The Port's planned expansion would block views from the site's westernmost 50 acres, which was slated for the first phase of development. Plans called for Wayans Brothers' Destination Oakland, a 917,000-sf mixed-use project that includes a 435,000-sf film production studio and creative office center, as well as 480,000 sf of retail, entertainment and educational offerings.

"We go from having amazing views to having a wall of containers to look at; any suggestion that we don't need to modify our development plans would be outrageous," Shuford says. "With containers on two sides, there would be no compelling reason why a creative company would want to come here from Emeryville, San Francisco, L.A. or anywhere else."

Shuford says all the uses can still be fit onto the site but must be rearranged if the city is not successful in working out a compromise with the Port, which local sources say doesn't appear likely. There is no quick fix, however, because the easternmost 17 acres of the site is leased through 2013 to the California Department of Transportation for use as staging for bridge repairs.

Keenon Ivory Wayans, who came to light when he produced the television comedy variety show "In Living Color" in the 1990s, has produced and starred in several well-known movies with his three brothers (Shawn, Marlon and Damon), including "White Chicks," "Little Man," "I'm Gonna Get You, Sucka," and "Scary Movie," the most financially successful feature ever directed by an African American.