Harris and his crew removed 300 tons of debris, broken up concrete, weeds, trash, and fixed and secured the main entry fences, barring further illegal entry. Both Union Pacific, whose rail right of way backs the linear length of the BNSF properties, and Caltrans, who have under-freeway as well as Surplus Property in the immediate area, have also removed blight weeds and debris from their properties. The area is now a presentable secondary gateway between West Oakland and its northern neighboring city, Emeryville.
The cleanup as well as the opening of the new Target store, signifies a new era for this long distressed community, which is situated at the foot of the Bay Bridge. Back in 2001, Caltrans invested $12million into West Oakland in the form of the now-landscaped Mandela Parkway on the site of the former Loma Prieta Freeway. With this cleanup and ongoing partnership between the railroads, the City and Caltrans, this area of West Oakland stands to benefit as the economy recovers, as its development opportunities may now be viewed in a new more presentable and attractive setting.
DELICIOUS NUTRICIOUS AND COOK! ARE HERE
Delicious Nutritious and Cook! recently opened its doors at 3310 Peralta Street with Nona Lim, owner of "Cook!" and Storn White, owner of "Delicious Nutritious," who partnered in early 2010, jointly operating a commercial kitchen there.
The partners approached CEDA staff to participate in the Tenant Improvement Program to help convert about 3700 sq ft of vacant and underutilized space into productive food handling and office space. The main purpose of the renovation would be to create a fresh foods packaging factory by increasing the approved food handling area from about 800 to perhaps 3600 sq. ft. Delicious Nutritious delivers nutritionally-balanced fresh food boxes to workers in office buildings and Nona Lim's company, Cook! sells prepared, measured, and marinated fresh food dinner kits that transform into nutritious meals.
Both operations are similar in its preparation capacity and are considered 'Specialty Food Sector' companies. Both businesses are in a great position to share resources together. Storn said, "By quadrupling the kitchen space and running in two shifts, Nona and I feel that we can transform this space into a solid little economic engine."
Currently the joint business venture is employing 12 people for administrative and operational purposes. The improvements were finished in October 2010. "Once the renovations are completed we would like to invite the community around us to tour our location and follow up with Façade Improvements that will help to revitalize the area around our business location," Nona said. The grand opening has been scheduled for Friday December 10, 2010.For more information visit Cook! or Delicious Nutritious.
PINNACLE INSTALLATION MOVES TO WOOD STREET
Since 1992, Pinnacle Installation has provided glazing sales and installation services for commercial, residential, institutional, educational, mixed use, retail, government and military construction projects throughout the Western United States.
Pinnacle is a union glazing shop affiliated with the Northern California Glaziers and the Architectural Metal and Glass Workers Local 169, DC 16. We hold class B and Class C-17 licenses with the Contractors State License Board of California. The business currently employs 20 people. Pinnacle Installation is a glazing contractor committed to growth through excellence. We deliver competitive pricing, performance that exceeds our customers' expectations and we meet the highest standards of quality and safety.
Throughout the years, Pinnacle Installations has established a reputation for quality workmanship, operating with integrity in all of our dealings, exceeding client expectations, maintaining financial stability and contributing to excellent team performance on our projects. Pinnacle Installations is located 6 blocks east of the I-80 in West Oakland at the Emeryville border. For more information go to our web site.
CUSTOM ENVELOPE PRINTER ALSO COMING
Golden West Envelopes has served the Graphics Arts Industry of Northern California since 1972. Looking to move to West Oakland from Hayward, owner Ray Mazur is considering a repair shop located at Wood and 26th Street. It is a bulding that can be easily move in to since, it has had electrical upgrades that can accommodate the equipment that comes with this specialty and customized envelope business. The business employs 12 people who will benefit form the new location because of its proximity to different amenities, including their places of residence.
The business plans to move to its new location over the holidays in time for the 2011 New Year. The West Oakland Commerce Association has already welcomed this new business to West Oakland. For more information about the business go to www.goldenwestenvelope.com
GRANTS TO NEIGHBORHOOD (11/10/10)
The West Oakland Community Development Block Grant Committee is proud to report that the City of Oakland received funding from Proposition 84 for three projects yesterday. Two of them were $5,000,0000 for the West Oakland Teen Center and $4,000,000 for City Slicker Farms for a new, expansive Community Garden project.
The CDBG Committee serves as the community's voice in the distribution of limited funds that come from the federal government towards local community programs and capital improvements. Among the good programs they funded in fiscal year 2010-2011 was seed money for the West Oakland Teen Center, for programming and construction, and City Slicker Farms, for creation of a community garden in the Clawson Neighborhood (the area SE of the MacArthur Maze).
Thank you Councilwoman Nadel and District 3 staff for your continued advocacy and support of the West Oakland Teen Center. The $9 million dollars is an amazing investment in West Oakland's future for both our youth and community supported agriculture.
