Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs

 

Frequently Asked Questions Updated July 18, 2026

Trees

How many trees are proposed for removal?

• Affordable housing Phase 1 within BART parking lot = 21 protected trees; 3 unprotected trees will be removed (a protected tree is covered by the City’s protected tree ordinance which requires certain procedures prior to removal).
• Affordable housing Phase 1 within City right-of-way along 7thStreet = 2 protected trees; 27 unprotected trees will be
• Commercial office Phase 2 within BART parking lot = 5 protected trees will be
• Market-rate housing Phase 3 within BART parking lot = 1 protected tree will be

How many new trees will be planted as part of the affordable housing Phases 1?

• 63 street trees will be planted within City right-of-way (16 trees around the affordable housing project on Chester and 5thStreets and 47 trees along 7th Street).
• Note that the current tree plans are still pending approval by BART and the City of Oakland, so the final numbers may

Why are the tree removal numbers different than the project’s 2019 and 2020 City of Oakland PDP and FDP approvals?

• 11 trees from the 2019 and 2020 application no longer exists within the City’s right-of-way or on the BART Furthermore, 9 trees on the north side of 7thStreet were added to the tree removal plan due to the City’s 2019 and 2020 Condition of Approval requiring a Class IV cycle track on the north side of 7th Street.

Why were the trees on the north side of 7thStreet tagged for removal given that they were not included in the 2019 and 2020 PDP approved plans?

• 9 trees on the north side of 7thStreet were added based on the City’s 2019 and 2020 Condition of Approval requiring a Class IV cycle track on the north side of 7th

Did OakDOT require the cycle track on the north side of 7th Street be located on sidewalk versus adjacent to the existing sidewalk (i.e., similar to OakDOT’s plans for 7th Street east of Mandela Pkwy) thereby leaving the existing sidewalk and trees in place?

• The Condition of Approval calls for a Class IV separated bikeway and does not require the cycle track to be on the However, given the existing width of the current sidewalk, there is not enough room to add the cycle track next to the existing sidewalk, in addition to the required bus and passenger loading zone, a separated bus pad, and a drive lane all on the north side of 7th Street. A similar design is on the south side of 7th Street.

Could the cycle track on the south side of 7th Street been designed to preserve some of the existing trees?

• No, there is insufficient room to accommodate the double row of existing trees, a cycle track, the City’s required sidewalk, and bus or passenger loading

Are the two large pine trees on the north side of the BART entrance going to be permanently saved or removed during a later phase of development?

• The two large pine trees on the north side of the BART entrance along 7thStreet will be saved and incorporated into the proposed project’s BART

What's the timeline for the Phase 1 tree removal?

• The existing trees associated with the affordable housing project are targeted to be removed during Q3/Q4
• The existing trees associated with 7thStreet are targeted to be removed between Q1/Q2

When can residents expect to see the new trees planted?

• The new trees associated with the affordable housing project will be planted toward the completion of the construction project, which is slated to occur during Q4 2028 to Q1
• The new trees associated with the 7thStreet streetscape would go in about a year after the construction start, so they are targeted for Q3 2027 to Q2
• Please note that several design items and specifications are still subject to BART’s and the City of Oakland’s approval which have not yet been Therefore, these target dates could change.

What is the maintenance plan for street trees?

• All the new street trees are within the City of Oakland’s right-of-way and the maintenance is the responsibility of the City following the standard one-year maintenance That said and while not required, the developers will work with their contractors to provide an extended maintenance period (targeting three-years).

If trees die, is there a plan to replace them?

• There is a standard one-year warranty period for all the new trees and the period beyond that will be the City’s

We're concerned with the City's ability to water and prune new trees given that the City’s tree services department is severely underfunded. Will the developer commit to 5 to 10 years of maintenance?

• There are two development entities involved in the current Phase 1 Both developers will water the trees within the City’s right-of-way for a minimum of three years.

Can you clarify the length of the warranty period for trees?

• To be determined based on pending contracts with the landscape contractor(s).

Did an arborist inspect the trees?

• Yes, and the report is available to download on the master developer’s website at mandelastation.com.

