Albertson's: A Bad Neighbor in the Dimond

by Ann Nomura

Albertson's abandoned the Dimond close to a year ago but still holds a lease on the 3300 Fruitvale Avenue property, now boarded up and blighted. Neighbors and merchants have waited patiently, hopeful that a new tenant would come in. Adjacent merchants sweep the garbage off the Fruitvale sidewalk every day.

The City of Oakland has been helping Albertson's and the property owner to attract a desirable tenant. In the meantime, the roof has begun to leak and is oozing a brownish liquid onto pedestrians on Fruitvale Avenue; the blue overhang is cracked and looks as though it may become a hazard; the cyclone fencing in the loading dock is broken; the sign in the parking lot is bent; and the entire building needs a paint job.

According to Albertson's, they have a maintenance program, but the building is constantly strewn with garbage. Rats and abandoned cars have also been a problem. Plywood covers all the windows, and Albertson's left a deteriorating Kodak advertisement on the façade next to a large and unattractive for-lease sign.

Neighbors and merchants now fear the building has become a safety hazard as well as a blight. They also fear there is little hope of attracting a desirable tenant to a building in such disrepair. Call Lawrence R. Johnson of Albertson's at (208) 395-6200. Ask that Albertsons work with the owner to maintain the property.

Editor's note: Albertson's has improved maintenance in the wake of community protest but still needs pressure for other work, including a paint job.