7th Street
 

7th Street Thrives

What is 7th Street Thrives? 

7th Street has a critical moment of opportunity for Black and BIPOC small businesses, and legacy residents to actively participate in the neighborhood's economic growth, while building capacity, centering collective community action, and fostering economic equity. 

LISC Bay-Area, in partnership with EB PREC (East Bay Permanent Real Estate Cooperative), is embarking on an emerging multi-year effort that supports advancing a collective economic direction for 7th Street—where no one is left behind. This effort seeks to nurture 7th Street’s strengths and untapped opportunities, address areas of need around affordable commercial space, sustainably resource its residents, and foster inter-communal and economic connections that lead to greater economic opportunity for Black, legacy and current residents living on and around the 7th street corridor. We will do this by supporting the sustained activation of underutilized space, providing assistance to Black and BIPOC businesses, and helping revive the vibrant character of the 7th Street corridor.  

7th Street is at the center of major proposed projects that will change the neighborhood’s landscape. Given the neighborhood’s legacy as a thriving Black business corridor, we intend to center our efforts on increasing locally based black ownership, permanent access to commercial space, and strengthening and creating more transformative, collective and sustained economic opportunities for the West Oakland community centered around 7th street. 

History

Once a bustling place of commerce for Black businesses, West Oakland’s 7th Street was known as the Harlem of the West. The corridor was home to a variety of enterprises including, but not limited to markets, cleaners, restaurants, hotels, gyms, and nightclubs. The nightclubs, that birthed West Coast Blues, attracted people to Oakland from around the world.  

In a pattern repeated with chilling precision across the country, detrimental development decisions decimated the neighborhood, mainly urban renewal and federal programs that dismantled the neighborhood and its thriving Black community. The negative impacts of these intentional decisions displaced people and businesses, created poor air quality conditions, and broke up critical social, and cultural institutions. Despite this, 7th Street remains a powerful symbol of Black culture and belonging in Oakland. Many of its natives have undertaken decades of work in service to the neighborhood and are primed for its revival; this process and agenda takes continued steps toward that dream. 

What are the Values of 7th Street Thrives? 

  • Build & Preserve Economic Prosperity for Black Oaklanders 
    • Centering the creation and preservation of social, cultural, and economic wealth for black and legacy Oaklanders on 7th Street.  
  • Uplift Models for Resource Creation & Exchange 
    • Center mutual aid models that support community ownership, amplify resource circulation to elevate local economic opportunity, and build the capacity of the neighborhood’s human capital to sustain the flow of resources. 
  • Enhance Supportive Ecosystems for Black and POC Small Businesses 
    • Enhance neighborhood ecosystems that are the essential component of conserving local economies and building renewing pathways to long-term neighborhood independence. 
  • Foster a Green, Healthy, Equitable Neighborhood Landscape 
    • Advance innovative approaches to greening local infrastructure and creating new green spaces that foster a neighborhood environment free from harm in a culturally welcoming manner. 
  • Honor & Sustain a Thriving Legacy 
    • Honor and sustain the legacy of Black culture, Black workers, and the Black Arts Movement tradition that enlivened 7th Street from the 1920s to the late 1960s. 

What is the Area of Focus?

Planning & Implementation Report

Leaning on the strengths of previous planning efforts in the neighborhood, the 7th Street Thrives roadmap is using a cultural revival strategy to re-invest in 7th Street’s business community and support the placement of small Black and POC businesses and artists along the corridor. The 7th Street Thrives Implementation and Activation report details this work, as well as what is to come — the reignition of the vibrant community character of the street. Through small business support and attraction, corridor and infrastructure improvement, and a series of cultural community activations that will make the neighborhood a destination for Black culture and business.

Be sure to check out the report on our website to learn more about the progress we've made and the exciting future ahead. By signing up for our mailing list, you'll stay informed about our work and have the opportunity to join us on this transformative journey.

But we can't do it alone. Here's how you can get involved today:

  • Connect us with businesses and property owners at and around West Oakland's 7th Street: If you know business owners residing or working in the neighborhood and/or property owners, please put us in touch!

  • Become a partner: We need individuals and organizations with inspiring ideas or who are passionate about supporting small business outreach and community engagement to join us. Your involvement amplifies our impact. If you know anyone or have connections, please connect us. Let's make a positive difference together!

  • Invest in equity work: We invite funding partners who share our commitment to equity for the Black and People of Color community in West Oakland. Together, we can drive meaningful change. Reach out to request an investor prospectus to get more information.

This report reflects 7th Street Thrives’ progress in engaging key stakeholders, examining the neighborhood’s small business and built environment needs, and proposing shared priorities to implement necessary interventions.