Oakland releases plan for Coliseum neighborhood

Oakland officials Friday released a draft plan and environmental impact report for their ambitious ideas for developments at the Coliseum complex and on a large tract of land near the Oakland International Airport over the next 20 years.

The plan largely focuses on the Coliseum City project, where city officials hope to have a sports and entertainment district, as well as retail stores and hotels, on the site of the existing Coliseum complex.

The city envisions up to three new sports venues at the site: a new football stadium, a new baseball park and a new arena for basketball and other events.

The plan also calls for an intermodal transit hub adjacent to the current Coliseum BART station and an elevated pedestrian concourse that runs from the BART station to the proposed sports-related entertainment district, with retail, restaurants and hotels.

Additionally, there would be a mixed-use residential neighborhood and residential transit-oriented development to the east of San Leandro Road and extending to the west side of Interstate Highway 880 and the Oakland airport business park area near the San Leandro Bay waterfront.

On the west side of I-880, Oakland officials also envision a residential mixed-use district, a science and technology district that includes office development, logistics and airport-related uses, a new bay inlet along the waterfront, extensive new parkland and trails, a transit link from the Coliseum BART station and habitat restoration.

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan said in a statement:

“The Coliseum City project will transform an entire area of Oakland, creating thousands of new jobs and a regional destination. It stands to be one of the largest transit-oriented development projects in California and one of the most exciting development sites in the nation. … This plan marks a significant step forward in our work to prepare for a new Raiders stadium and provide a great potential site for the A’s.”

She said the proposed Coliseum City development will create up to 21,000 jobs “and a neighborhood that will thrive year round.”

City Councilman Larry Reid, who represents the East Oakland area where the city is proposing the developments, said he likes the plans for the Coliseum City project but he thinks the city’s plan for the west side of I-880 are “a pipe dream” because the city only owns a small portion of the land there and would need approval from many other parties before it moves forward.

Reid also pointed out that the Coliseum City project is up in the air because the group of investors who have an exclusive negotiating agreement with the city haven’t yet finalized plans to build and pay for the project.

He noted that the group’s agreement with the city expires on Oct. 21 and said the city might not extend it if the group doesn’t show that it’s making significant progress, such as a deal with the Oakland Raiders for building a new football stadium there.

Quan’s spokesman, Sean Maher, said the city is releasing the plan and environmental impact report now so it can move quickly if and when investors and developers come up with a solid Coliseum City plan.

Maher said he agrees with Reid that it will take longer to develop the western side of I-880 near the airport because the city doesn’t own much land there and will have to work with the Port of Oakland, the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the East Bay Municipal Utility District, the East Bay Regional Park District the Federal Aviation Administration and other entities.

Members of the public can download the city’s plan and environmental impact report from the city’s website and submit comments through Oct. 6.

Bay City News

Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. © 2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.