Question 14. Please briefly describe what, if any, improvements you’d like to see on this stretch of Grand.
- Trees, widening of sidewalk and dedicated Bicycle lanes and parking Parklets!!! get car lanes down to three at most
- I would like to see adherence to alcohol outlet over-concentration guidelines set by the State. These guidelines address very serious and proven public health risks caused by an over abundance of alcohol outlets. This concern is also why the city’s “1,000 foot rule” exists. It’s not a question of the “quality” of the outlet – a fancy wine bar is no different than a seedy liquor store when the question is over-concentration. I’m all for new business and small business, but not at the expense of public health and common sense. Between Ace Hardware and the Grand Lake Theater (about a 2,000-foot stretch), there are no fewer than 23 bars or restaurants or liquor stores selling alcohol of one type or another (that’s an average of one outlet every 100 feet – so much for the “1,000 foot rule”). Red Whale and Penbroke and Sons and their recently granted CUPs will take the total to 25. Meanwhile, nearby Lakeshore Ave and Lake Park Ave offer an additional 17 outlets. No one’s going thirsty here. No more alcohol outlets in this neighborhood, please.
- Better (yes, more upscale) storefronts Fewer low budget nail salons
- Open later!!
- Store front improvements. Some store fronts are dated or are in need of repair. Get rid of the homeless people asking for change–they are often aggressive. The billboards on this stretch of Grand are tacky and give the neighborhood a “cheap” feel. I know this is beyond the Theater but KFC smells awful.
- I would like to see fewer things like nail shops, beauty supply shops and dry cleaners that just seem to make the area ugly and unappealing to me. I mean how many nail salons do we really need in one commercial area? It’s kind of ridiculous when you count all of them up in this stretch of Grand. Blech!
- see 13
- The parking is terrible for bikes. Backing out of spots is very scary for a someone riding a bike. There could be more done to calm traffic to make pedestrians safer. There are no police in oakland so it has to be more along the lines of making red lights longer for crossing the street. the backed up cars at a red light go slower after it turns green the more cars at the red light.
- better street and sidewalk cleanup. Removal of unused newspaper boxes and other vendor materials on sidewalks.
- Please, NO MORE NAIL SALONS!!! Kick out Domino’s Pizza.With Boot and Shoe and The Star, we have enough pizza. The stores closer to the theater and immediately across the street aren’t very shopping conducive or have much curb appeal. I think there a computer repair shop and a T-shirt shop. I assume they have long-term leases.
- First it needs to be clean. Many of the storefronts are filthy and the street is not that pleasant to walk through.
- Storefront upgrades for ugly liquor stores and other ugly places. Reduced crime.
- Parking!
- free parking
- Mosaics on trash cans.
- I would like to see more outdoor table and greenery. I think that Monkey Forest Road has visually provided a huge improvement to the feel of grand. We really love the food on grand avenue, and it’s on my list now of restaurants to keep going back to. we love camino, grand lake tavern (just went for the first time) boot and shoe and that thai restaurant (Neecha (?)) We use the H&R block at tax time and also go to Dr. Yuen’s office next to the nail shop for eyeglasses. i do go to the nail shop and i haven’t had time to shop for clothes, but i’m excited that the options are there. the more kid friendly the establishments are, the longer we can linger in the area. we spend more time on lakeshore only because the places are a tiny bit more kid friendly. we are looking for to the star pizza place opening. We also love Ikaros.
- Improvements to pedestrian safety as we discussed at the meeting.
- more neighborhood events
- Clean up. Improvement of the sidewalks and foliage.
- Fewer Nail shops…a plethora now
- Extend old-styled street lamps beyond Lakeshore and Mandana.
- Less nail shops.
- Cleaner streets, more flower and fauna landscaping, better awnings and signage – strongly dislike the Bauty supply store signage-UGH -how do they get awy with that??
- clean up the older shops that have been there for a long time
- Streetscape improvements to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety and comfort, such as planters, benches, curb bulb-outs, bike lanes, bike parking. More street trees. Attention to building facades/awnings, many of which are decrepit and poorly maintained.
- security/crime reduction
- Better traffic calming and whatever infrastructure would make it more pedestrian friendly (crossing Grand from one side to another; crossing Mandana at Grand). Freshen up the Parking Lot between Grand and Walker; better lighting to make it less of a magnet for street criminals
- More trees/landscaping higher quality stores between on the northern side of grand closest to the lake–where Bob Lycette owns. I believe his ambivalence towards oakland, and grand ave is keeping that stretch with store owners who do not take care of their store fronts, allow trash to remain, and don’t represent the current trend on grand ave. He keeps his rents too low. I tried to rent one of his store fronts and he told me that my business was too nice, that I would be disappointed because the stores there are dirty, mildewy, and not well kept. This is how he is advertising the space! I was going to do a full build out, but instead he rented the space to a sketchy massage parlor. he told me he doesn’t care about that stretch because he wants it to crumble to the point where the city of oakland will let him tear it down and rebuild again. This guy has got to be stopped!
