Activating Columbia Road: Reframing a Missing Link

Figure 72: SPARC Mural Project on San Pablo Avenue
use construction, in accordance with the city’s
West Oakland Specific Plan. 10 The City-County
Neighborhood Initiative, a collaboration of city and
county agencies, community-based organizations,
neighborhood groups, and the University of
California, Berkeley, has been working in the area
for over ten years. As part of this initiative, the City
has organized walks with seniors to identify areas
of potential improvements, one being a triangular
park on San Pablo Avenue. In 2016, the City of
Oakland received a $456,000 grant to renovate
this park. 11 This sparked push back from residents
who were concerned that a physical renovation
wouldn’t solve the social problems within it,
including people hanging out and drug use. Local
residents have been pushing for a larger investment
in the community, beyond the park space.
Although this corridor hasn’t had a full redesign
process yet, the smaller changes both from local
residents and the City have greatly improved its
safety, beautification, economic vitality and the
health of the surrounding residents. Previous to a full
redesign process for Columbia Road, Boston could
learn from the example of San Pablo Avenue to
implement “early-action,” quick, community-based
and supported changes to improve the corridor for
those living and traveling along it.
Figure 73: SPARC Neighborhood Partners on San Pablo Avenue
10 Baldassari, “St. Andrews Plaza.”
11 Ibid.
Activating Columbia Road: Reframing a Missing Link
91