Is it possible to remove the trees on an as-needed basis, rather than all at once? We're expecting a long, hot summer, and these trees provide vital cooling benefits. We're concerned that trees along 7th St will be cut down in the Spring when construction for Phase 2 isn't starting until the fall. Making sure that trees are cut down no more than 4 to 6 weeks before construction actually starts seems like the best way to ensure as much canopy cover as possible for this environmentally sensitive area.

• The trees will not be removed until a period shortly before the specific project area is slated to start

Is there an existing irrigation system for the street trees?

• Yes, but is it not

Why is the designer not using California native trees?

• The design team will re-evaluate street tree species selection and look for opportunities to incorporate more native However, there are significant regulatory and technical constraints to planting street trees which limit the design team’s ability to incorporate more California native trees. Where California native trees cannot be used, the design team will prioritize tree species from adjacent ecoregions.
• With the combined effects of global climate change and urbanization, many native trees are not well adapted to life as a street tree in Oakland today and into the Establishing thriving street trees (to provide shade, improve air quality, support wildlife, and improve human quality of life) requires considering trees beyond California native verities to trees from hotter, drier parts of the world. Trees from neighboring ecoregions (the American southwest and northern Mexico) can also assist in the migration of birds and insects reacting to climate change.

Will new trees grow better than the existing trees?

• Current trees along 7thStreet were planted 15 years ago and the width of their canopy should be 30 feet across, not about the current 12 feet
• The new design plans call for improved soil volume for the newly planted This includes excavating and off-hauling existing soil where new trees are being proposed and installing sand-based structural soil to support permeable pavers between the tree wells. This approach will give the new trees access to larger shared soil volumes than the prior installation and a better chance of long-term growth and success.

Can fruit trees be planted along 7thStreet?

1. • No, the City of Oakland does not accept fruit trees within the City’s right-of-

What is the rationale for removing trees located within the BART property but not within the T3 affordable housing project footprint?

• There are a few other trees within the BART property that are required for removal as they are within the BART plaza and paseo area or the BART bike station area, both of which are slated for development in the initial phase of

Soil Remediation

What agency is responsible for oversite and approval of the environmental cleanup and what reviews and approvals have been granted?

• The Department of Toxic and Substances Control (DTSC) is the lead agency responsible for oversite pursuant to a Standard Voluntary Agreement between the DTSC and the
• Various studies, plans, and reports prepared by the development team have been reviewed and approved by The primary reports include the following:

1. Remedial Action Plan (RAP)
2. Remedial Design and Implementation Plan (RDIP) which includes the following sub-reports:
   • Health and Safety Plan (HSP)
   • Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP)
   • Transportation and Traffic Control Plan
3. 1. 1. The RAP and RDIP can be reviewed and downloaded from the developer’s website at https://mandelastation.com/.
      2. DTSC has a publicly accessible website that contains the project documents and DTSC’s The website is called Envirostor and can be access at www.envirostor.dtsc.ca.gov/public/profile_report.asp?global_id=70000133

How is the community protected from fugitive dust? What precautions should the community take?

• The remediation contractor is required to follow the dust control measures that are presented in the RDIP and CAMP that were approved by the No precautions are necessary for the community.

Will the developers give out air purifiers or masks?

• Pursuant to regulatory approvals, masks are not needed for the local

How will the soil be removed from the neighborhood?

• Soil will be removed from the BART site with excavation equipment and placed in dump trucks, covered, and taken to the appropriate landfill The truck routes and names of the potential landfills are available in the RDIP.

Where is the contractor taking the contaminated soil?

• The impacted soil will be hauled to one of the following facilities depending on the characterization of the soil; Kettleman Hills, Buttonwillow Clean Harbors, Altamont Pass Landfill, or Newby Island Landfill. The soil will be transported via licensed

When did the soil get contaminated?

• Like many properties in West Oakland, the BART property was contaminated prior to BART acquiring the property in the 1960’s. Records show that a portion of the property was used for lead Lead was also a constituent in fuels, and it was deposited on properties near freeways and other heavily used traffic corridors. Lead may also be from lead paint on the buildings that were present before the BART station was constructed.

Will the soil removal process stop when winds are above a certain threshold?

