New transit lanes for bicycles, a Bus Rapid Transit System station, and redevelopment of the Bates Street intersection area are recommendations proposed in a master plan that envisions Oakland alive with residential and business development.
The recommendations will be open for discussion during the “Oakland 2025” release party Thursday evening at Alumni Hall at 4227 Fifth Avenue.
Wanda Wilson, Executive Director of the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation (OPDC), said every neighborhood needs a plan.
“Oakland has had a variety of plans and strategies, but for the past couple of decades we haven’t had a plan that’s been very comprehensive,” said Wilson. “So the Oakland 2025 Master Plan creates a very comprehensive vision and really looks at how the various topics relate to one another.”
The plan highlights four areas where development will be focused:
· The North Oakland Business District, where a “pedestrian streetscape” would be built
· The Western Portal, is a proposed site for a Bus Rapid Transit Station and parking garage
· The Bates/Boulevard/Zulema Park area, where intersection improvements and development to Zulema Park will begin a long-term commitment to redevelopment.
· The Fifth and Forbes Corridor, which should be transformed with separate bike lanes and pedestrian friendly developments
Wilson said they engaged more than 400 people invested in the neighborhood during the planning process.
“We’re really looking forward to discussing this with all of the residents in Oakland and just people who are interested in the neighborhood,” said Wilson. “And it’s a great opportunity for everybody to be on the same page with a shared vision.”
The party starts at 6 p.m. Thursday November 1 with refreshments, childcare, and transportation available to those who RSVP.
Copies of the plan are already available at the OPDC’s website.
