Meeting Time: June 30, 2021 at 4:00pm PDT
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Agenda Item

S.-3 21-0036 Approval by the Board of Education of a Long Term Ground Lease with Eagle Environmental Construction & Development (EECD) for Affordable and Workforce Housing, Workforce Development Training Opportunities and Black Cultural Zone Programming at the Former Edward Shands Adult Education Center, located at 2455 Church St, Oakland 94605, a District surplus property.

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    Javier CollazoRodriguez over 3 years ago

    I am an graduate from the Class of 2021, coming from Castlemont High School and I strongly support this project. I believe this can bring new jobs and opportunities in our community where we can thrive. Furthermore, it can bring the community together. As a current student enrolled in the Cypress Mandela Pre-Apprenticeship program I believe this can call many OUSD students to take part in the community and part of a project we need in Oakland.

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    Darren White over 3 years ago

    I support this we need all the help we can get our community.

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    Caroline Miazgowicz over 3 years ago

    I am an OUSD elementary school teacher and I strongly oppose this lease. There is no guarantee for affordable housing and it does nothing for our students or families. This is a bad financial decision as well as detrimental to our community.

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    Bradford Flewellen over 3 years ago

    I live in District 2 and totally support this project. The proposal to utilize these sites for affordable housing for teachers is a great use. Additionally, the community benefits included in the project proposal provide much needed jobs and opportunities for community members to participate in the economic growth generated by the development. All in all, this is a great project led by a qualified development team that the OUSD board members should be proud to support. Thank you.

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    Sasha Rockwell over 3 years ago

    Im an elementary school teacher in OUSD and I oppose this lease that does not consider our students and families.

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    Sarah Goudy over 3 years ago

    I'm a high school teacher in Oakland and I oppose this lease. There has been a total lack of community input in this decision, and the property is being given away to developers for pennies on the dollar.

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    Marissa Gholston over 3 years ago

    As a resident of Oakland, I wholeheartedly support this project; I see it as a win for our city. EEC+D has committed to reserve 50% of the affordable units for the OUSD workforce. District 6 has held two community meetings regarding the Church St. site. Director Shanthi Gonzales (now President) heard first-hand from the community that they were in favor of developing the site and were eager to rid their community of the blight due to the present condition of the building on the Church St. site. It is interesting to note that originally S. Gonzales voted in favor of the development project; and now it appears as though she is walking her support back. I encourage you to give the developer, EEC+D, this site without any further modifications.

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    Ronan Gillespie over 3 years ago

    Public land for public good!

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    Fari Shields over 3 years ago

    Please let them build

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    Bill Balderston over 3 years ago

    I am a long time Oakland activist and a retired teacher with well over 20 years in the District.
    This is one of the worst proposals that the Board has ever considered, an open sell out to corporate developers
    with virtually no positives for public education. A vote for this measure will be remembered in infamy.

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    Michael Taylor over 3 years ago

    I am a D5 Oakland teacher. I oppose this motion. There is no guarantee that this land will actually go toward affordable or workforce housing. There IS a guarantee that the developer will make millions of dollars on this land and that what we'll earn won't allow for any significant benefit to accrue to OUSD. Please vote this down!

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    Mayra Alvarado over 3 years ago

    I am an Oakland D7 resident and Oakland teacher. Although I understand the concern about blight, I'm opposed to this sale as I know that this lease is being provided at an unimaginably low cost.

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    Divya Farias over 3 years ago

    Public land and property must be used for the public good. This is NOT IT. Vote down this 75 year lease that will put millions of dollars of profits on the backs of our youth. The developer is being charged pennies for this lease. Is this the best we can do? There are no guarantees that this lease will bring affordable housing and address some of the root causes of blight in the first place.

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    katie ferrari over 3 years ago

    My name is Katie Ferrari and I am a teacher in District 5. I am reaching out with regards to the giveaway of public property on which you will be voting this evening. In the interest of current and future generations of Oakland children and education workers, I urge you to vote down the 75-year leases of Tilden CDC and Edward Shands.

    Signing these leases for what amounts to chump change effectively ushers in further gentrification of our public properties at a time when resources are increasingly precious. On top of this, there has been zero community engagement on this matter in the 72 hours since you publicly posted notice of the vote. These developers will make MILLIONS on these properties, literally on the backs of the young people our district is supposed to be serving.

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    Sonja TottenHarris over 3 years ago

    I would like a guarantee that there is affordable and workforce housing on this site (or other development that would directly benefit the ousd students and families) and evidence that the district has made an effort to get the best deal possible.

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    Chloe Erskine over 3 years ago

    As a public school teacher I oppose this lease as in writing it does not support our students and families whatsoever

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    Freddie Turner over 3 years ago

    I support this project. It provides for affordable housing for Oakland residents/teachers. It also calls for mentoring/one-on-one programs for young black males. Oakland's statistics clearly identify a need for both these concerns. This is an opportunity to do something good for the City of Oakland.

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    Kim Davis over 3 years ago

    I do not see anything in this lease that guarantees or even suggests that housing built on this property be affordable housing. There is just a hope and a maybe if we can guarantee of workforce housing (nor have I heard teachers clamoring for "teacher housing" as opposed to a decent salary and more affordable housing generally). And yet the lease rate is bargain basement, which does not generate sufficient income to cover even a single teacher's salary. I cannot understand at all why this is the best that can be done for Oakland's kids, and will likely fuel the gentrification that has priced so many Black and Brown families out of Oakland. Please do not make a bad deal for 75 years for virtually no return.

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    Loraine Woodard over 3 years ago

    I oppose making this 75 year lease. There is no guarantee that it will provide affordable or workforce housing. I teach at Oakland International High School and our families have a hard time finding affordable housing. The school district can use its property to help our school community, not harm it with further gentrification.

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    Samantha Kober over 3 years ago

    I am an OUSD teacher and community member. I am writing to let you know that you should not okay the 75 year leases for Tilden CDC and Edward Shands. Our students and community will NOT benefit from these deals. Please reconsider and think of the students and community, not some developer's pocketbook.