tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post242474936361035165..comments2023-10-16T03:27:54.609-07:00Comments on new A's ballpark: Oh Happy Charade!Marine Layerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13515986023439927575noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-85856498905001138462009-04-14T13:58:00.000-07:002009-04-14T13:58:00.000-07:00I of course can't find the link anymore: but I re...I of course can't find the link anymore: but I read a bit ago how yoshi's was a part of oakland's budget for the arts. could be wrong of course, but I seem to remember that.<br /><br />I would love JLS to actually get some use and become a destination. but I just don't trust anyone involved to get something done (the port, local developers, etc..). If they couldn't get things built and filled when the economy was booming I don't think they'll be able to do it now.<br /><br /><br />back to the ball park: don't most fans come to the Oakland games via car at this point? even with bart attached to the stadium? won't this stadium need a ton more parking? I guess they could try and use the college lot as an overfill station, but I'm not sure where else they could put all the cars. but since we are playing make-believe at this point: the idea of a double header at pacbell and then here via ferry would be sweet.hamachinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-65586016801157696662009-04-14T10:31:00.000-07:002009-04-14T10:31:00.000-07:00How is Yoshi's subsidized by the Oakland city gove...How is Yoshi's subsidized by the Oakland city government?<br /><br />The chain restaurants left because they were kicked out because of construction and the developers desire for a new clientèle. Barclay's closed and another restaurant took its place.<br /><br />The place gets plenty of people on Sundays when the weather is nice.<br /><br />Also, the boat shows pack people in. Let's not make it like Jack London is an undesirable place. You know that there are more people living in the area then ever before. People enjoy being near the water. The problem is that the place is still under construction and the developers have taken too long to complete the project. It has nothing to do with the desirability of the area. The place would be great for a ballparkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-15655047526609180982009-04-14T07:46:00.000-07:002009-04-14T07:46:00.000-07:00actually, JLS has gotten worse and worse every yea...actually, JLS has gotten worse and worse every year I've lived here. most of the chain restaurants have left, barclays closed up, and the only draws are a mediocre movie theater, barnes & noble or yoshi's. woo? and yoshi's is only still around because it's heavily subsidized by the oakland city govt. most of the other night clubs attracted gang violence and after a few deaths were closed.<br /><br />the farmer's market has been steadily shrinking over the years, almost every other one has more stands and a larger variety. the one in downtown oakland on friday morning is at least twice as big. and is packed with people.<br /><br />yes. I know about the proposed new restaurants that are earmarked for the new hall. announcements are nice. but until I see a door open and people actually coming there I'm not very excited. and how are they going to fill the other floors? the developer was trying to charge rents (a few years ago anyway) that were equal to downtown SF! the new miss pearl's jam house is really nice though, I'd recommend a visit there, but I've heard the hotel itself isn't doing very well.<br /><br />I WANT to it to succeed. and a great ballpark COULD be an amazing thing. but the lack of the current city govt to actually plan and follow through with anything does not inspire confidence. there are too many hurdles to jump through and not enough people care. and the dollars for high end suites and such just aren't here.<br /><br />meh. I'd love for oakland to pull it together. but I just don't see it happening unless wolffe and them throw in the towel and quit.hamachinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-48753249476547510382009-04-13T16:00:00.000-07:002009-04-13T16:00:00.000-07:00Hamachi, There are 5 new restaurants signed for Ja...Hamachi, There are 5 new restaurants signed for Jack London Square. Eventually the plan is to have fifteen additional restaurants along with the Market Hall. The place is still under construction. Also, if you go on Sunday for the Farmer's Market, it's pretty lively.