Next Generation Workplace District Study Shows San Leandro Has a Vibrant Future

The San Leandro City Council, Mayor Stephen Cassidy and a group of local business leaders heard about the study and findings that could transition San Leandro intro a vibrant 21st century workplace district at a Council work session on Monday, Sept. 9.

The Next Generation Workplace District study assessed the City’s strong industrial past, current strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

“Many exciting changes will be taking place in San Leandro as a result of the Lit San Leandro fiber optic loop and the new Kaiser Medical Center” stated Mayor Cassidy. “The Next Generation Study will help us take advantage of all the positive impacts that will be created by this new development, including making San Leandro a better place in which to live, work, or play for the thousands of new people who will be coming to our city as a result of these projects.”

The study has provided the City many ideas to attract and retain innovative businesses and industries that can create quality jobs for the San Leandro area.

According to the City of San Leandro, three key strategies identified in the study are to boost value-added businesses, engage existing customers, and humanize the central industrial area. Specific urban design and infrastructure improvement recommendations from the study also include:

• Developing Merced Street into a uniform and attractive corridor, or “spine”

• Enhancing back streets, such as Hester Street, Timothy Drive and the Catalina Street and 
Farallon Drive area to create smaller “activity hubs”

• Implementing aesthetic improvements throughout the area, including new pedestrian 
lighting, visually appealing sidewalks and crosswalks, new bus benches and shelters, additional bicycle lanes, and public art.

A community presentation of the study’s recommendations and findings will take place at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at the Zero Net Energy Center, located at 14600 Catalina Street, San Leandro. Interested businesses, property owners and other stakeholders are all invited to attend this presentation.

Many other projects are in progress due to the study’s recommendations. This includes a comprehensive streamlining of the City’s zoning code and an effort to add more frequent BART shuttle service to the industrial area. City officials and staff also are tirelessly working to attract new businesses that provide amenities to the area, such as restaurants and business services. Additional details can be found in the City’s Next Generation Study webpage.