Opinion: Decline of Oakland's crown jewel Jack London Square due to poor management

"Jack London Square should be Oakland's crown jewel: a waterfront district where people come to walk, eat, gather and feel the city's energy. It has the views, the history, the ferry access and a setting most cities would envy. And yet it's slipping - badly. Jack London Square is declining because it's being managed without urgency and allowed to drift into neglect."

"Instead, we've seen vacancies, churn and business closures - and long stretches where the square feels half-open and overlooked. Today, the square's ground-floor space is more than 50% vacant. The dining scene that once made Jack London Square a draw has been hollowed out, one closure at a time. A dark storefront is a reason not to come. Fewer visitors mean the remaining businesses struggle. Then more closures follow. That is what happens when you put a destination on autopilot."

"It's the result of choices - or, more accurately, the result of avoiding choices by the Port of Oakland and its property manager, CIM Group. The square's future will be shaped by decisions: what gets prioritized, who gets recruited, what gets fixed, what gets ignored. That takes leadership and investment. Other waterfront districts understand that. Look at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf. It has faced challenges, too. The difference is accountability: deliberate tenant recruitment, constant marketing, year-round events and public spaces that feel clean and welcoming."

Jack London Square possesses strong waterfront assets—views, history and ferry access—but is experiencing marked decline. Ground-floor vacancy now exceeds 50%, and a series of closures has hollowed out the dining scene, producing dark storefronts that deter visitors. Reduced foot traffic strains remaining businesses, creating a feedback loop of further closures. The decline is linked to management inaction and avoidance of deliberate choices by the Port of Oakland and property manager CIM Group. Revitalization requires leadership and investment, targeted tenant recruitment, sustained marketing, year-round events, and curated public spaces that are safe, clean and welcoming.

Read at The Mercury News