West Oakland is Changing

In the Bay Area the word gentrification is often seen as a blessing by some and a curse by others. West Oakland has long been a neighborhood in which redevelopment has been proposed. Yet, even in our recent hot real estate market, West Oakland has still not seen a broad transition. There are many developments that have scraped the boundaries of West Oakland, but none have truly breached its borders to create a sweeping change.

The San Francisco Chronicle has recently written an article on a newly proposed rezoning that would turn many of the industrial neighborhoods underutilized parcels into towering 30-story luxury apartments and condominiums. This seems like a broad change that could have a profound effect on West Oakland’s industrial past.

Many people feel that blurring the zoning laws will create problems for the city and could possibly lessen the number of jobs in Oakland due to pushing light industrial companies out of the area. Opponents to the change include Nancy Nadle the current city council member for the West Oakland district. Residents seem to welcome the proposed development, citing that Emeryville has made similar zoning changes and that this city has seen tremendous community and business development that West Oakland needs.

I think that if the development is done thoughtfully and appropriately then West Oakland and its residents will benefit from the urban renewal. Creating new modern spaces for living and doing business in West Oakland will create new jobs opportunities and increase property values in the area. The trick is getting it right. What do you think about such proposed projects?