7th Street Thrives is an initiative supporting residents, businesses, and community-partnerships to collectively steward and revive West Oakland’s historic Black business corridor, 7th Street. Stewarded by East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative (EB PREC) & Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Bay Area, our work builds upon decades of commitment by legacy residents, Black solidarity movements, cultural activism, and political resistance.

Our quarterly newsletters aim to keep the 7th Street community and beyond up-to-date with happenings that impact the fabric of the corridor.

What’s new on 7th Street?

Mandela Station Construction Begins

The entire Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) project, also known as Mandela Station, is a mixed-use development site expected to include 760 new residential units, 53,000 sq ft of ground-level retail space, and 1.7 acres of open plazas and paseos.

7th Street Thrives is working to mitigate the impacts of this development on current businesses and residents and ensure the retail mix meets community need.

————————————————————————————

BART Board Adopts FY27 Alternative Service Plan

On February 26th, the BART Board of Directors adopted a new service plan to resolve the $376M deficit should no new funds become available.

Starting in January 2027, this would entail:

• 3-line service (Yellow, Blue, and Orange line service only, with limited peak service in only the peak commute direction on the Red and Green lines). 

• 30-minute frequencies on every line.  

• Closing at 9pm seven days a week.  

• This service plan represents a 63% reduction in train hours. 

• 30% fare and parking fee increases (the estimated average fare would increase from $4.98 to $6.38). 

• Target approximately $30M in savings over 6 months from non-service budget reductions to fleet and non-fleet maintenance, police, cleaning, and administrative support functions. 

• Continue deferrals of priority capital allocations and retiree medical contributions. 

• Balance remainder of FY27 with one-time resources and financial deferrals. 

——————————————————————

Welcome West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project’s New Interim Executive Director, Veronica Eady

——————————————————

Neighborhood Enhancement Services Team (NEST) & 7th Street Neighborhood Business Council meetings have a new format!

Our next meeting date is Thursday, March 5th!

You can join us in person at The Barn (1726 7th Street) or online via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84453473397

We achieved higher attendance numbers at our first meeting using this format! Like the new format? Fill out the survey to offer us your thoughts.

Wins!

7th Street Thrives Corridor Manager, Sabine Dabady presented to the City of Oakland’s Race and Equity Team

The presentation highlighted 7th Street Thrives Impacts to Date:

• 28 Corridor event activations

• 34 Meetings: NEST & Business Council

• $3.5M invested

• 40 Businesses received technical assistance

• 550+ Trash bags collected

• 334+ connections made

View the entire presentation here

————————————————————————————

Lights are fixed! Trash is picked up! New businesses!

• Outage: Peralta (b/w 7th & 8th) | Resolved: 6 lights fixed, 4-5 weeks

• Outage: Adeline to Brush on 7th | Resolved: 33 lights fixed, 11 weeks

• Trash can damaged at 7th near Willow | Resolved: ~12 weeks

• Illegal dumping at NE corner of Peralta & 7th | Resolved: 7-8 weeks

• New businesses on the 7th Street Corridor

  • Yemen Chef Restaurant

  • HaPPi Hands (fka Kids Play Zone)

————————————————————————————--

The City of Oakland released its updated Economic Development Action Plan with a new, clearly defined goal to Invest in Places

Invest in Places identifies a commitment to improve the places that support Oakland’s economy by facilitating investment in key business corridors and under-resourced neighborhoods, ensuring that the built environment supports economic activity and sustained community well-being.

THIS Saturday, February 28th

11am - 3pm | Meet at 7th West

Spread love on 7th St by helping us kick off our first community clean-up of 2026!

Led by 7th West, join in our volition to "love your neighborhood" by rolling up your sleeves as we clean from Union St to Henry St.

Clean up volunteers get a complimentary beverage and taco plate from Tacos Mi Barrio.

————————————————————————————

Catch a 7th Street Business, Serial Material at Prescott Vintage Market!

THIS Saturday, February 28th

10am - 3pm | 1620 18th St (parking lot of Prescott Market)

————————————————————————————

Saturday, April 18

1 - 4pm | Studio One (365 45th St)

Journey through the minds of students from Bay Area schools as they use art to explore the world around them!

The 2025 Exhibition marks ArtEsteem's 28th year of celebrating and showcasing the critical artistic expression of our youth!

The artwork will be available for sale, with 50% of the proceeds going directly to the student artist and the remaining 50% going toward next year's ArtEsteem programming.

————————————————————————————

7th Street Neighborhood Business Council Mixer

Wednesday, April 8

6 - 8pm | Location TBD

Come build relationships with other 7th Street businesses in this casual format suited for small business owners and workers on 7th!

We are looking for a business to host our April cleanup — reach out to 7thstthrives@gmail.com if you’re interested!

————————————————————————————

7th Street Thrives Annual Black Earth Day Celebration & Clean Up

Saturday, April 18

10am - 4pm | Esther’s Orbit Room

Join us for live DJs, art, food and so much more at our community cleanup. Come celebrate black arts, black organizations and businesses, and black neighborhoods by giving some care to 7th Street. Bring the whole family!