Oak to Ninth Community Benefits Coalition
What is happening now
The Oak to Ninth project, now being referred to as the Brooklyn Basin, has received a large investment from a chinese investor and is ready to break ground (Read Story). This means that the extensive work of the community who will be directly impacted by the project in negiotiating community benefits agreements is now set to kick-in.
View Oak to Ninth in a larger map
The history
In July of 2006, the Oak to 9th Community Benefits Coalition capped off a three-year organizing and advocacy effort with City Council approval of a Development Agreement for this for this 3100-unit condominium development. The Council is co-coordinator of this Coalition, in partnership with the Asian Pacific Environmental Network. The coalition decision making membership is made up of three resident membership organizations based in Chinatown, Eastlake and Lower San Antonio neighborhoods immediately adjacent to the Oak to 9th project site.
The final deal includes a separate agreement between the City and the Coalition that commits to the construction of at least 465 units of housing affordable to families and seniors with annual incomes between $20,000 and $50,000. The project also includes an extremely innovative job training and local hiring provision that establishes a pipeline for training and long-term placement in the unionized construction sector, tailored especially to immigrant workers and formerly incarcerated persons.
For more on the agreement and other Oak to 9th issues, see below.
Here is the Coalition’s original proposal
Here is information on the final agreement
One Page Overview of Accomplishments
Letters of Support
Department of Toxic Substances and Control, December 2009Coming Soon: Local hire and Job training agreement
After the agreement was approved, a group that includes the Sierra Club, the Oakland Heritage Alliance (historical perseveration organization) , The Oakland Green Party and the League of Women Voters have been attempting to overturn the decision, largely on the grounds that the final project will not conform to Oakland’s Estuary Policy Plan. For the Community Benefits Coalition’s communications on this matter see below.
Local Residents Benefit from Oak to 9th (Berkeley Daily Planet)
Press Release on Signature Submission
Response to League of Women Voters Article (Grand Lake Guardian)