As we, Rockridge Neighbors for Sensible Housing, look toward the future of our neighborhood, this proposed high-rise development remains a central point of discussion. Our goal is to advocate for a project that enhances our community by reducing both its overall mass and height.
Design Review and Local Integration
A critical component of the Design Review process is ensuring that any new construction creates a building well-related to its surroundings in scale, bulk, and materials. Currently, the project’s scale appears significantly out of sync with the neighborhood.
• Scale and Setting:
• Sunlight Impacts: The current mass of the building threatens to significantly reduce public sunlight in the Safeway Plaza, a vital shared community space.
Prioritizing Public Safety
Safety must be the paramount concern for any project of this magnitude. The proposal to house over 300 senior citizens in a high-rise building presents unique challenges that require specific attention:
• Fire Access: There are significant concerns regarding fire truck access on the eastern (Auburn) side of the property, ensuring that ladders have adequate room to maneuver effectively.
• Traffic and Pedestrian Safety: The intersection at Claremont is already known for being particularly difficult, with a history of fatal pedestrian accidents.
• Earthquake Preparedness: Building in an earthquake zone necessitates robust, specialized mitigation measures to protect vulnerable residents.
Our Alternative Proposal
We have reviewed the project’s potential impact on the community and advocate for a design that prioritizes safety and local integration. Based on our review, we propose the following alternative:
• Height and Scale: We advocate for a more appropriately scaled development that reduces the building’s total height to better align with the surrounding neighborhood.
Visualizing a Better Fit: The Alternative Design
The attached sketch illustrates our starting point for a modified project. This vision is significantly different from what has been proposed and demonstrates how the development can better integrate into our neighborhood. This adjustment would better align the project with the community's vision for a safer, more appropriately scaled development.
Upcoming Event: Join the discussion on March 31, 2026, to share your voice on this project. RSVP to ToryGriffith@gmail.com to find out more.
Built to Fit In, Not to Stand Out — Rockridge Neighbors for Sensible Housing
We, the petitioners, request the City of Oakland to:
- Engage the community in a transparent design review process
- Ensure public safety and emergency access with robust traffic mitigation and parking solutions
- Reduce height and massing to align with neighborhood scale
Please sign our petition (now with more than 1050 signatures): https://www.change.org/p/build-to-fit-in-not-to-stand-out-rockridge-neighbors-for-sensible-housing
