San Francisco Real Estate Firm Buys Up Oakland's Jack London Square
OAKLAND (KCBS) - An out-of-town investment firm has scooped up nearly all the property in Jack London Square, promising to bring business and foot traffic to an area merchants say desperately needs new life.
Ferry commuters stream through the square every weekday past a hotel and two large restaurants that are surrounded by empty store fronts and an unused office complex.
"Right now Scott's is Jack London Square. There's really not many other businesses down here," said Kelly Hodgins, the catering manager at Scott's Restaurant.
A skeptic, Hodgins heard in the grand plans of the new developer, Divco West Services, echoes of the promises made in 2002 by Ellis Partners, which will still own a tiny fraction of the square's 16 acres.
"Since then, TGIF's been out for four years. Barnes and Noble went out January. A little coffee shop on the corner here can't ever make it," she said.
The dismal retail situation was perfect when Penelope Adive went looking for a short-term rental to serve as a temporary storefront for a collective that highlights the work of East Bay artists.
Her pop up store also sells clothing, quilts, jewelry and body products by local designers.
"I would love to see a lot of people down here. I feel like Jack London Square is one of the gems of the city that's not greatly utilized to its best capabilities," Adive said.
The Oakland Port Commission approved the sale to Divco earlier in the week.
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