RFP Due for 108-Acre Army Base Redevelopment

OAKLAND, CA-The City Council this week is set to finalize an RFP for a 108-acre redevelopment of the former Oakland Army Base at the foot of the Bay Bridge in West Oakland. The would-be master developers, five well known names that were chosen earlier this year via an RFQ, will receive the document in the next 30 days and have until February to create a winning proposal.

The city is looking for “a dynamic mixed-use development that will take advantage of the site’s unique location to generate a diverse array of jobs that serve a range of employment needs for Oakland residents and create an attractive gateway to the city,” according to Gregory Hunter, Deputy Director of Oakland’s Community and Economic Development Agency. Also reflected in the RFP are the expectations of the city’s Economic Development Agency Board, whose vision “emphasizes commercial and industrial uses, green development, high-quality jobs, attractive design, and community benefits.”

The development strategy is the result of two years of analysis and community workshops. City staff used several consulting firms, including Bay Area Economics, to examine the market potential and feasibility of attracting different industries in the Army Base. BAE’s managing principal Janet Smith-Heimer says her firm sees the site as offering “the opportunity to bring new clean tech industries and green collar jobs to the City, as details of the project are fleshed out.”