Topic: Urban Planning & Process
Like many cities across the U.S., Oakland has a long history with environmental justice, the idea that environmental benefits and burdens should be shared fairly among all people. Over the years, the city has taken steps to become more sustainable, seeking to adopt a holistic approach toward achieving climate equity.
Nestled at the foot of the Oakland Hills and bordering the San Francisco Bay, Oakland sits within a spectacular natural setting. However, visiting parks and preserves east of the city can require people to take long transit rides or own a car. Located in the heart of Oakland, Lake Merritt offers a convenient alternative.
Founded in the 1850s, Oakland Chinatown is one of the oldest Chinatowns in the U.S. Discover the resilient history behind this East Bay gem, which remains a key cultural and economic center today.
Decked out with high-end restaurants and retail stores, Temescal is one of the trendiest areas in Oakland—as well as the site of skyrocketing housing prices and gentrification. Discover how this complex neighborhood came to be.
Between 1940 and 1944, the Bay Area experienced a huge surge in population. Wartime industry jobs attracted over half a million new residents, including many people of color, who settled in different neighborhoods throughout a rapidly suburbanizing Oakland.
Once known as the “Harlem of the West,” West Oakland’s Seventh Street harbored a vibrant Black music and commercial scene. While the neighborhood is still recovering from the impacts of post-war urbanization, it has begun to bounce back, turning to local blues and jazz artists to revive the sounds of a long-forgotten era.
Oakland is known for hosting many vibrant festivals, but few can match the continued popularity of Oakland First Fridays, which celebrate the city's vibrant community and culture.
There are an estimated 700 unhoused, “transition-aged youth” between the ages of 18–24 who live in Alameda County. Youth Spirit Artworks (YSA) is a Berkeley-based non-profit organization that has taken groundbreaking steps to help these individuals as they enter adulthood.
While they may not be as fast or convenient as BART or the Bay Bridge, ferries are a key part of the Bay Area’s public infrastructure. EcoBlock’s Amit Cohen explores the history of this maritime mode of transportation.
While neighborhoods are not static, maintaining an area’s historical and cultural character can help create a sense of place. Such is the case with the California Hotel in West Oakland–recent renovations have maintained the building’s historic exterior while giving it a new role in its community.