Dimond Neighborhood News

by Daniel Swafford

Dimond Business Futures

With crowds gathering at Peet’s, shopping at Farmer Joe’s, and anticipating French baking at La Farine, one can get the impression, at least from this corner, that Dimond is a thriving, exciting place to be. The focus of the September 5 Dimond Improvement Association (DIA) meeting was the work in progress that is Downtown Dimond.

The meeting significantly focused on community involvement in order to beautify and enhance the look and feel of the District. Teresa Gibbons, board member of Keep Oakland Beautiful, presented ways individuals can organize projects to augment city services and create a more attractive atmosphere. Michael Resnick, DIA member, shared city contacts and encouraged individuals to keep the city accountable for street cleaning and issues of blight and abandonment.

Creating a more attractive district leads to the bigger question of how the Dimond balances the business district with attractive places to dine and to shop. Managing balanced growth is the new challenge for community volunteers. The gourmet corner at Fruitvale and Bienati, a street named after Fran Bienati, owner of the former Ann’s Café, an all-inclusive, gritty diner run with laughs and love for the neighborhood is now the site of Peet’s. Ann’s Cafe symbolized the best of Dimond. The new businesses symbolize the transition of the district.

After outlining how residents and merchants can be involved, the DIA meeting subject quickly turned to getting property owners and landlords to become active team players. Lynn Horn, owner of the building housing Romano’s Pizza, revealed plans for a full-face lift of his three storefronts. Horn, unfortunately, is the exception among property owners, many of whom place the burden of renovation on the tenants.

The initial success of the gourmet corner has caused many landlords to anticipate demand and drastically raise rents on their unimproved properties. One volunteer working to attract new businesses had a local restaurateur ready to lease in Dimond when the landlord changed the terms, increasing the rent three times the amount paid by the previous tenant. Owners asking exorbitant rents on properties needing substantial improvements will only inhibit smart growth in a district. Property owners must be made to see the value in working to create a balanced district and welcome business owners that share the vision of a diverse, healthy shopping experience. As homeowners and renters we need to guide and support the process, to see our community as part of our home.

Lincoln Court Dedication

by Karen Schroeder

On November 1, Lincoln Court will hold a Dedication Ceremony. Where and what is Lincoln Court? Remember the Hillcrest Motel on MacArthur at Lincoln?

During the ‘80s there were continual requests to the motel’s owner, Mr. Chou, to make improvements. Prostitution and drug dealing in the motel had endangered the quality of life in the surrounding neighborhoods, such as Boston Avenue. The property had become the third busiest area for police calls in Oakland. In 1988 there was a murder in one of the motel’s rooms, and appeals were made by Dimond Improvement Association and Dimond neighbors on Boston to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to help close the motel down. After years of frustrating negotiations, the Hillcrest was finally closed and the property sold to Domus Development. Following many discussions and presentations, permits were granted to build an affordable senior housing development.

Today, Lincoln Court stands as a tribute to the perseverance and dedication of people like Meea Kang at Domus Development, Oakland councilmembers Dick Spees and Jean Quan, and Dimond residents who fought tirelessly for a positive enterprise in their neighborhood. Come join the residents of Lincoln Court in their dedication on November 1 at 11 a.m.