Boulevard Bites
Chaos in Sacramento, Yes, but Close to Home Some Public Projects Are Going Well

by Toni Locke

### Bids are now out for the final shape of the street redesign in the Laurel. Years of planning and negotiation went into the process. Residents, merchants, schools, and city staffers pulled it together, shepherded first by District 4 Councilmember Dick Spees and in its final phase by Councilmember Jean Quan. New lighting, sidewalk design, trees, benches, and arched gateways are in the works. Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization, or NCR, is the citywide program involved. Alas, the organization that spearheaded the dream appears to have died on the vine. Where is L-CAP?

### The Dimond Improvement Association's area revitalization committee, under the leadership of Lara Dutto, architect and activist, is embarked on the complex road to a similar reconfiguration of the Dimond triangle. Challenges include traffic congestion, low-end businesses, litter from fast-food outlets and bus travelers, and notable absence of city services. How to include a bike route is on the agenda. The dream is to bring together Dimond assets like the best branch library in the Oakland system, a remodeled Safeway, Dimond Park with Sausal Creek running through it, new nonprofit housing preserving the historic Altenheim, and, up the road, something new on the site of the defunct Hillcrest Motel.

Quan's staff, De La Fuente's staff, Public Works, MTC, and many others are helping. Get involved by calling Lara Dutto at 530-5066. See Dimond column by Hoang Le Banh in this issue. Follow developments on the Dimond Web site, Tim Chapman, Web master.

### From street after street, urgent complaints are coming about car thefts, car break-ins, home burglaries, vandalism. A trio of boys has been identified as among the perpetrators. The victims called the police, but the harassment goes on. Get your Home Alert organized and help yourselves, is the Metro advice. Call the Police Department's Community Services Division, at 238-3525, and ask for help.

### Dr. Laura Armstrong, founder, director, and teacher called the Metro to say that the East Oakland Leadership Academy, a charter school located at 2614 Seminary near Foothill, opened on August 26. Although expected to have its full complement of K-8 classes within five years, the school starts this year with two sixth-grade classes, each with capacity for 25 students. The Academy provides the standard academic curriculum as well as an integrated arts program. An extensive after-school program that extends the school day until 6 p.m. uses local artists who want to work with the community. At Metro deadline, class spaces were still available. Interested parents and guardians can call 466-5502.

### Following discussion with Beulah Heights neighbors, the Planning Commission, in August, gave its approval to convert the Beulah Rest Home into a 27-unit apartment complex. The new use will retain the historic structure. The rest home, according to the planning commission staff summary, had been vacant and unused, except for the current property owner, since 1997. Conversion requires renovation to the interior of the main building. Case Planner Robert D. Merkemp says, "Sixty or 70 rooms will need new walls." The senior assisted-living complex also at the site of the rest home will not change in use.

The neighborhood is concerned about poor planning. To get involved, call Jeff Doney, at 482-5383.