Residents Plan For New E 12th Development

“We are encouraged that the City is considering new developments, but we are concerned that there is no real intention to work with the community. With this forum, we are doing what the City should have done months ago: engaging the people directly in a conversation about how this public land can best be used for public good,” explained Monica Garcia, a member of Eastlake United for Justice. EUJ is helping to plan the forum and has been working on this issue for months.

For Immediate Release
Samantha Liapes: (415) 846-3355


Residents Plan For New E 12th Development
Dozens Gather To Prepare New Proposal For Public Parcel


Oakland, CA – Oakland residents are hosting the “E12th Wish List: People’s Planning Forum” to develop ideas for a new proposal on the E 12thparcel. In July, the City of Oakland issued a notice soliciting new proposals on the land after months of community organizing against a proposed luxury apartment tower development.


At the forum, members of the E 12th Coalition, a group of concerned residents from across Oakland, will engage residents in creative visioning exercises to develop a community-led plan for the public land.


Forum organizer Katie Loncke explained, "People light up when you ask them to actually imagine what they would wish for at E12th. It's a remarkable opportunity to shape the city skyline, and at the forum we are bringing together professional architects and community members of all ages — in a vibrant atmosphere with food and music — to craft people's wishes into concrete proposals."


The City of Oakland opened the E 12th parcel up to new proposals in July after months of outcry from residents in the neighborhood and across Oakland. Instead of using precious public land to build new affordable housing, the City was planning to sell the land to a private developer to build a 24-story luxury apartment tower that included no affordable housing on site.


When a leaked legal memo from the City Attorney showed that City Councilmembers already knew that the proposed tower was not in compliance with the state Surplus Lands Act, the City of Oakland issued a notice for new proposals on the parcel.


“We are encouraged that the City is considering new developments, but we are concerned that there is no real intention to work with the community. With this forum, we are doing what the City should have done months ago: engaging the people directly in a conversation about how this public land can best be used for public good,” explained Monica Garcia, a member of Eastlake United for Justice. EUJ is helping to plan the forum and has been working on this issue for months.


Community members are also concerned that the City will not use the public land to address the housing crisis in Oakland. “Long-time, working class residents in our City, mostly people of color, are being pushed out because of rising housing costs. The city has a unique opportunity to build affordable housing because this is public land, but in the new notice, the City doesn’t use the word “affordable” once. It is irresponsible to sell off our public lands for private development when so many people need housing,” said Garcia.


The forum will include discussions on community visions for the parcel, speakers on topics related to the development and housing issues in Oakland, food and festivities.


“With the E12th Wish List Forum, we are entering the important phase of building — centering the needs of actual Oaklanders to craft a proposal for E12th affordable housing. We are proud that the struggle to save E12th is contributing to the urgent national conversation on what it means to fight gentrification using a racial justice framework, demanding development without displacement,” said Loncke.


E 12th Wish List: People’s Planning Forum


WHEN: Sunday August 23rd 1-5 pm


WHERE: Henry J. Kaiser parking lot, 10 10th Street

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