Swan’s Market, an Act of Faith

February 2021

East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation

45 Stories for 45 Years

Contributor: Moe Wright, Esti Iterraldi & Will Rogan, BBI Construction

It was 1998 and the turn of the century was upon us. Y2K was a thing that we worried about but Oakland booster, Mayor Jerry Brown, worried about Oakland’s future. Downtown Oakland had gone through a period of divestment and decline since the mid 1960’s, but promise was always on the horizon.  Mayor Brown declared his 10K policy, 10,000 new residents in the downtown area to revitalize retail, shopping and nightlife. One of the sites targeted for housing was Housewives Market on the corner of Clay and 8th. The market had a half dozen tenants selling a variety of food specialties, among them were sausage, fish and cheeses. There was also a liquor store and a small general grocery. What to do when housing is the goal and an 80-year-old institution stands in the way? Call the East Bay Asian Local Development Corporation. 

Ever willing to take on a challenge, EBALDC, under the leadership of Lynette Lee, had control of the Swan’s “Free Market” block nearby at 9th, Clay and Washington. This 1917 building was in shambles and had closed in 1983. Oakland decided to relocate these local small businesses to Swan’s to fill in the retail portion of a complicated mixed-use project. Ably led by then Project Manager, Joshua Simon, the project to turn this Old Oakland block into a vibrant part of rising new Oakland was painstakingly assembled. 

Four distinct uses were fit into the historic Swan’s block. The retail food related tenants including a couple of restaurants were on the Washington Street side, ground floor, above them were the offices of HKIT, Community Economics and Museum of Children’s Arts (MOCHA). On the 9th and Clay corner a new affordable housing apartment building with retail on the ground floor was built and knitting it all together was a co-housing complex built into the existing frame of the Swan’s building. 

Joshua orchestrated an army of architects, contractors, consultants, funders over a period of two years to bring this improbable combination to life. Since the whole block needed to open almost simultaneously, each portion had an architect and contractor. Local architects Pyatok Architecture, YHLA Architects led the work while BBI Construction and a few other contractors carried out the bulk of the construction. In a flurry of financing, design, political will and long days Swan’s came back to life in 2000 with a new purpose in a new century. 

We also managed to perform work on Effie’s House and HKIT Architects’ offices during this period; it was the beginning of building communities together. The commitment to vibrant, urban communities and the willingness to take chances to achieve this vision was demonstrated by EBALDC in a very big way when it took on Swan’s. It was an act of faith, balanced on the back of luck and bound together with tenacity that made it successful. 

EBALDC not only gives people a roof over their heads. It provides for community, health, culture, education, and advocacy. Piece by piece, EBALDC is preserving the richness and diversity of Oakland, so that all sorts of people can find a home here. The exceptional residents are EBALDC’s greatest asset. They bring their voices, talents, and resilience to the community, enriching all of us. We’ve enjoyed working together with EBALDC building our community for the last 23 years. 

As EBALDC marks our 45th anniversary, we will be gathering more stories like this one from our friends, family, community members, partners and more stakeholders that have made our impact possible. We would be honored for you to join us:

  • Follow us on social media: @EBALDC

 

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