Economics

Planning Commission Gives Oak Knoll Plan Unanimous Approval to Build 935 Homes Plus $20 Million in Cash for Affordable Housing

Published

8 years ago

October 20, 2017

The Oak Knoll project, and its developer SunCal, will bring 935 homes to the East Oakland foothills, plus acres of open space, a new retail venue, and a $20 million payment to the city’s affordable housing fund.

The commission’s 5-0vote in favor of the project was reached after more than two hours of testimony by East Oakland neighbors, community groups, and competing unions. SunCal has entered into a project labor agreement with LiUna local union 304, who will work on the initial infrastructure of the project.

One side of the chamber was filled with red shirts of the local 304 speaking in favor of the project, that will bring them jobs. The other-side of the room was filled with the neon green shirts of the East Bay Residents for Responsible Development, comprised of other unions, including mechanical, engineers and plumbers who have not been guaranteed work in the initial phase of the project.

Bishop Bob Jackson

The East Bay Residents for Responsible Development urged the commission to delay the project due to concerns over traffic mitigations, the lack of on-site affordable housing, and the lack of project, labor agreements with their unions.

Under city law, city officials cannot require a project labor agreement on a purely private project, like the Oak Knoll project.

Fernando Estrada, Business Manager-Secretary/Treasurer of the Local 304 of LiUNA.

Fernando Estrada, Business Manager-Secretary/Treasurer of the Local 304 of LiUNA pointed out that the majority of his members – who will be the beneficiaries of Oak Knoll’s construction jobs – live in Oakland.

“Oak Knoll has been an eye-sore for too long,” said Bishop Bob Jackson of the Acts Full Gospel Church, and a resident of the area. “The longer we wait, the worse this will get.”
Jackson said he was pleased that SunCal has committed to provide funds that will go towards job training programs, including the Men of Valor, which helps formerly incarcerated people re-enter society and have productive lives.

“It’s not realistic for one development to solve all of Oakland’s problem. The shopping, hiking trails and jobs are good for Oakland overall, and good for the Oakland Hills,” said one resident of the nearby Shadow Wood condominiums.

A spokesman from the Oak Knoll Neighborhood Association pointed out that many of the mitigations SunCal will address are actually issues that the city has been putting off for a long time.

“There are so few opportunities to build single-family homes in the hills,” said Planning Commissioner, Emily Weinstein. “We are looking at land-use on a privately funded project that does not involve public land. Signing an agreement with the laborers shows the developers commitment to local hire.”

“We are talking about building housing in the middle of a housing crisis,” said Aly Bonde, the policy manager for the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. “We cannot apply downtown housing norms to a project in the Oakland Hills.”

“The $20 million payment to the affordable housing fund can be leveraged is a fantastic compliment to this project,” said Planning Commissioner Adhi Nagraj. “I was very glad to see so many neighbors, and Bishop Bob Jackson, here to support the project. East Oakland doesn’t often get this kind of project, this kind of opportunity.”

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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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4 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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February 20, 2026

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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.