Comments on: Get used to that big hole on 12th Street, folks. It isn’t going anywhere.

By: V Smoothe

V Smoothe — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:32:15 +0000

I’ve been informed that the incident discussed in the video above is not the same accident I had heard about. The Jaguar happened during commute hours, and as I understand it, did not actually go all the way into the pit. But this other accident (which an acquaintance has photographs of) happened on a Saturday, and the car was pushed completely into the pit.

By: Chris Kidd

Chris Kidd — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:43:13 +0000

Somebody get Zuma Dog on the case.

By: V Smoothe

V Smoothe — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 03:44:26 +0000

BTW, a car fell into the pit a couple weeks ago. So now we really are like a TV show. This came up at tonight's Planning Commission meeting.

By: Frankie D

Frankie D — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:19:04 +0000

Two steps forward and one step back this has been Oakland’s M O for downtown development since I can remember. Back in 1973 I did an oral presentation for my 9th grade civics class (yes I am proudly giving my age away) about the great Oakland City Center Development, and how spectacular it was going to be now that BART was completed. Well here we are midway through 2009 and all the parcels that were cleared to make way for that old City Center concept have still not been developed. Fish evolve into reptiles at the same pace that building projects seem to reach completion in DTO.

By: Naomi Schiff

Naomi Schiff — Sun, 24 May 2009 04:50:54 +0000

Maybe no one here remembers it, but when there was a long hiatus in building at city center a couple of us (me and landscape arch. Chris Pattillo and maybe somebody else) got the then-developer (Bramalea? Glen Isaacson?) to landscape the slag heap that was a similar transitional site. They put in grass and trees which remained for some years until they were ready to build. It had the good side effect that it was a lot easier to lease adjoining office space if it didn’t include a depressing view. The truth is that we can’t have any idea when Shorenstein will resume construction, same as with 12th and Broadway (SKS) which I am hoping we can get prettied up as well.

Oakland has a long tradition of begging developers to walk all over us. We don’t need to do this.

By: Max Allstadt

Max Allstadt — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:04:17 +0000

you’re right V, a full hearing is more appropriate than just setting a bar. Real estate economics and market conditions are too complicated to just set stats and evaluate the need for an extension based on numbers. They should be required to come back in 3 years.

On the other hand, documentation that says 5 years but means 3 with a possible 2 year extension is potentially OK with me. It would give Shorenstein a piece of paper to show investors that looks like a 5 year guarantee for the most part, but it would also keep them beholden to the city on a shorter term.

By: len raphael

len raphael — Fri, 22 May 2009 04:16:25 +0000

i don’t know the details of Forest City deals, but maybe FC still needs city cooperation and or additional subsidies but Shorenstein does not. We need Shorenstein more than they need us. Wouldn’t call that politics but economic power.

By: livegreen

livegreen — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:18:11 +0000

Max and V are right. And it makes Shorenstein and the Planning Commission look bad to give them special conditions (whether there is behind the scenes quid pro quo or not).

By: V Smoothe

V Smoothe — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:06:06 +0000

Well, that’s sort of what they did. A three year extension with two one-year extension options on top of that. I don’t think they should have included the options.

If things are still just that awful in three years, Shorenstein should have to come back and make their case for another extension all over again.

By: Max Allstadt

Max Allstadt — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:04:43 +0000

I’m at a loss as to how this extension could not be set up with some sort of simple renewal regime. Start at 2 years. If after 2 years, an appropriate set of bench marks in the economy have been passed, no extension. If were still in a mess, renew the extension.