Click on the articles below for summary and podcasts

December 11, 2009 – A new focus in housing is to repurpose underutilized buildings.

December 10, 2009 – What makes lofts so popular?

December 9, 2009 – Building community means creating places for people to gather.

December 8, 2009 – Central Station in West Oakland uses flexible zoning to animate ground floor spaces.

December 7, 2009 – After many years of planning, West Oakland is getting hundreds of new lofts, rentals and row homes

The only challenge to the project was by a group who calls themselves the Friends of Truckee who’s spokesperson is Siobhan Smart, a local business owner. The opposition group was challenged by many including former Mayor Ted Owens who stated, “To the so called and self proclaimed Friends of Truckee..it is my belief you are few in your view and I’ll ask for your support as well”.  Mike Dunsford, a long time Truckee resident said, “Friends of Truckee has a nice ring to if but is sort of a misnomer.”  Lisa Wallace, executive director of the Truckee Watershed Council expressed concern that the threatened lawsuit by Friends of Truckee, which Rick Holliday referred to as them trying to play a game of “gotcha,” could actually hurt the Trout Creek restoration effort by upsetting time sensitive funding that is now in place.

All in all it was a great night for the Town of Truckee and for Holliday Development.  As Mark Tanner correctly stated…..this is not Mr. Hollidays project but it belongs to the people of Truckee.  He is so right!
Background: The Truckee Railyard Master Plan is the culmination of over a decade of planning efforts by the Town, which 5 years ago turned into the Truckee Railyard Partnership between the Town of Truckee and Holliday Development.  This plan was a community wide effort involving innumerable public workshops, community meetings, open office hours, and formal and informal dialogue with stakeholders.  The plan, including 25 developable acres on former Union Pacific property, proposes to extend downtown with a boutique hotel and movie theater, offer more downtown housing at mixed-incomes, commercial, retail, and work-live space.

You can read more about the Truckee Railyard approval at the links below:

Sierra Sun, Railyard Approval Draws Public Support

Sierra Sun Editorial, All Aboard

Tahoe Ticker Blog, Overwhelming Enthusiasm Behind Truckee Railyard Project Passage

A handicapped ramp was erected in the the back of the house so the thirteen year old paraplegic boy who lives there could come and go without assistance.  When the ramp was completed and the young man first descended down the ramp there were tears in everyone’s eyes.

The team completed the lath and then plastered and painted the house inside and out.  Some light electrical and carpentry work was also performed, in addition to sloping and tiling a bathroom floor making it wheelchair accessible.

No one knew at the time that the homeowner had worked with an unscrupulous contractor who was picked up by KGO – 7 On Your Side.  They went after the contractor, but the homeowner, Gracie Madden, still did not get her issued addressed.  KGO followed up with her to see how see was doing, and she told them that “RTO is fixing my house”.  KGO plans to cover this event as a “happy ending”.  Regardless if the TV crew shows up or not…it IS a happy ending.  Check out the picture of Gracie and her daughter.  I must say that it was a pleasure working with them.  The sweet potato pie these ladies baked for us was “to die for”!

The Novemeber 21-27 SF Business Times featured an article paralleling the current changes in West Oakland to the revival of the South of Market area of San Francisco in the late 80’s. This neighborhood transformed from an under utilized industrial zone to a booming office and residential district. Rick Holliday had a large hand in the SoMa revival as he developed three of the first San Francisco loft buildings in this area, 601 4th Street , followed by 355 Bryant Street and the Clocktower Lofts on Second Street. Rick and many other developers including Pulte Homes and Bridge Housing believe that West Oakland is on the cusp. Read more

Holliday Development began with lofts in San Francisco and after nine years of focus on the east bay is now glad to be back in the city.  Jesse Blout, managing director of Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group calls Rick Holliday creative, community minded and experienced.  All in all he has what it takes to successfully develop in a difficult market.  Click here to read the San Francisco Business Times article on this new development.

“West Oakland at the Moment” continues Art @ the Cannery, a 6 month rotating exhibition of local and regional art. Join us October 3rd for a night of food, drink, art and music to celebrate and discover the artists and entrepreneurs that make-up this diverse community.

We will keep you posted of future events in the courtyards of the Pacific Cannery Loft!