Oakland A's Chose Laney College Ballpark Site Over Howard Terminal, That Scored Higher In HOK Study

Oakland A's Chose Laney College Ballpark Site Over Howard Terminal, That Scored Higher In HOK Study The Oakland Athletics announced the selection of the Laney College Site for a new ballpark for the team and over the very popular choice the Mayor of Oakland Libby Schaaf originally wanted: Howard Terminal. Moreover, David Kaval, the A's President, selected that property even though it scored out lower than Howard Terminal in the 2001 ballpark study that was produced by architecture firm Hellmuth Obata and Kassabaum. The HOK Ballpark Study that was paid for by Oakland City Attorney John Russo had it this way: Laney College scored 14 versus 22 for Howard Terminal, and cosidering Urban Design, Transportation, Site Factors, Cost and Timing. Also, Howard Terminal was less expensive at $503 million versus $617 million for Laney College. The biggest cost was land acquisition at $76 million versus $37 million for Howard Terminal - and then parking, where Howard Terminal cost $75 million compared to $132 million for Laney College. What was the reason? Was it tied to the Oakland Mayor's reluctance / inexperience with tax increment financing - a key component of the original plan? Or was it because of the location of BART at Laney College? And what about the huge waterfront view that Howard Terminal provides? Questions. Many of them. Stay tuned.

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