23rd Avenue Corridor Action Team

23^rd Avenue Corridor Action Team
Planning Meeting
March 13, 2001
Volunteers of America Office

Attending: Chris Thomas (YEP), Don Davenport (SACDC), Eric Cone (SACDC), Jennie Mollica (Lao Family CDC), Pat Constantine (VOA), Elena Serrano (Eastside Arts Alliance), Jessica Pitt (Urban Strategies Council), Owusu Amoakohene (Urban Strategies Council).

Agenda

• Updates Since Last Meeting
• Data Needs
• Strategizing Around OUSD Plans
• Corridor Boundaries
• Community Input into Use of YEP Building
• Next Steps

I. Updates Since Last Meeting

• SACDC is in discussion with a potential development partner in San Diego to purchase the Garcia building. They are also looking at other properties along International Blvd.
• Don Davenport has been talking with Jennie Mollica about getting the Lao community more involved in retail development. Don would like to see an ethnic mix of businesses.
• There has been a resurgence of heroin activity on E. 15^th Street down to 23^rd Ave. SACDC is working with the police to address the problem.
• Michelle Clark-Clough attended the LSA Collaborative meeting and was enthusiastic about YEP’s Youth Build program targeting the LSA.
• SACDC is working with Katherine Firpo at CEDA on getting funding through the City’s land banking program. There might be a possible partnership between SACDC and Youth Build to develop lots. SACDC is working with a real estate broker around acquiring properties.
• Chris Thomas gave an update on Youth Build. YEP is in the process of applying for a new round of Federal Youth Build funds. They are always looking for development partners.
• Jennie suggested trying to tie Youth Build to the Home Owner Assistance Center that the Housing and Economic Development Committee is working on.
• Elena Serrano provided an update on the work that Bay Area Economics is doing for the Eastside Arts Alliance. BAE has narrowed their search to three potential properties for the Cultural Center: the bottom of the YEP building; the Bank of America building; and the VOA space that they’re currently using.
• Eastside Arts Alliance and the SACDC cleared up the trust issue that was raised at the last meeting. The inquiry about the property on Miller Ave. was part of BAE’s very early exploration of potential properties in the neighborhood. They were not actively pursuing the property for the Cultural Center. Don reiterated that we need a direct line of communication and a level of trust within the group.

II. Data Needs

Owusu distributed several land use maps of the Corridor. We then discussed other existing sources of data.

• EBALDC did an extensive land use survey of International Blvd. From 1^st Ave. to 22^nd Ave. We need to explore getting access to that.
• CEDA has also done an some land use inventories. Owusu and Hari from SACDC will be meeting with CEDA to collect the surveys they’ve done. Theresa Navarro from CEDA and Hari did some mapping of the business district. They will make that available to this group.
• The Applied Poverty Research Center did a report on Redlining that might have some data on the Lower San Antonio.

We then discussed other data needs:

• How many renters live in the Corridor?
• What kind of lease arrangements do they have?
• How many children live in the area?
• What schools do they attend?
• How many school-aged children are not in school?
• Does OUSD have this kind of data?
• We need data on OUSD’s steps in getting approval for eminent domain.
• We should plan a walking tour of the Corridor which might include some mapping.

III. Strategizing Around OUSD Plans

The group discussed how they should respond to the purported plan of the Oakland Unified School District to take over 4 square blocks in the 23^rd Ave. Corridor for a new Middle School.

• Find out exactly what area is under consideration.How are residents being notified?
• Find out where OUSD is in the process—has an intent to take suit been filed yet?
• Hold OUSD to the commitment they made at the OCO/RVC action to stay in dialogue with the City.
• Find pro-bono legal help.Organize a public forum on eminent domain.Arrange meeting with OUSD.
• Contact Minister from the church on 23^rd Ave. above the Garfield playground.
• Find out what role the Redevelopment Agency is playing.
• What will be the impact of the school on the neighborhood?
• Find out what impact this kind of project has had in other communities—both positive and negative.
• Arrange meeting with Ignacio DelaFuente
• Connect the organizing around the OUSD plan to Just Cause/Rent Control organizing.

IV. Corridor Boundaries

The group considered several different boundary configurations. They first considered the area bounded by 22^nd Ave. on the West, East 12^th Street on the South, Miller on the East, and Foothill Blvd. on the North. The group then discussed whether this area was too limited and should encompass a larger area so as to include more residents. They considered expanding the Northern boundary to 22^nd Street and the Eastern boundary to 28^th Avenue. However, after some discussion, the group decided that it made more sense to focus on a smaller area, at least initially. Although there were some concerns that the narrower boundaries did not encompass enough residents, the group agreed that outreach could still be done to a broader area.

The group discussed the importance of reaching out to everyone in the targeted area. They discussed the need to coordinate outreach with the Outreach Committee and the whole LSA Collaborative. It was suggested that the group find out more about the outreach strategy that EBALDC used in the East Lake District.

The group unanimously agreed that for the time being the Corridor boundaries will be: 22^nd Ave., Foothill Blvd., Miller Ave., E. 12^th Street.

V. Community Input into Use of YEP Building

YEP is very interested in seeking community input into how they develop their building on the corner of 23^rd Ave. and International. They want it to be a resource for the community. They are excited about multiple uses for the building. They are fully speced to build up two stories, so there is potentially quite a bit of community space. They have tentatively considered using the ground floor for other community organizations / programs and the upper floors for YEP’s offices and transitional housing.

YEP provides opportunities to young people at the beginning of their employment career—mainly youth up to the age of 30. They are not opposed to extending their scope to youth and their families. They already have a program to serve the young children of their clients.

They have submitted a proposal to the East Bay Community Foundation to fund a community input process on the use of the building. They have requested that the Urban Strategies Council help them with the process.

They have several concerns: 1) OUSD’s plans; 2) do residents see a youth employment center in their neighborhood as a threat.

There was a suggestion that YEP consider a community celebration in their space as a way to invite neighborhood people in, introduce them to YEP, and begin to get their input into the use of the building. Eastside Arts Alliance could be responsible for all of the programming. Delivering invitations could be done as part of the door-to-door outreach that has been discussed.

VI. Follow-up and Next Steps

• Susanne Takehara will follow-up on pro-bono legal assistance for the Collaborative around eminent domain
• Jessica will work on organizing a neighborhood forum on eminent domain
• Elena will arrange a meeting with Lewis Cohen at OUSD
• Don will ask his Board chair, Jerry Adams, to arrange a meeting with Ignacio DelaFuente on the OUSD plan
• Gus will contact James Van and EBHO about connecting organizing around eminent domain in the 23^rd Ave. Corridor with Just Cause/Rent Control organizing efforts.
• Susanne will get information on EBALC’s outreach strategy in East Lake.