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-67430997095472126402009-04-13T15:37:00.000-07:002009-04-13T15:37:00.000-07:00Yup. Jls is dead. There is hope the new market wil...Yup. Jls is dead. There is hope the new market will help but I have supreme doubts. The port sold all the development rights away and that group has closed most of the tennants and done the bare minimum building. It's sad how dead it isHamachinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-61383869170312396402009-04-13T14:28:00.000-07:002009-04-13T14:28:00.000-07:00Non-resident A's fan here. A few years ago I thoug...Non-resident A's fan here. A few years ago I thought a JLS ballpark would be perfect. Last year I went to a ballgame and went out to dinner at JLS with my wife and I couldn't believe how empty JLS was. Is it me or has the area lost businesses and appeal over the last 10 years?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-43465480130141350932009-04-13T13:26:00.000-07:002009-04-13T13:26:00.000-07:00Can't wait to see the mock-up, but I don't think O...Can't wait to see the mock-up, but I don't think Oakland will get anything together before the T-rights are dealt with. <BR/><BR/>I live in JLS, so I'd love to see something happen here, but I have no idea how they'd pay for all the infrastructure changes needed to absorb all the traffic.hamachinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-35533071967400041712009-04-13T12:11:00.000-07:002009-04-13T12:11:00.000-07:00Let's wait until I get those post up this afternoo...Let's wait until I get those post up this afternoon, please.Marine Layerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13515986023439927575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-28363044347070877712009-04-13T11:31:00.000-07:002009-04-13T11:31:00.000-07:00V, I'll try to address some of your points. First ...V, I'll try to address some of your points. First of all, Lew Wolff has told Mayor Chuck Reed of San Jose that this ballpark wont cost the City of San Jose anything. This will be a privately financed ballpark. I'm going to assume if this is indeed a "region" for the purposes of getting the existing Oakland A's fan base out to San Jose for ball games, then, this must also be a "region" when it comes to possibly getting CISCO or other South Bay corporations to invest in a ballpark in centrally located Oakland. If the South Bay corporations aren't interested than perhaps Clorox Field or Kaiser Yard will work.<BR/><BR/>Secondly, assuming that the ballpark fits within the parameters of the train tracks, that shouldn't be an issue. Safeco Field in Seattle has the same train that runs through Jack London Square running right behind their outfield wall.<BR/><BR/>Third, the PUC will get out of the way when it's made perfectly clear to them that they are obstructing growth and prosperity in Oakland. You can also make a case that the viability of the current expansion of Jack London Square depends on bringing in 30,000 people to that area 81 times a year.<BR/><BR/>Also, much of the area in question is already controlled by the City of Oakland. If it takes three years, so be it. If it takes five year, it's well worth the wait to transform Oakland into a truly vibrant waterfront city and to keep the history and legacy of the Oakland A's in a stunning ballpark which will be the envy of the Country.Navigatornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-75688253236431305782009-04-13T11:20:00.000-07:002009-04-13T11:20:00.000-07:00Way to be a buzz kill V Smoothe...Way to be a buzz kill V Smoothe...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-553734628411573302009-04-13T10:41:00.000-07:002009-04-13T10:41:00.000-07:00I was intrigued with that site when it was propose...I was intrigued with that site when it was proposed in the comments section of the 'ol Marine Layer Oakland Challenge of '09.<BR/><BR/>From an aesthetic perspective, is it even really on the Waterfront? Looking on Google Earth it seems to be a bit away from the water and buttressed against a freeway off ramp... am I looking at the wrong place?Jeffreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14086938574207856042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-61772125875144803912009-04-13T10:38:00.000-07:002009-04-13T10:38:00.000-07:00Major problems that come to mind immediately with ...Major problems that come to mind immediately with that site. First, the PUC will <B>never</B> let that happen. They're already flipping out over the impacts of O29 on the Broadway & Embarcadero intersection, going so far as to try to fight certification of the EIR. I think they'll ultimately be able to be satisfied with respect to that project, although I expect they'll be making some extremely onerous demands of the transportation management plan. But after watching their public hissyfit over something that will have way less of an impact on immediate area circulation than a ballpark attracting thousands of people at a time, I can't imagine them <I>ever</I> consenting to such an intense use at that location. Second, on-site active railroad tracks present a serious problem (although I don't think that one is insurmountable).