EAH (a nonprofit housing developer based in Marin) has just announced that their purchase of the Kwik Way property closed this morning – marking the conclusion of a campaign that began in 2004, when thirty-two hundred individuals signed petitions, over an eight-day period, opposing conversion of the Kwik Way into a McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant. A couple of weeks later, five hundred concerned neighbors filled the pews at Lakeshore Baptist Church – all of whom voiced strong opposition to the McDonald’s proposal.
Subsequent battles ensued over proposals for a Fatburger restaurant and most recently, a Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin Robins franchise. In the interim, David Latina’s proposal for a mixed-use development with ground floor retail was greeted by the community (circa 2006) with nearly universal acclaim, but very late in the process, the property owner had second-thoughts and walked away from the project. Under the stewardship of Gary Rizzo, a new and improved Kwik Way opened in 2011 to great fanfare but negative reviews from customers who preferred the original, much funkier Kwik Way were his ultimate undoing. The space has since been filled on a temporary basis by Merritt Bakery while the property owners, explored other options. In 2016, the Hahn family unveiled plans drawn up by Lowney Architecture for a mixed-use development that they would own and manage. Those plans were very well received by the community at large and also by key members of the Oakland Heritage Alliance, who loved that it hearkened back to the Deco era and that the undulating exterior made a “bold architectural statement”.
Earlier this year, the Hahn family decided to negotiate the sale to EAH that was just concluded. The original plans shared in 2016 are currently being revised to accommodate additional parking for Bank of America customers in keeping with the B of A’s long-term lease. As a result, EAH isn’t in a position to announce the total number of units that will be available – but it’s likely to be around fifty. What EAH is guaranteeing is that the units will be affordable and open to families earning between 20% and 80% of the Area Median Income. Susan Dutton, speaking on behalf of EAH, emphasized that family-oriented means everything from families with toddlers to senior citizens.
During a period during which more and more families are being forced out of Oakland, it would be difficult to overstate the importance of adding affordable housing here in the neighborhood. That said, there are other considerations that are also important. On the top of that list is the expectation that new construction will create a much more pedestrian-friendly link between Lakeshore and Grand and in the process, eliminate an open-air parking lot that’s subject to littering, illegal dumping and late-night partying. This is also a perfect location thanks to its proximity to major transit hubs as well as its proximity to shopping, schools and recreational activities.
MORE ON THE SUBJECT:
Hahns try again to replace Kwik Way with major hamburger chain– 2007
Local developer: mixed-use development on Kwik Way site still works– 2007
Kwik Way Polished Up and Revived– 2011
Dunkin’ Donuts won’t go in Kwik Way site– 2015
Oakland Project unveiled for former Kwik Way site– 2016