spring 2011