Oakland has ridden the waves of time, the good and the bad. While COVID-19 impacted many downtowns in various ways, Oakland’s rebound has numerous success stories with equity at the forefront. New treasures continue to pop up that contribute to Oakland’s resiliency and its uniquely Oakland “The Town” character.

ULI San Francisco is a leading organization focused on reimagining downtowns and the urban built environment across the Bay Area, including Oakland. In 2022, ULI’s 20th annual Gerald D. Hines Student Urban Design Competition was hosted in Oakland. Teams of graduate students crafted innovative design and development ideas for Old Oakland, which houses one of the oldest Chinatowns in the United States (you can Explore Oakland’s Resilient Chinatown with ULI SF September 8!). In addition, ULI SF’s Executive Director Natalie Sandoval, who’s called Oakland her home for nearly a decade, contributes to the City, sitting on the Planning Commission and Zoning Update Committee.

Downtown Oakland has been blooming with a nightlife renaissance with diversity and equity at the fore. Several new spots that we’re currently enjoying are:

• Fluid510, a new LGBTQ+ bar and events venue
• Town Bar & Lounge, a QPOC-owned Art Deco bar and lounge
• Qué Rico Nightclub, created by long time Promoter in the LGBTQ+ Latin Community Valentino Presents.
• Summer Bar & Lounge, an intimate venue welcoming the LGTBQ+ community for live music and performances
• Hi5ive in Uptown, Oakland’s newest rooftop bar
• Uptown Market, a new rent-free marketplace in Uptown Station will host multiple small businesses to showcase their products including:Asian American arts group Cut Fruit Collective, creative collective Kiss My Black Arts, Micro Market General Store, and Akoma, which runs an East Oakland farmers’ market;Cake shop Pound Bizness and Go Nutz will also sell food in the space.

With these new nightlife venues and small businesses, coupled with existing cultural institutions such as the Oakland Museum of California and the Fox Theater, Downtown Oakland has become a bonafide entertainment and cultural epicenter.

Oakland’s approach to equity and inclusion has borne out in the development and revitalization of its downtown. In the spirit of celebrating the incredible diversity of leaders, thinkers, and creators that have shaped Bay Area downtowns, the ULI San Francisco Gala will be held at the Julia Morgan Ballroom, designed by the first California licensed female architect and pioneer in gender equity in the design world.

📷 7×7 Bay Area