- less nail salons, less empty storefronts
- Keep the trees! Quality and creative signs and sidewalk ornaments and table and chairs.
- More bike-friendly streets
- I can do without Shoe&Boot and the proliferating nail salons, and without the fastfood chains with garbage everywhere and hazardous drivers, delivery and customers equally violating vehicle code. 7-11 needs to stop blocking handicapped parking with their staff cars. Nothing works, not even contacting the corporate mothership, and OPD does not enforce. It would be nice to see longer hours, not so many 9 PM closing hours. Keeping an emphasis on affordability is key IMO, must not have businesses replaced by either chains or trendy boom businesses primarily patronized by the affluent that price out/alienate long time residents.I do not see any value in businesses like Boot&Shoe (just using one poster child, since it is well known, it is not the only example of the end, of course), no matter the foot traffic and hype. It is a delicate matter to have a neighborhood thrive such as the Mission or the Temescal, to use other examples, and not wind up with radical price inflation, hype, and attitude as the dominant aspects, with true value and quality *along* with innovation and uniqueness getting the shot end of the stick as they can’t keep up with the inflation caused by the hipster hype. It’s a fine line to walk.
- cleaner business advertisement (i.e. signs)
- Bulb outs, mini parklets (like in front of Farley’s) activity The liquor store within 1000 feet is a dump and magnet for undesirables. The folks who will go to the proposed store would not step foot in the existing liquor store. I’ve gotten lotto tickets there, but otherwise I find nothing of value in the place.
- See above
- Better lighting along the stretch from the gas station to Ace Hardware.
- More bike racks and a dedicated bike lane along Grand Ave
- Less nail shops, less copy shops. I never use either.
- Public art. Pedestrian safety. Clean.
- I’d like to see better quality food, a place for artist to display, perform etc and a great cafe.
- Put in a stop light at the Safeway that can be triggered by pedestrians. Cars tend to go pretty fast.
- no comment
- Dining al fresco! Give us space on the sidewalk to eat. More bike parking. Is there bike parking? I can’t seem to remember. I think it would be nice to diversify the street a bit. There are (way) too many nail salons and old school family restaurants on Grand. Somehow adding another wine shop seems to continue that style. Maybe local/craft beer and spirits? That would be nice!
- Regarding this proposal, my understanding is that the Red Whale is primarily a wine retail store. Given this fact, I think that having two such similar businesses in the same block would potentially be damaging to both of them, and would over-saturate the market for wine in the neighborhood.
- More parking would be nice, but I realize that is not an easy addition.
- More facade restoration; cross walk bulb outs; more street sweeping, sidewalk washing, and litter control as the avenue often seems grimy.
- It could really use a median to make the street more attractive and inviting. It just feels like a runway. More and better trees on the sidewalks or planters, benches… The avenue lacks the cozy or stylish feel that many new suburbia shopping areas have. A bike lane would be nice too, especially since we are so close to the lake. This could be such a great destination for out of town visitors too! This area has wonderful possibilities!
- Reduce nail salons.
- More parking!
- Cleaner sidewalks, quicker removal of graffiti and trash, security patrol or OPD during evenings, especially weekends
- Decrease the width of the road, create bike lanes. The pedestrian scene could be WAY safer and more inviting!
- Bike lanes
- I would like to see policemen/policewoman frequent the area. That will keep the hoodlums away.
- there’s always room for improvements so I support any business that is willing to go through this process
- Clean up the parking lot and keep it clean.
- I would like to see a continued cleaning and rehabilitation of the buidling fronts as well as landscaping.
- Wider sidewalks
- A lot of storefronts and restaurants are grimy. The west side of the street is not as nice a retail area to walk as it could be. Some fresher window displays, clean windows, etc., could help a lot.
- less clutter on sidewalks. move the planters to the parking lot in the middle of block. get rid of sandwich boards and trash.
- Improved night lighting. More outdoor cafe seating. New awnings at the closed tobacco shop next to the theater. Clean up run down Lycette properties.
- It is somehow less aesthetically pleasing than Lakeshore, though I can’t say why. It just feels dingier somehow. Maybe more trees and flowers are needed, some updated facades on the businesses?
