Swan’s Market Then and Now: Our Vision for Oakland

October 2020

In the mid-1980s, downtown Oakland was being uprooted. Old Oakland was cut-off from the rest of Oakland by construction of Interstate 980, the convention center, and BART. Together with other redevelopment projects, 10,000 affordable homes were demolished and construction on all sides of Old Oakland cut up a once thriving community, taking anchor institutions with it. Originally constructed as a sanitary market, and a precursor to what we know as the supermarket, Swan’s Market was one such casualty, closing its doors in 1983.

It was this particular form of disinvestment and neglect that inspired EBALDC’s founders to come together 45 years ago to build healthy, vibrant and safe neighborhoods in Oakland and across the East Bay. 

As a real estate project manager with EBALDC in the 1990s, I saw both a risk and an opportunity for Swan’s when the Oakland Redevelopment Agency issued a request for proposals for three blocks that included Swan’s. The RFP sought to demolish and replace the existing buildings with new five-story condominiums. Our team saw a chance to return Swan’s to the community hub it once was, creating not just a place where folks could find what they needed but also gather to connect with each other and break bread. Working with local merchants and residents to identify community priorities, we created a model mixed-use development with affordable housing, Co-housing and affordable commercial space for nonprofits and small businesses. 

The renovated building reopened in 2000 and, in 2017, we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the original historic Swan’s Market complex. On any given day, the shared space at the heart of Swan’s Market is packed with Oakland residents and visitors from all walks of life. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the small businesses and restaurants that make up the Swan’s Marketplace continue to serve our communities. 

Swan’s Market weaves together under one roof many aspects of what EBALDC does, our commitment to community and, most critically, the vision for Oakland that EBALDC has advanced since our founding 45 years ago. This model is echoed in our renovation of the historic California Hotel, and the development of Lion Creek Crossings in East Oakland. It will form the basis of our work for the upcoming renovation of Frank G. Mar in Chinatown and the development of the Lake Merritt BART station. 

Swan’s Market’s return as a connecting place for people from all parts of our community has come to represent what EBALDC does best, but it is just one example of our work. One single person, or even organization, cannot tell the story of EBALDC. As we mark our 45th anniversary, over the next few months, we will be gathering more stories like this one from EBALDC friends, family, community members, partners and more stakeholders that have made our impact possible in celebration of this seminal moment. We will be sharing them with the public to honor the work we have accomplished together, and help shape our vision for the future. 

We would be honored for you — our neighbors, community partners, and allies — to join us: 

The story of EBALDC is the story of Oakland; it is our story. We look forward to continuing to create more stories together as we work to ensure that Oakland and the East Bay remain a vibrant, diverse and inclusive region that people are proud to call home.

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:

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