Oakland could be inching toward its own Costco, as Councilmember Carroll Fife has introduced a resolution to start formal talks with the retailer and a private developer for the North Gateway parcel at the former Oakland Army Base. The move would only let staff negotiate terms, not sign off on a sale, zoning change or construction, but it is still a sharp turn for land that was long floated for a recycling plant or a massive shelter. City leaders are expected to take up the idea at a rules committee meeting in December.
What the resolution would do
According to Oaklandside, the proposal would authorize the City Administrator to negotiate an exclusive negotiating agreement with Costco Wholesale and DECA Companies for the North Gateway site. That step would let city staff sit down with the companies to hammer out key details like development terms, timelines and cleanup responsibilities before anything is brought back to the full City Council for an actual vote.
How the land cleared for new suitors
The North Gateway parcel opened up after the city pulled the plug on a lease and development agreement with California Waste Solutions earlier this year, clearing the path for fresh proposals, The Real Deal reported. That earlier project had drawn federal scrutiny tied to an alleged bribery scheme, and city staff have repeatedly warned that the land will need serious environmental review and remediation work before any heavy commercial operation can move forward.
Costco’s Bay Area footprint
Costco already runs warehouse stores in neighboring Richmond and San Leandro, leaving Oakland as a conspicuous gap for the bulk-buy crowd, per Costco. Any Oakland move would still depend on the company’s usual due diligence, including checks on soil and groundwater cleanup, traffic and parking impacts, and the state of surrounding infrastructure.
Fife’s past plans for the base
Fife previously pushed the city to study turning part of the Army Base into a large shelter, a plan detailed in reporting reposted on Carroll Fife’s website. That history is a big reason this potential retail pivot stands out so much and why it is likely to trigger heated debate among advocates, business interests and nearby residents.
The resolution is slated for the City Council’s rules committee agenda and could spark a public debate in December, Oaklandside reported. Even if the committee signs off on negotiations, any actual land sale, environmental cleanup plan, building permits or zoning changes would still have to go through additional city processes and public hearings.
Legal and political baggage
The land’s recent track record, including the failed California Waste Solutions deal and the federal charges tied to that earlier effort, guarantees that fresh talks will face intense legal and political scrutiny, according to The Real Deal. Community groups are expected to push hard for strict environmental cleanup rules, firm local hiring requirements and strong traffic mitigation if any Costco project starts to move…