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Agenda Item
26-0827 2) An Ordinance Authorizing The Forgiveness Of Outstanding And Future Rent Balances In An Amount Of Up To $40,000 For Seminary Point, LLC, Pursuant To A Ground Lease With The City, Contingent On The Sale Or Transfer of The Leasehold Interest In The Property To A Qualified Purchaser; And Making California Environmental Quality Act Findings
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Good afternoon, Chair and Members of the Committee. My name is Jerl Laws, and I work with the City of Oakland's EWDD. Over several months, I've had the privilege of working alongside residents, businesses, nonprofit partners, and property owners to rebuild momentum along the Foothill Seminary corridor. Our goal has been to bring together partners who have historically worked in silos around a shared vision for the neighborhood.
That collaboration is producing results. Community leaders and businesses are planning pop-up events, exploring a farmers market, coordinating beautification efforts, and working to make Seminary Plaza a place where the community wants to gather.
Repositioning Seminary Plaza to prevent foreclosure is essential to sustaining this momentum. It provides the stability needed to attract quality tenants, reactivate vacant storefronts, and strengthen our business attraction and retention efforts.
The community is engaged. The partnerships are in place. We ask for your support so Seminary Plaza can become the vibrant neighborhood asset the Foothill Seminary community deserves.
Good afternoon, Chair and Members of the Committee. My name is Jerl Laws, and I work with the City of Oakland's EWDD. Over several months, I've had the privilege of working alongside residents, businesses, nonprofit partners, and property owners to rebuild momentum along the Foothill Seminary corridor. Our goal has been to bring together partners who have historically worked in silos around a shared vision for the neighborhood.
That collaboration is producing results. Community leaders and businesses are planning pop-up events, exploring a farmers market, coordinating beautification efforts, and working to make Seminary Plaza a place where the community wants to gather.
We've also removed barriers to revitalization. The demolition of a burned storefront that stood as an eyesore for a decade clears a major obstacle to investment and signals that progress is underway. EWDD also helped facilitate the sale of Sweet Fingers to a new locally owned café, retaining jobs, preserving economic activity, and keeping a neighborhood-serving business at the site.
Repositioning Seminary Plaza to prevent foreclosure is essential to sustaining this momentum. It provides the stability needed to attract quality tenants, reactivate vacant storefronts, and strengthen our business attraction and retention efforts.
The community is engaged. The partnerships are in place. We ask for your support so Seminary Plaza can become the vibrant neighborhood asset the Foothill Seminary community deserves.