Uncategorized

OP-ED: Developer Phil Tagami Responds to Debate on Coal Transport Through Army Base

Published

10 years ago

July 23, 2015

By Phil Tagami

For over seven years, the City of Oakland (City), the Port of Oakland (Port), and California Capital & Investment Group (CCIG) together have embraced and vigilantly pursued a vision to transform the former Oakland Army Base to a state-of-the-art facility known as the Oakland Global Trade and Logistics Center (Oakland Global), setting new standards for economic vitality, job creation, and environmental improvement.

The vision and commitment have not changed for anyone.

Oakland Global will involve the collective investment of more than $820 million in private and public funds, many of those funds already having been committed.

It will establish 2,800 project construction jobs, 2,000 permanent waterfront jobs, an estimated 4,225 regional jobs, and produce up to $300 million annually in regional employment income, in a region suffering a crippling 17 percent unemployment rate currently.

Further, Oakland Global already is subject to over 660 mitigation mandates and conditions of approval imposed by the City and Port, including the establishment of a strict air quality regimen in compliance with regulations of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

At significant expense, three state-of–the-art air monitors were installed in West Oakland, the results of which are available daily on line at www.OaklandGlobal.com.

All operations and commodities processed at Oakland Global, including through the Oakland Bulk and Oversized Terminal (OBOT), will at all times be subject to and in compliance with federal, state, regional, and local laws and regulations.

The city’s entitlement of Oakland Global in 2012 was done in full and final compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act, those proceedings including adoption of a 2012 update to the original 2002 environmental impact report for the project.

Development of Oakland Global, both on the ground and in the securing of funding sources for the benefit of all Oakland, proceeds.

As to OBOT in the West Gateway portion of Oakland Global, CCIG has entered into an exclusive Option Agreement with Terminal Logistics Strategies (TLS) for the potential operation of OBOT. CCIG is the developer of OBOT, but will not be its operator.

Under the Option Agreement, TLS would operate OBOT in full compliance with and subject to the full breadth of rights and entitlements vested in OBOT by the City. CCIG and TLS have an arm’s-length, contractual relationship. CCIG did not “hire” TLS or any TLS employees or representatives.

At this time, neither CCIG nor TLS has committed to the transport of any particular commodity through OBOT.

As the potential operator of OBOT, TLS has committed to the City to surpass the obligations already imposed on Oakland Global, among other things committing that all rail transport – regardless of commodity – will occur utilizing newly designed covered rail cars and other measures to minimize and potentially eliminate fugitive dust issues.

OBOT’s construction and operations are designed consistent with the lawful expectations of potential customers – accommodating three or four of the full spectrum of approximately 15,000 bulk commodities regulated by federal law. This is standard industry practice and uniform at marine terminals throughout the United States.

As noted, there has been no commitment to include or exclude any particular commodity in the Oakland Global operations.

But regardless of any particular commodity, it is indisputable that operations of the completed Oakland Global project will set new standards in integrated modes and technologies, energy efficiency, and environmental standards.

In particular, air quality and emissions related to Port operations in and around West Oakland will be vastly improved under Oakland Global operating standards than without.

Job, economic vitality and revitalization, and improved environmental standards and conditions for the community. The vision and commitment have not changed.

For more information about Oakland Global, visit www.OaklandGlobal.com.

For further information or questions, contact: David C. Smith Stice & Block, LLP dsmith@sticeblock.com 949-923-8170.

Oakland Post

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Uncategorized

Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

6 months ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Special to The Post

The City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department (Oakland HCD) announced its awardees for the 2024-2025 New Construction of Multifamily Affordable Housing Notice of Funding Availability (New Construction NOFA) today Five permanently affordable housing developments received awards out of 24 applications received by the Department, with award amounts ranging from $7 million to $28 million.

In a statement released on Jan. 16, Oakland’s HCD stated, “Five New Construction Multifamily Affordable Housing Development projects awarded a total of $80.5 million to develop 583 affordable rental homes throughout Oakland. Awardees will leverage the City’s investments to apply for funding from the state and private entities.”

In December, the office of Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 City Councilmember, worked with HCD to allocate an additional $10 Million from Measure U to the funding pool. The legislation also readopted various capital improvement projects including street paving and upgrades to public facilities.

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is the media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

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Activism

Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

11 months ago

January 30, 2025

Oakland Post

Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 city councilmember. File photo.

Special to The Post

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units, including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

Oakland Acquisition Company’s Acquisition of County’s Interest in Coliseum Property on the Verge of Completion

The Board of Supervisors is committed to closing the deal expeditiously, and County staff have worked tirelessly to move the deal forward on mutually agreeable terms. The parties are down to the final details and, with the cooperation of OAC and Coliseum Way Partners, LLC, the Board will take a public vote at an upcoming meeting to seal this transaction.

Published

11 months ago

January 11, 2025

Oakland Post

Alameda County Board of Supervisors Chairman David Haubert. Official photo.

Special to The Post

The County of Alameda announced this week that a deal allowing the Oakland Acquisition Company, LLC, (“OAC”) to acquire the County’s 50% undivided interest in the Oakland- Alameda County Coliseum complex is in the final stages of completion.

Oakland has already finalized a purchase and sale agreement with OAC for its interest in the property. OAC’s acquisition of the County’s property interest will achieve two longstanding goals of the County:

The Oakland-Alameda Coliseum complex will finally be under the control of a sole owner with capacity to make unilateral decisions regarding the property; and
The County will be out of the sports and entertainment business, free to focus and rededicate resources to its core safety net

In an October 2024 press release from the City of Oakland, the former Oakland mayor described the sale of its 50% interest in the property as an “historic achievement” stating that the transaction will “continue to pay dividends for generations to come.”

The Board of Supervisors is pleased to facilitate single-entity ownership of this property uniquely centered in a corridor of East Oakland that has amazing potential.

“The County is committed to bringing its negotiations with OAC to a close,” said Board President David Haubert.