A's ballpark plan takes 'giant leap forward' after city council vote

OAKLAND -- The A’s took another big step in their pursuit for a new ballpark in Oakland.

Following an eight-hour meeting that involved hours of public comment and went late into Thursday night, the Oakland City Council voted to certify the environmental impact report (EIR) for the A’s proposed $12 billion ballpark project near Howard Terminal.

Of the eight city council members, six voted in favor of the certification. This continues the positive momentum that was generated back in December from the long-awaited release of the final version of the EIR.

“Tonight’s vote by the city council was a historic moment for Oakland’s future,” said Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf. “The companion resolution by council members [Nikki Fortunato] Bas, [Rebecca] Kaplan and [Dan] Kalb ensures that all Oaklanders will benefit from the proposed waterfront ballpark district, and that a world-class development with 18 acres of new public parks, 3,000 units of housing -- including new affordable housing -- will get built with the most sustainable and highest environmental standards on our waterfront.”

In addition to a 35,000-seat open-air waterfront ballpark, the A’s plan for the surrounding area includes up to 3,000 units of housing, 1.5 million square feet of office space, 270,000 square feet of retail space, 280,000 square feet of hotel space and a 50,000-square-foot indoor performance venue with a capacity of up to 3,500.

In certifying the review, council members agree that areas of concern have been studied by the city, such as pollution, traffic and the removal of toxic waste from the Howard Terminal area. This helps the A’s and the city of Oakland move forward with negotiations for other community benefits, getting one step closer to a final binding agreement.

“This is more than a milestone -- it’s a giant leap forward in our shared mission to create a regional destination that gives back our waterfront to the public, connects a new vibrant neighborhood to our downtown and provides tens of thousands good union jobs for our residents,” said Schaaf. “And it does it all while keeping our beloved A’s rooted in Oakland.”