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Impact

Our Work in the Community

Over 500 businesses are registered in Jack London. 72 are active participants in our outreach and business coffee forums, providing peer-to-peer support and collaboration potential.

The District produces numerous events annually—from panel talks and town hall meetings on issues relevant to Jack London to family-friendly block parties, such as:

  • Sláinte's St. Patrick’s Day Block Party
  • Dokkaebier's Chimaek Chicken and Beer Festival
  • Jack London Brewing District Block Party
  • National Night Out
  • Oakland 68's Fanfest
  • Original Pattern's Oktoberfest Celebration

In addition, the District hosts multiple forums monthly that bring together interested stakeholders to focus on areas of concern, including

  • Jack London Neighborhood Council — tackling issues like auto break-ins and blight
  • Merchant Business Coffee Hour
  • Community presentations on proposed developments
  • Mayoral Candidate Town Hall

Our government and community relations engages stakeholders and develops partnerships around important Jack London community issues such as:

  • Maximizing positive development impact (and minimizing negative impact)
  • PG&E Construction Impact
  • Encampment Crisis
  • Underpass Improvement

The District is focused on engaging, promoting and connecting Jack London

  • 1,200+ Receive Monthly Newsletters
  • 1,390 Property owners and Tenants Receive Annual Report
  • 1,014 Invited to Neighborhood Crime Prevention Meetings
  • 84 Have attended NCPC Meetings
  • 12,000+ Social Media Audience
  • 72 Business Owners in Monthly Retailer Coffee Communication
  • 550 Have Attended Panel Talks
  • 3,000+ Have Attended Annual National Night Out Party
  • 2,000+ Have Attended Annual Jack London Brewing District Block Party

Our Achievements by Areas of Work

Cleaning and Safety

Statistics from October 2022 - October 2023
  • Addressing longtime blight sites through Graffiti buffing and commissions of murals and building art at key sites
  • Cleaned and consolidated record number of illegal dumping sites
  • Tracking blight-contributing under-freeway parking lots.
  • Design and installation of Jack London- Branded “Curb Theft” signage with NCPC funds

Marketing and Economic Development

  • Bringing Art to District: Collaborated with arts organization to secure $200K grant funding to successfully put on “Museum of Capitalism”, an innovative temporary art space activation of unprecedented scale, involving 80 artists, gaining national press and bringing estimated 10K visitors to the District.
  • Encouraging exploration of the District: Two wayfinding projects developed in coordination with businesses and residents -- both formal signage and “Tactical Urbanism” trail systems promoting identity and themes of District: Wine, Beer, Coffee, Art
  • Improved visibility for Jack London: BART Station area improvements: all southbound exits labeled “Jack London” (Previously signed “Chinatown/Laney/Courthouse") and citywide marketing collateral
  • Mitigation of construction impact including signage and parking enforcement to protect affected small businesses
  • Improved Business support as core 2017 focus through participation in City’s Small Business Task Force and monthly Jack London coffee/network meetings initiated December 2016
  • Participated in Citywide Small Business Week (Everett & Jones and Mr. Espresso awarded legacy Business Award)
  • National Night Out: over 20 Jack London businesses and community groups participate each year
  • Initiated or partnered with the following marketing campaigns to increase visibility for Jack London businesses:
    • Oakland Restaurant Week
    • San Francisco Beer Week
    • Amtrak Photo Competition with Jack London Rewards
    • Park(ing) Day
    • Pedalfest: Business Participation through event at Square
    • Ride Report App (Rewards for cyclists entering area designated by geo-fence)

Government and Community Relations

  • Facilitated community meetings and successfully advocated for project entitlements before Planning Commission and Design Review Committee: CIM’s Broadway and Alice Street residential development sites and more
  • Facilitated Jack London-specific Community meetings for the continuing Oakland Alameda Access Project
  • Worked with City and other partner sponsors of the B Shuttle to create branded bus and updated marketing collateral, and to locate two Ford GoBike Stations within District
  • Participant in City’s “Walk this Way” RFP addressing Broadway/Webster improvements, served on Selection Committee to select winning team of 18 applicants
  • Joined with coalition of business partners to advocate on issues related to cleanliness and safety related to encampments in public right-of-way
  • District featured in Berkeleyside, SF Business Times, promoting Jack London business and development activity
  • Hosted public Panel Talks on District-pertinent issues including “A Ballpark for Everyone” with record attendance and coverage in SF Business Times
  • Guest Speaker at HOA meetings providing presentations on District Activities

Testimonials

Just wanted to compliment the Ambassadors and the work they did on the sidewalk—it looks gorgeous, like Oakland SHOULD LOOK!

-Bob Rosen, Business and Property Owner, 4th & Castro

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Thank you for all you have accomplished and for all good you provide to our neighborhood. You and your contributions are much appreciated.  
-GS, Resident

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I love the hands on involvement from all JLID team members

-Jennifer N, Portobello  

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Let me just say I love the Ambassadors. My very first day moving into the District, I was unloading furniture from the moving van and an Ambassador welcomed me to Jack London and offered help! That was the first welcome I got to the neighborhood.

-MR, Phoenix Lofts

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I forgot to thank you last month for the prompt response to cleaning up the parking lot next door to our client’s building at 3r d St. and Webster. Our client called the following week to thank us for getting action on the trash. It’s great to know the JLID can be so helpful.

-Don M., Business Owner

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They [the Jack London Improvement District] just ROCK!!! They have helped me out so so many times over the past 2 years with all kinds of things I needed. I can not thank them enough.

-Jackie Gallanagh, Business Owner, Slainte

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That was great! That was one of our busiest days ever. Thanks to everyone who helped put it together, and let's for sure do this kind of thing again. That's TEAMWORK!

It was awesome! I saw deep lines at every brewery which was amazing to see.

-Brewers from the Jack London Brewing District after a collaborative Brewery Crawl event