Land Use and Planning

Greater Hill District Master Plan

The Greater Hill District Master Plan articulates the importance of continuing to "Build Upon the African-American Cultural Legacy." The Greenprint (2009) created a bold vision for a natural and healthy community, the 2011 Greater Hill District Master Plan established fundamental values and development principles that have been central to development activities and the neighborhood ecosystem. The Centre Avenue Redevelopment and Design Plan (2015) created a detailed vision for how new development and amenities on Centre Avenue could serve a variety of community needs, while also using a market study as its basis.

Multiple waves of development have built a new office, commercial and community spaces along Centre Avenue, along with new housing throughout the neighborhood. Development activities in Downtown and Oakland have the potential to bring new opportunities and challenges to the Hill District the plan seeks to address.

Greater Hill District Development Principles

  1. Address/Right Historical Wrongs
  2. Promote Economic Justice
  3. Reflect Neighborhood Driven Civic Design
  4. Promote a Green and Healthy Environment
  5. Utilize Neighborhood Strengths and Assets

Greater Hill Non-Displacement Strategies

  1. Economic Opportunities
  2. Homeowner Support
  3. Renter Support
  4. Community Ownership/Equity

Strategies for Reclaiming the Lower Hill

  1. Design Strategies
  2. Housing Strategies
  3. Business Development Strategies

Centre Avenue Plan

The Centre Avenue Corridor Development and Redesign Plan were developed from the input of residents and stakeholders into a vision for the future of the Hill that also pays homage to its past, encompassing housing, commercial and mixed-use development as well as cultural and historic programming. The plan was prepared by evolveEA Sustainable Architecture and 4wardPlanning, using a grant from The Design Center. It incorporates green infrastructure and includes a heritage trail and recommends restoring the stream at the bottom of the Chauncey Street steps for a rainwater park. The plan also includes maps of property ownership, vacant lots, zoning and land use criteria, as well as data on existing housing stock, commercial and institutional properties, demographics, and population changes.

The latter shows an increase of more than 1,000 residents since 2000, which further indicates the need for additional rental and for-sale housing. To serve them and future residents, the plan calls for retail amenities ranging from boutique clothing shops and restaurants to bakeries and even a fitness center. One ambitious idea in the plan would literally create the "crossroads of the world" by creating a Heritage Square at Centre Avenue and Dinwiddie Street intersection on the site where the Zone 2 police station currently sits. It would also include a museum and would be tied to housing, commercial and cultural redevelopment in and around the New Granada Theater across the street. Another key aspect of the plan is that it will integrate with development in the Lower Hill. The complete plan can be viewed here.

To learn more about the Hill CDC and its involvement with various plans to revitalize the Hill District neighborhood, select from the downloads listed below.