<BR/><BR/>Finally, and probably most importantly, there's simply no way to pay for it. The <B>only</B> financing mechanism even possible in Oakland at this point is through the RDA. The site isn't even entirely contained with a redevelopment area, and the part that is inside one is in the Central District, which expires for new projects in June 2012. (Central District also probably couldn't afford another large scale project anyway, but let's ignore that for the moment.) There is no way on God's green earth that the City of Oakland is going to get it together to create a development proposal for a freaking ballpark on the water adjacent to a bunch of whiny anti-development types inside the Estuary Policy Plan area that would require both zoning changes and General Plan amendments, prepare and <I>certify</I> an EIR, and issue final project approvals within 3 years. Even if every step of the process moved at light speed, you'd still be pushing the deadline just taking into account required timelines when it comes to noticing each part. <BR/><BR/>If you're serious about identifying ballpark space in Oakland, it <B>has</B> to be within Central City East or Coliseum RDAs.V Smoothehttp://www.abetteroakland.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-74038006765786585162009-04-13T10:09:00.000-07:002009-04-13T10:09:00.000-07:00I love that site too. Im glad to see people on her...I love that site too. Im glad to see people on here are supporting the good Oakland ideas.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-14289160146094578072009-04-13T09:38:00.000-07:002009-04-13T09:38:00.000-07:00Navigator, I really like that idea between Fallon ...Navigator, I really like that idea between Fallon St. the Lake Merritt Channel and 880. Because that location is a bit closer and a much safer/easier walk to Lake Merritt BART, I actually prefer it over Estuary Park and 9th to Oak St. <BR/><BR/>I can't wait to see what ML does with the new 3-D modeling skills for Oakland sites. Very cool!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-15768304879017436822009-04-13T09:30:00.000-07:002009-04-13T09:30:00.000-07:00I'll go one better than that and superimpose my ba...I'll go one better than that and superimpose my ballpark model on the site. I'll include a short site overview. Look for it later today.Marine Layerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13515986023439927575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-36793237701494751972009-04-13T08:49:00.000-07:002009-04-13T08:49:00.000-07:00On point Navigator. I also think this is the best ...On point Navigator. I also think this is the best site for a new Oakland A's ballpark. <BR/>ML, I sent you an image of this scenario a while back. Can you post it up please?dbackmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-45405627266430616882009-04-13T07:55:00.000-07:002009-04-13T07:55:00.000-07:00V, now we're getting somewhere. I like that qu...V, now we're getting somewhere. I like that question.<BR/><BR/>I would build it on the current Oakland Fire Department Training Center which is between the Embarcadero, the Lake Merritt Channel, Fallon St., and the 880 Freeway. The OFD site by itself is too small, however, there is an adjacent old surface parking lot next to 880. There are also several additional underutilized parcels in the area including a self-storage building. This site would require the acquisition of only a few private properties.<BR/><BR/>The OFD training site next to Jack London Square is within walking distance of the Clay Street Ferry Terminal, a 1/4 of a mile from the Lake Merritt BART Station, and less than 1/2 a mile from the JLS AMTRAK station. Also, the brand new 1200 space parking garage on 2nd St. is less than a 1/4 of a mile from the site. Other accessible garages include the 1200 stall garage on Washington Street, along with the garage directly under Barnes & Nobles. Also, the Laney College parking lot across the Lake Merritt Channel, could be used for an additional multi story parking structure.