- Serious traffic calming, road diet, bulb-outs, nicer pedestrian amenities, more trees, more pedestrian crossings to link the two sides of the street. Grand Avenue is now little more than a traffic sewer with little accommodation of the pedestrians or the pedestrian experience that encourages the leisurely enjoyment of the street.
- Safety is the number issue…would like to see a beat cop and more police presence at night.
- More trees.
- add more trees/plants along the sidewalks.
- Free parking under freeway for Farmers’ Market shoppers and for Theatergoers. Safety of Grand-Walker parking area both for pedestrians & drivers.
- Repave the street
- Warning lights at the pedestrian crossing between Safeway and Camino.
- live music! thanks!
- n/a
- Limiting visibility of vagrants and providing police presence for safety. Repaving the street so it has a more cleaned up feel.
- Another parking lot like the one next to Bangkok Palace would be great. I heard that there might be a butcher, but then that that plan was cancelled. A butcher would be excellent and I think would get a lot of business. I currently drive all the way to Berkeley to go to the Vine, where I have a wine club membership. I love that place, but a wine store that gives info on bottles and tastings on grand would be somewhere I would go instead. Good luck.
- Facade improvements are needed for many business in order to make the stretch look more appealing.
- More bike parking and wider sidewalks please. More frequent service on the 12 too. I don’t want to drive to Grand Ave, and there’s no parking anyway, so please make it easier for me to bike or take transit.
- More bike racks Would love to get rid of angled parking but realize this is not really an option Facade improvements for some of the more dated buildings
- Better landscaping (more trees). Traffic improvements to slow down traffic so it’s less of speed zone and more of a shopping/restaurant zone
- More visible security/policy presence to discourage panhandling
- restricting runners on the sidewalk.
- more plantings, more tables
- More of the same, i.e. restoration of older buildings, more restaurants and specialized food and drink shops.
- Traffic control. Narrow lanes, slow the flow, more outdoor seating
- Someone other than the neighbors needs to maintain it – trash, graffiti, plant containers.
- Once it is built up more (more shops, restaurants, and the Apple store is open) it would be really cool to offer a FREE shuttle that goes up and down this stretch of Grand Ave. Since parking is such a problem, offering a shuttle would really help.
- Safer pedestrian cross walks. Down town Walnut Creek is a good example of improvements which could be made.
- More bike racks would be helpful. It would so be great if the proposed dog park near the Lakeshore library branch was finally approved!
- Safer crosswalks More street trees
- Clean up the parking lot next to the Greek restaurant; it’s scary at night Continue to restore the facades of the older buildings
- Parking in the evening has become very difficult.
- Fewer abandoned store fronts – I’d like to see a lively and alive Oakland!
- The Dominos pizzeria is not delicious.
- Increased pedestrian safety – a security guard & safer crosswalks. Improved appearance – restrictions on signage (looks cluttered & junky)
- 1-2 more cross walks, more sidewalk sitting and/or miniparks.
- Some of the buildings look a little ratty and need updated and cleaned up. The cross walks between the 711 and Safeway are a little risky and need additional alerts such as in street flashing lights etc. Traffic get moving pretty fast through this area.
- More trees, plants, benches
- It would be great to see fewer nail salons, hair salons, massage parlors, etc. I have nothing against these businesses in general, but the concentration in the neighborhood is too high and we’re seen as a destination for people looking for those things. Also, it’s sad to see so much great architecture with such potential being used by accountants, etc., just because the rents are low.
- Single lane going each way with a bike lane
- More Parking – Don’t feel safe walking back from there to our house at night.
- There needs to be some type of ordinance on keeping the look of the stores. I think the stores pretty much from the theater to the Greek restaurants are main offenders. Especially the Hair supply place should not be allowed to place large un sightly banners. The Nan Yang chinese restaurant is so filthy looking, the scraps are literally staining the side walk. The windows look filthy. I am surprised this place makes health code. The building owners need to be held accountable for visual up keep of these store,,or start getting tickets OR the city give some support to make Grand cleanlier. It could be a great destination some day.
- There are an awful lot of nail, massage, and hair salon businesses in the vicinity of Ace Hardware. Maybe a moratorium is called for? However, I would rather see nail shops than empty storefronts.
- separate bike lane.
- More trash collection on weekends – the trash containers get very full. I would also like to see more public parking.
- I think there could be less nail salons and some of the businesses need a facelift. Maybe loans to the business owners to improve their properties?
- Safer pedestrian crossings
- Less crime.