• The CAMP includes a procedure whereby if sustained wind speeds exceed 20 mph, all potential dust-producing activities will cease until the sustained wind speeds declines to 20 mph or

Does the project have a dust control plan?

• Yes, air monitoring for the particulate matter at the project site will be performed to document worker exposures and off-site migration of A Community Air Monitoring Plan (CAMP) will be implemented during the soil removal activities. The CAMP will include monitoring of total dust throughout the duration of the impacted soil removal action.

Will the trucks carrying the dirt spread the contaminated dirt on the streets?

• Prior to the initiation of the soil excavation activities, the contractor will establish an equipment decontamination Decontamination procedures will be performed before any vehicle leaves the work area as part of general protocols for minimizing the physical transfer of impacted materials from the work area.

 

Access & 7th Street Streetscape

 

Will the bike lanes be continuous down 7thStreet or will the rest of the stretch have to wait until the 7th Street connection project commences in 2030?

• Bike lanes currently exist along 7thStreet, but they are not separated bike
• The 7thStreet Corridor project that goes from Mandela to MLK is slated to begin construction in

Can Chester Street or Mandela Pkwy accommodate some of the bus and BART passenger loading areas currently planned for 7th Street.

• Yes, during the interim construction However, the BART Access Study and the project’s Conditions of Approval call for these activities be located primarily on 7thSteet and secondarily on 5th Street.

Can parking meters be added for on-street parking on 7th Street to accommodate local business needs, versus BART parking?

• The development team will review this option with

 

Retail Spaces

We understand the afordable housing project will include several ground floor retail units. Under what conditions will these spaces be delivered (grey shell, warm shell, or full FF&E)?

• Cold

Are the affordable housing project’s retail units subsidized? Can you share what the estimated rents are for those units?

• To be determined by the retail leasing team

Is there a budget for retail tenant improvements in the afordable housing project once a tenant has been identified?

• Currently there are no tenant improvement allowances funded by the affordable housing However, the developer is looking into grants and other opportunities to assist the underwriting of the retail tenant spaces.

What can be done to ensure ground floor retail space can prioritize safety?

• The affordable housing project will hire a retail broker to help lease the available retail spaces and every effort will be made to secure funding to assist prospective tenants with move in costs and minimal operating

Construction Management

 

Can you share the Construction Management Plan (CMP) provided to the City when it’s approved? We would like to coordinate with you, OakDot and AC Transit to message to area residents and merchants what to expect regarding traffic and bus stop access.

• Yes, once the CMP is approved by the

Do you or BART have a plan for where parking demand will be diverted while much of the lots are offline during construction?

• This is pending a response from

How will construction traffic, access disruptions, and staging affect existing corridor businesses?

• The developer and contractor will reach out to each business and develop a plan to minimize disruptions that could impact existing operating

 

Mandela Station Masterplan

 

Are you also responsible for the completion of the Mandela BART Plaza (T2)?

• Mandela Station Partners is responsible for the BART A portion of the plaza north of the T3 affordable housing project will be built in the initial phase. The remaining plaza north of the BART trackway (corner of Chester and 7th) will be constructed with the 2ndvertical building.

 

What condition will the existing T1 and T4 parking lots be returned to once T3 afordable housing project is complete? We’re assuming at least T4 will need to be re-curbed because portions of the T3 development are situated on the “middle” parking lot.

• The balance of the T1 and T4 areas will return to a BART parking lot following the completion of the T3 affordable housing

What portion of of-site improvements include street and sidewalk paving. Is that solely for Chester Street or will that also include 7th Street, 5th Street, and Mandela Parkway?

• Chester St, 5th Street from Chester to Center St, and portions of 7thSt will be The balance of 5th St and Mandela Parkway will have portions of the streets repaved.

Community Engagement

Is there a website listing more information about the project?

• Yes, please go to mandelastation.com.

Is the developer and BART willing to include community stakeholders in regular roundtables to better engage residents and organizations about construction impacts from the development?

• Yes, Mandela Station Partners has an active Community Advisory Council (CAC) and welcomes community members and/or organization joining the Interested parties should contact the developer via the website and go to the contact us tab.