<BR/><BR/>The Oakland Fire Department Training Center would allow for the use of the Lake Merritt Channel to be incorporated into the ballpark design. We could have our own "splash hits" if we wanted to be so tacky. <BR/><BR/>This site would be a tremendous success for the Oakland A's, along with invigorating the Oakland Waterfront to a dynamic level seen only in truly great waterfront cities like San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle. <BR/><BR/>The Jack London Square area is a dynamic and growing area with thousands of new residential units. There are plans for thousands more units in the adjacent Oak to 9th project. There is even talk of a trolley linking the waterfront to Broadway, and all the way up to Uptown. Also, the 5th Ave off ramps from 880 are scheduled to be redesigned. <BR/><BR/>A ballpark in Jack London Square would give the Oakland economy a tremendous jolt. Anyone want to talk about a "stimulus package?" Well, this would be the ultimate stimulus package for Oakland. This project would be transformational. Oakland's new image as a vibrant and beautiful waterfront city would be instantly ingrained across the United States. <BR/><BR/>What do you think Marinelayer? Will it fit on that site? Perhaps you could do an overview of what a ballpark on that site would look like. Thanks.Navigatornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-59748205034869990312009-04-12T22:01:00.000-07:002009-04-12T22:01:00.000-07:00Hey guys--if Oakland JLS is the place than whats h...Hey guys--if Oakland JLS is the place than whats holding up the city of Oakland from acquiring the site? Quit talking and do something---and don't expect LW to find and pay for the site---thats in addition to the $500M price tag for the ballpark---and yes--you have had 15 years to try and figure this thing out---SJ was able to do it in 3---why can't you?<BR/><BR/>Time to quit whining and do something or get the heck out of the way--Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-53337922259739298072009-04-12T21:16:00.000-07:002009-04-12T21:16:00.000-07:00Isn't that right on top of the Webster and Posey t...Isn't that right on top of the Webster and Posey tubes? Not sure that's the safest place to build for either the ballpark or tunnel users.Marine Layerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13515986023439927575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-65044366792767554152009-04-12T20:07:00.000-07:002009-04-12T20:07:00.000-07:00On the waterfront in between Webster and Alice, or...On the waterfront in between Webster and Alice, or Estuary Park. Or, right in the center of it all, building out onto the water.jeepersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-3068738081178217982009-04-12T20:02:00.000-07:002009-04-12T20:02:00.000-07:00880 south from the maze is fine because of the pos...880 south from the maze is fine because of the post-quake rebuild, but fans will still have to drive a mile on surface streets to get to the ballpark. 980 narrows from 3 to 2 lanes plus an exit only lane which dumps fans again onto 5th. At least 880 north has 2 exits, neither of which were built to handle massive acute traffic loads. The area is much better equipped to handle postgame traffic. Any EIR will include a severe impact to 5th St at the very minimum.Marine Layerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13515986023439927575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-22653276334274776152009-04-12T19:54:00.000-07:002009-04-12T19:54:00.000-07:00This whole 15 years meme is so weak. Its pretty am...This whole 15 years meme is so weak. Its pretty amazing how often it gets repeated in these forums. When did 15 years become the measuring stick for success or failure of a baseball town?dbackmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-75056745428995851432009-04-12T19:46:00.000-07:002009-04-12T19:46:00.000-07:00Where in Jack London Square?Where in Jack London Square?V Smoothehttp://www.abetteroakland.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-63964870261781310782009-04-12T18:45:00.000-07:002009-04-12T18:45:00.000-07:00Jack London Square is a phenomenal idea, and I dou...Jack London Square is a phenomenal idea, and I doubt the freeway on-ramps are really that big of a problem. It's not like Phone Company Park was especially accessible when it was built. <BR/><BR/>I just hope that some of the people involved in this 11th hour effort in Oakland are actually effective people, which is to say, antithetical to Ignacio de la Fuente.jeepersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11432525.post-29144898771121101832009-04-12T14:24:00.000-07:002009-04-12T14:24:00.000-07:00Nav, plenty of us are open to any kind of regional...Nav, plenty of us are open to <B><I>any</I></B> kind of regional solution regardless of where it's located. If there is one in Oakland, whether at JLS or Coliseum, and it doesn't cost the public an arm and a leg, we'd love to hear about it. There's time right now to figure it out.<BR/><BR/>However, if in time no such solution arises, the A's should be allowed to move forward. Firing off blame in every direction, as you're wont to do, is a needless distraction. The sanctimonious, Pollyanna-ish rantings are better served somewhere else where the readers give a rat's ass.Marine Layerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13515986023439927575noreply@blogger.com