Dysfunctional California city looks to redevelop former proposed baseball stadium site

Jonathan Veach, Chief Real Estate Officer for the Port of Oakland, highlighted the potential for the Howard Property to drive growth.Photo byPort of Oakland

The Port of Oakland has announced a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to find a developer for its 50-acre Howard Property, a former marine terminal located along the Oakland waterfront. The property, which has been inactive for cargo operations since 2013, sits between industrial zones to the west and the popular Jack London Square entertainment district to the east.

The Port is open to a variety of development proposals, including maritime, light industrial, commercial, recreational, and water-oriented uses. This initiative aims to activate the site and provide significant economic benefits to Oakland and the surrounding region.

Jonathan Veach, Chief Real Estate Officer for the Port of Oakland, highlighted the potential for the Howard Property to drive economic growth. "We’re looking for development partners who will help realize the Port’s commitment to creating good-paying, local jobs for the region while fully activating the Howard Property," Veach said.

The RFQ is available on the Port of Oakland’s website, with responses due by December 9, 2024. This move follows years of exploration into potential uses for the site, including a 2019 Exclusive Negotiation Term Sheet with the Oakland A’s for a mixed-use ballpark development, which expired in May 2023. Currently, the Howard Property is used for short-term rentals related to container parking and other maritime services.