- Many businesses close on the early side, it can be difficult to find food after 10:00, or even 9:00. But this seems typical of Oakland. Also, crime in the parking lots, etc. can make visitors nervous – but again, this is part of a bigger concern. The beat cops do help, at least with perception. Sometimes there seem to be many, many homeless people, not sure how to address that. Overall cleanliness of the street could improve. Personally, I’d love it if the cafes/bars/restaurants with outdoor areas enforced smoke-free zones … I hate walking down the block having to dodge clouds of smoke. That’s my only objection to introducing new drinking establishments – cigarette butts and globs of spit everywhere on the sidewalk. Oh, and people using the side of my building as a toilet. Manners, people!
- Easier crosswalks for pedestrians, sometimes cars come too fast and there aren’t enough designated crosswalks for people walking and not driving. Also, better lighting near Michael Mischer’s chocolates, toward linda street. I hate being harassed down there when I wait at the bus stop for the 12.
- Upgrading restaurant facades
- fewer office space rentals fewer nail salons fewer martial arts studios fewer takeout-type restaurants better pedestrian crossings (a stoplight somewhere between Mandana and Wildwood? bulbouts to narrow the crossings?) more attractive streetscape better nighttime safety
- more outdoor seating! more boutiques! something that announces you are in a vibrant and much loved neighborhood! a clean up of the 7-11 / gas station corner! more plants! good lighting in the stores so we look vibrant at night – let’s be a place you want to windowshop better and more colorful crosswalks. perhaps a security patrol walking the street from 7-10 pm, 3-4 nights a week. thank you for doing this survey
- trees and other greenery
- Regular cleaning of the sidewalks and maintenance of the green spots-planters, street tree wells etc. 2. Some unifying theme to make it look more like a neighborhood-banners, consistent lighting around windows
- More upscale stores and restaurants
- Cleaner! Easier to cross the street.
- Storefront setback uniformity, reduction in off street parking that crosses the sidewalk, addition of street furniture and street trees
- the street is too wide. Feels like a throughfare not a “neighborhood”. More pedestrian friendly. not very easy to cross from one side to the other increased jay walking. Any way to reduce cars crossing double yellow line to grab a parking spot .A median? Bulb outs? The public parking lot is a criminal and dangerous.
- street improvements are needed in this area. Would be great to improve ways to cross the street – make the street feel more connected. Bulb outs, sidewalk widenings would be great. It’s fairly wide for a low density street.
- More attention to crime abatement.
- I like the diversity of it. The Chinese places are not my favorites but if they make enough to stay in business, that is fine. The one on the freeway entrance side is kinda shabby and gross from the outside. I have only eaten at both once.
- cleaner sidewalks, maybe a parklet or some area of outdoor seating, gathering areas so it feels more like a community and safer.
- Proper fixes to the perennial potholes on Mandana at Grand and better traffic management overall. The intersection of Grand and Lake Park would benefit from being a three- or four-way light so traffic wouldn’t get stuck behind people turning left onto the freeway from Grand. And I’d love to see some investigation into whether Grand could benefit from being reduced to one lane in each direction with turn lanes and bike lanes. Right now it’s a bit of an obstacle course every day with people turning or waiting for parking or just double-parking.
- Removal of Uhuru furniture on the sidewalk – looks trashy
- I personally would enjoy additional bars/lounges, restaurants, and better quality food/wine/alcohol markets, as is being proposed. I strongly suspect that creating a stable entertainment destination will then allow other types of retail businesses to gain a foothold (as we’re seeing in Uptown). We also need more better ACTransit service, including later service on the 12 to connect Grand Lake with Uptown.
- Replacement of the vacuum store and the PC repair store…these businesses have been sitting on prime real-estate without adapting to or contributing to the neighborhood, and are completely irrelevant at this point. Also fewer nail salons, it’s really gotten out of control!
- We really need to see some streetscape improvements to make the area more attractive. It has a way to go to be as pleasant as lakeshore.
- Get rid of the cheesy signs and displays. Aesthetically, the street is not particularly attractive. It feels like a big thoroughfare – not very conducive to pedestrian shopping. From Mandana to the Ace, it doesn’t feel like a commercial district. The storefronts are too far from each other for it to feel like a shopping district.
- bike lanes
- Fewer street parking spots and more off-street parking, like the Trader Joes garage on Lakeshore Bike lanes More bike parking A streetcar to Jack London Square, via downtown A streetcar to Emeryville with stops at Piedmont Ave, and MacArthur BART More outdoor dining/coffee/bars Make Lake Park one-way only (towards freeway on-ramp), close reverse traffic lanes and expand park and farmers market Close the freeway off-ramp at Grand; Lakeshore exit is enough
- I’d like to see GABA re-energized. The parking lot better maintained and more secure. Sidewalks and streets regularly power-washed or steam-cleaned. Missing street trees replaced and additional landscaping installed. Traffic calmed and crosswalks made safer. Parklets and other outdoor seating.