View
214
Download
0
Category
Preview:
Citation preview
8/6/2019 Oakland CBD's Newsletter - Spring 2011
1/4
&UPTOWNDOWNTOWN
SPRING 2011
THE TIMEHAS COME
Business Is Ticking AgainIn Downtown & Uptown
ews on Oaklands Expanding Uptown and Downtown Districts
2011-spring.indd 1 5/31/2011 6:
8/6/2019 Oakland CBD's Newsletter - Spring 2011
2/4
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
2011-spring.indd 2 5/31/2011 6:
8/6/2019 Oakland CBD's Newsletter - Spring 2011
3/4
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.
2011-spring.indd 3 5/31/2011 6:
8/6/2019 Oakland CBD's Newsletter - Spring 2011
4/4
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
2011-spring indd 4 5/31/2011 6:
Recommended