Project Gateway – West Oakland
The world’s largest and fully mechanized mail handling facility designed to serve central California and the Pacific ocean area
Postmaster General – Aug 1959
It was announced the facility would be built on a 12-block site in West Oakland bounded by Peralta, 7th and Wood Streets, and the Southern Pacific railroad yards.
The postmaster general officially named the Oakland project “Project Gateway”
Major Problems
City officials were excited that construction will begin in about one year. They expected an Oakland payroll of some 750 workers and the clearing of some 20 acres of sub-standard homes for a significant redevelopment project.
Oakland Mayor Clifford E Rishell noted that the post office project presents some significant problems – chiefly the relocation of some 300 families (about 1000 people) in the project area.
The Oakland Redevelopment Agency was in charge of the relocation. A survey at the time determined that half of the 300 families had moderate incomes that will permit them to rent or purchase a home in other sections of the city. The other half will probably require public housing.
The job we face isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible
Arthur Hoff – Oakland Redevelopment Agency
One of West Oakland’s most revered landmarks was lost with the razing of the New Century Recreation Center and the adjoining school property at Atlantic, Pacific, and Peralta Avenues.
Also lost in the project would be a junkyard, few businesses, and McFeely School, which opened in 1949.
Evictions
In a March 1960 special meeting of city officials and postal officials were told 34 families had already received eviction notices. The families lived in homes already sold the government by Southern Pacific. 21 families had already found new homes.
August 1, 1960, was when they were to begin clearing the site,
A squadron of bulldozers was set to plow into the 12-block place of buildings. All put 12 parcels of the 187 total had been acquired in negotiation. Commendation orders were entered for the holdouts.
Sherman Tank
The postal officials were perplexed when building wrecker Aldo S. Allen submitted a low bid of $64,000 to clear the 20-acre site for Project Gateway. He was $10,000 lower than the next lowest bid and $50,000 lower than the highest bid.
“I got an idea” Allen a one time midget car racer explained.
Aldo S. Allen – 81st Ave Oakland CA
His idea consisted of $2,000 purchasing a surplus Sherman Tank of World War II vintage, a 73,000- pound dreadnaught powered by a 500 horsepower engine. The tank would be much more powerful, faster, and safer.
He was Right!
Aldo climbed into the tank, which was in front of a row of six houses. He first practiced on a tree.
SNAP! Down went the tree.
Without pausing, he went towards the first house and bore a tunnel through the house. The second story remained intact. Again he aimed for the home, there was a roar, and the second story came down burying the tank for a moment.
10 Minutes Flat! The time to clear the first house
It took 90 minutes to flatten and remove all 6 houses
Before and After
Post office Site Now A Dump
In 1963 after five year of post office promises the city demanded action. The site had become a 12-block dumping ground. The city was losing money $22,000 in tax dollars and $50, 000 lost in additional school taxes. They were told that construction was set to begin in 1964. By July of 1967 the building was nearly one-third complete. Belated effects of a long wet winter have moved the opening date to March 1969.
More Info:
- Super Post Office to be built – Oakland Tribune Aug 26, 1959
- Mail Center Brings Problems – Oakland Tribune Aug 27, 1959
- Displaced Families to Get Help – Oakland Tribune Mar 03, 1960
- The US to Buy Mail Center Land – Oakland Tribune April 28, 1960
- Demolition to Start – Oakland Tribune July 19, 1960
- Wrecker Uses Sherman Tank – Oakland Tribune Aug 16, 1960
- Post Office Site Now A Dump – Oakland Tribune Jul 15, 1963
- Site Action – Oakland Tribune Jul 15, 1963
- New Post Office Delayed by Rain – Oakland Tribune August 27, 1967
Tne “Downtown Specific Plan”, being considred by the Oakland Planning Commision, would take urban renewal to the next level. The public has until October 22, 2019, to omplain to the Planning Commision about the new plan, to build highrise glass and steel towers all along the Lake Merritt shore, on the sites of the main library and the Fire Alarm Building. Stop the greedy developers from wrecking Oakland again!