Oakland, California, will consider a former Army base as the location for its largest shelter as its population of people experiencing homelessness grows.

“Oakland will look into opening a massive homeless shelter for up to 1,000 people on the former army base,” reports Sarah Ravani for the San Francisco Chronicle.
“The Oakland City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to direct the city to study whether it can house up to 1,000 unsheltered people at a 22-acre site that would become the city’s largest shelter,” adds Ravani.
According to public officials quoted in the article, the city is looking for new resources for an increasing number of people experiencing homelessness—the city had a pre-existing shortage of shelter beds and supportive housing even before the pandemic increased the number of people experiencing homelessness on the city’s streets.
“In the last official count in 2019, the city recorded more than 4,000 homeless people living on the streets and saw the largest increase of any city in the Bay Area,” explains Ravani.
In addition to the political opposition a shelter of this size might expect to encounter on its way to approval, the final project will face several large approval hurdles. The property is deed restricted to prohibit residential use without approval from the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and the city-owned site would also require some environmental remediation.
FULL STORY: Oakland could open homeless shelter for 1,000 people on former Army base

Planetizen’s Top Planning Books of 2023
The world is changing, and planning with it.

Chicago Red Line Extension Could Transform the South Side
The city’s transit agency is undertaking its biggest expansion ever to finally bring rail to the South Side.

How Paris, Texas Became a ‘Unicorn’ for Rural Transit
A robust coalition of advocates in the town of 25,000 brought together the funding and resources to launch a popular bus service that some residents see as a mobility lifeline—and a social club.

Seattle’s Bike Infrastructure Hamstrings Growth
Design standards that call for minimal road space allocated to bikes are limiting the growth of cycling in the city.

Winter Fun at Los Angeles County Parks
L.A. County is offering a winter edition of its popular and award-winning Parks After Dark program, providing opportunities for residents to come together and have fun in safe and welcoming spaces.

Sacramento Council Approves Upzoning Proposal
If given final approval, the plan would increase the allowable floor area ratio to permit denser housing development in single-family neighborhoods and near transit.
City of Kissimmee - Development Services
City of Kissimmee - Development Services
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Park City Municipal Corporation
National Capital Planning Commission
City of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.