City Government

Oak Knoll Development Plans to Transform East Oakland and Create 5,000 Jobs and $1 Billion in Economic Activity

Published

9 years ago

July 14, 2017

As city meetings to discuss approvals for the Oak Knoll project near, criticism of the developer by some bay area anti-growth activists have suggested that this project will not be good for our community. City Council President Larry Reid, however, has been telling a very different story and has actively promoted some big numbers when it comes to economic benefits from the Oak Knoll development. He regularly talks about the project generating 5000 jobs or adding $5.2 million annual in recurring revenue to the City. So where do these numbers come and what do they mean for Oakland?

In late 2016 SunCal, the developer of Oak Knoll commissioned Sacramento based consulting firm DPFG to conduct a detailed study of the economic impacts and benefits that the Oak Knoll project would bring to the local economy. DPFG worked closely with Implan, a nationally recognized economic modeling firm.

“The results of our review indicate that Oak Knoll will produce significant economic benefits to the local economy, including impact fee benefits, construction benefits, employment benefits, earnings increases, and tax revenue generation,” said Chris Austin, DPFG Managing Principal.

According to the DPFG report, each year the project is expected to bring $28.5 million of new sales from businesses in Oakland by the new homeowners in the community. The report also revealed the Oak Knoll development would create over 5,000 new jobs over the construction of the project and an estimated $335 million in increased worker earnings.

Austin explained that given the size and cost of the project — the initial development and subsequent residential and non-residential construction — the estimate of 5,000 jobs is very realistic.

“Using our methodology, the cost of a construction project combined with data on the specific geographic area of the project location, produces a very accurate picture of the number of construction jobs that are necessary to implement a project. We have prepared this analysis with Oak Knoll,” said Austin.

The report does more than talk about jobs. The bigger impact is long-term generation of revenue to the City of Oakland and Alameda County and what that money can do for the community.

For example, DPFG claims that the property taxes alone from the development will generate approximately $8.1 million a year that can be directed toward city, county, BART, EBRP the Oakland Unified School District and other agencies. They estimate that the sales from new residential spending will generate $58.9 million.

Chris Austin explained how the project will also create a jobs and revenue domino effect of benefits to the entire city of Oakland and the region. Although the DPFG report was presented to the City, it is public information that should be read by those who criticize new developments. Councilmember Larry Reid argues that the Oak Knoll Project helps to address his community’s need for economic development, jobs and new sources of revenue.

Austin said, “If city leaders value economic development, job creation and new revenue to the community, and if the city wants growth, they should approve projects like Oak Knoll.”

Austin and Reid may be right. The Oak Knoll development is one of a handful of major projects. And, according to the DPFG study, it is projects of this size that can make things happen and ultimately attract other developers and businesses that can provide community benefits.

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Related Topics:District 7 East Oakland fdevelopment housing larry reid Oak Knoll

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Oakland Post: Week of February 25 – March 3, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 25 – March 3, 2026

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2 days ago

March 1, 2026

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Oakland Post: Week of February 18 – 24, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 18 – 24, 2026

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2 weeks ago

February 20, 2026

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Bay Area

CITY OF SAN LEANDRO STATE OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT ENGINEERING DIVISION NOTICE TO BIDDERS FOR ANNUAL STREET OVERLAY/REHABILITATION 2019-21 – PHASE III

WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of roadway paving, base cement stabilization, concrete curb ramps, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, traffic detection loops and pavement striping, and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.

Published

2 weeks ago

February 20, 2026

Oakland Post

PROJECT NO. 2020.0050

BID NO. 25-26.011

BID OPENING: The bidder shall complete the “Proposal to the City of San Leandro” form contained in the Contract Book. The proposal shall be submitted in its entirety. Incomplete proposals will be considered non-responsive. Sealed bids containing the completed Proposal Section subject to the conditions named herein and in the specifications for ANNUAL STREET OVERLAY/REHABILITATION 2019-21 – PHASE III/PROJECT NO. 2020.0050 addressed to the City of San Leandro will be received at City Hall, 835 East 14^th Street, 2^nd Floor San Leandro at the office of the City Clerk up to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, 2026, at which time they will be publicly opened and read.
WORK DESCRIPTION: The work to be done consists of roadway paving, base cement stabilization, concrete curb ramps, driveways, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, traffic detection loops and pavement striping, and doing all appurtenant work in place and ready for use, all as shown on the plans and described in the specifications with the title indicated in Paragraph 1 above, and on file in the office of the City Engineer. Reference to said plans and specifications is hereby made for further particulars.
OBTAINING THE PROJECT PLANS AND CONTRACT BOOK: The project plans and Contract Book may be obtained free of charge from the City’s website at:https://www.sanleandro.org/Bids.aspx Bidders who download the plans are encouraged to contact the City of San Leandro Public Works Department Engineering division at 510-577-3428 to be placed on the project planholder’s list to receive courtesy notifications of addenda and other project information. Project addenda, if any, will be posted on the website. A bidder who fails to address all project addenda in its proposal may be deemed non-responsive.Bidders may also purchase the Project Plans and Contract Book from East Bay Blueprint & Supply Co., at 1745 14^th Street, Oakland, CA 94606; Phone Number: (510) 261-2990 or email: ebbp@eastbayblueprint.com.
PRE-BID CONFERENCE: A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM and on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM as follows:
Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at 2:00 PM
Zoom Meeting ID: 883 8752 6074
Passcode: 502955
Zoom Link: https://sanleandro-org.zoom.us/j/88387526074?pwd=hZ5rjB8AWdLAUem3CtByFiZxqKarHj.1
And
Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 10:00 AM
Zoom Meeting ID: 898 2672 0472
Passcode: 091848
Zoom Link: https://sanleandro-org.zoom.us/j/89826720472?pwd=JgZX2nXMpLSRM5xDPr7EJUxl7QIznr.1The information presented at the conferences will be identical, all bidders must attend one of the pre-bid conference and sign the attendance sheet. A firm that didn’t attend the pre-bid conference isn’t qualified to bid on the project.Questions regarding the plans and specifications may be submitted in writing to the project engineer until 5:00 p.m. five (5) days before, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays, bids must be received by the City. The City will not respond to oral questions outside of the pre-bid conference. The response, if any, will be by written addendum only. Oral responses do not constitute a revision to these plans or specifications.
VALUE OF WORK: The Engineer has estimated that the value of work is between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000.
SAN LEANDRO BUSINESS PREFERENCE AND PARTICIPATION GOALS: The work performed under this contract is subject to Section 1-6-225 of the San Leandro Municipal Code regarding local business preference and participation. A list of companies that hold a San Leandro business license is located on the City webpage under the finance department, here: https://www.sanleandro.org/340/Business-License
SAN LEANDRO COMMUNITY WORKFORCE AGREEMENT: The work performed under this contract is subject to the Community Workforce Agreement adopted by City Council Resolution 2015-104. Contractors attention is directed to Section 10.