Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, City Councilman Larry Reid, and other dignitaries helped break ground on the morning of Sept. 12 for the long-awaited Oak Knoll housing development above Interstate Highway 580 in East Oakland.
The Oakland City Council voted last November to approve the project that is on 183 acres on former Oak Knoll Naval Hospital land and calls for the construction of 918 townhomes and houses, 80,000 square feet of retail property, and 84 acres of public parks, open space, and publicly accessible trails.
The developer for the project is SunCal is based in Irvine and describes itself as one of the largest real estate developers in the country.
SunCal said the project will also include a creek running through the property that will be restored to its natural condition, a restored Club Knoll that will serve as a community center for residents and the general public, and a memorial honoring military personnel who served at the Naval Hospital or were treated there.
In addition to Schaaf and Reid, State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), SunCal executives, and community leaders were expected to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony, which was scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 12 at 8750 Mountain Blvd.
