BRING BACK OUR LIBRARY!
HOOVER BRANCH
LIBRARY FEASIBILITY
STUDY - Summary
RESILIENT Neighborhoods start with KNOWLEDGE
Mural Artist: Center for Art Esteem
February 2025
The Feasibility Study
aligns the opinions,
definitions and
economic actions
which will support
the RE-building of a
new branch library.
Summary
00 HOOVER BRANCH FEASIBILITY STUDY
3 Historically, there were several libraries at various locations in the Hoover-Foster neighborhood of West
Oakland. Today, no such library exists, and community
members have been working diligently to restore a
new branch library.
METHODOLOGY
The team led by blinkLAB architecture has been
analyzing the need, opportunities, constraints and
technical feasibility of such a library for the past two years. The recommendations and conclusions of the
Hoover Branch Library Feasibility Study are the result
of an extensive Community Engagement process
which included:
• Surveys - Paper, Online and In-person
• StreetLABs and Community Group Workshops for Adults
and Youth
• Video-Interviews
• Review of Government Data Sources
• Review of Social and Environmental Data Sources
• Review of Library Data Sources and
• Global Library and Community space trends.
• Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
(SWOT) Analyses of 3 existing branch library
COST ESTIMATE: $15M TO $18M
NEXT STEPS
“Measure U funding will enable Oakland to complete
design and construction of projects that have only
partial funding, such as ... the new Hoover Branch
Library.” Therefore, Measure U funds should be a
primary source of City funding for construction of this new library. Members of the Hoover Foster community
10/11/23
HOOVER BRANCH LIBRARY FEASIBILITY - Survey Participation 9-Jul 16-Jul 23-Jul 30-Jul 5-Aug 29-Aug
Pictogram (StreetLABs) 108 138 171 171 171 171
Online 55 75 160 205 222 234
Short Form - Paper and Online 156
Surveys Acquired 163 213 331 376 393 561
Surveys Needed 837 787 669 624 607 439
Goal Dec 2023 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000 1000
70 49
106
41124
171
561 Survey Participants
as of August 29, 2023
McC lymo ndsLon gfellow H oo ve r
Claw son Other StreetLABs
12%
9%
19%
7%22%
30%
561 Survey Participants
as of August 29, 2023
McC lymo nds Lon gfellow H oo ve r
Claw son Other StreetLABs
RESILIENT Neighborhoods start with KNOWLEDGE BRING BACK OUR LIBRARY! blinkLAB architecture
Adaptive Re-Use
01 DESCRIPTION: This adaptive re-use of an existing
structure requires the acquisition and conversion of a
vacant structure, on a main thoroughfare, easily
accessible from the Hoover Foster neighborhood.
COMMUNITY SCORE: This location’s highest survey
score is due to its central location to all schools and senior facilities, on-site accessibility, parking and
ability to return San Pablo’s historic value.
ECONOMICS: Because much of the existing building is
in serviceable condition, the estimated acquisition
cost is $4.8 million, bringing the total cost for this
option to $15.5 million. The construction cost of this
conversion is estimated at $10.8 million which is
considerably less than the other two options. Parking
is on site and would be shared with the church located
on a neighboring parcel.
Planned Library Building Area: 15,379 SF
Total Site Acquisition & Construction Cost: $15,542,490 North Oakland Community Charter (K-5)
Oakland Military Institute College Preparatory Academy
McClymonds High
Street Academy Alternative High
Westlake Middle
KIPP Bridge Academy
West Oakland Middle
Oakland School of the ArtsMartin Luther King Jr Elementary Yu Ming Charter (K-8)
Ralph J. Bunche Continuation High
LOCATION 3
LOCATION 2
LOCATION 1
Very Walkable
Walk Score Transit Score Bike Score
89 68 99
“You can see a wide open space of the
library with a bit of greenery.”
This location’s highest survey score is
due to its central location.
HOOVER BRANCH FEASIBILITY STUDY
5 BIKE
ADAPTIVE
REUSE
DAYLIGHT
WAYFINDING
PUBLIC ART
URBAN PLAZA
c
A welcoming urban
plaza
Adequate space for
social connection is key
to creating a sense of
welcome.
Secure parking
Adequate
accommodation for
bikes, cars, vans, and
third-party social service
providers.
A sense of our
surroundings from above
provides new
perspectives and quiet
space.
Views
A clearly defined front
door
Anchoring the role of the
library by saying your
name is to be
represented, seen and
understood as a place of
civic pride.
RESILIENT Neighborhoods start with KNOWLEDGE BRING BACK OUR LIBRARY! blinkLAB architecture
Public Land
02 DESCRIPTION: Located on a large, partially developed lot that serves 200-300 students a year and is
surrounded by communal amenities.
COMMUNITY SCORE: Of the three sites surveyed, this
site received the lowest score due to its separation
from the McClymonds and Clawson neighborhoods
- McClmonds High School is a great source of pride,
and the Clawson neighborhood is the location of the
first all African American fire station and was the
residence of Oakland’s first Black Mayor.
ECONOMICS: The advantage of this option is that the
property is owned by a Public Agency and could offer
the Oakland Public Library a favorable ground lease.
The estimated land value is $686,000 ($4,000 per
month or $48,000 per year and an imputed lease
payment of 7% of land value). Even with an estimated
land value that is approximately half of market value,
Option 2 still has the highest cost of the three options at $18 million.
Planned Library Building Area: 11,721 SF
Total Site Acquisition & Construction Cost: $17,974,714 North Oakland Community Charter (K-5)
Oakland Military Institute College Preparatory Academy
McClymonds High
Street Academy Alternative High
Westlake Middle
KIPP Bridge Academy
West Oakland Middle
Oakland School of the ArtsMartin Luther King Jr Elementary Yu Ming Charter (K-8)
Ralph J. Bunche Continuation High
LOCATION 3
LOCATION 2
LOCATION 1
Walk Score Transit Score Bike Score
83 73 100
Very Walkable
“I just want the children to have
the opportunities. Their minds
are ready to grow and learn.”
Of the three, this site received the
lowest accessible score due to its
distance from the McClymonds and
Clawson neighborhoods.
HOOVER BRANCH FEASIBILITY STUDY
7 Claiming the north edge of
the unused parcel
completes the educational
and community campus.
Teaching children and
adults about nature helps
create environmental
stewardship.
Education A library is a civic anchor
Mature pine trees as the
entry unite flow, nature
and knowledge.
Tall trees are gateways
Adequate accommodation
for bikes, cars, vans and
third-party social service
providers.
Secure parking
WELCOMING
ENTRANCE
CLEAR
VISIBILITY
DAYLIGHT
& VIEWS
ARCHITECTURALLY
EXPRESSIVE
RESILIENT Neighborhoods start with KNOWLEDGE BRING BACK OUR LIBRARY! blinkLAB architecture
Private Land
03 DESCRIPTION: This corner lot is located within a
ten-minute walk shed with 12,496 residents, 2,915
non-resident workers and 887 children between five
and fourteen years of age. The complex six-way
interchange presents safety issues for younger library
visitors coming from the west.
COMMUNITY SCORE: This corner location received
high scores due to excellent visibility, ease of
transportation access, and proximity to schools.
ECONOMICS: Location 3 requires the acquisition of
privately owned vacant parcels. While the land parcel
is the largest of the three options, the proposed
library is the smallest because of the need to provide
all parking on site in contrast to Locations 1 and 2
which are able to share parking with neighboring uses.
With construction cost estimated at $15.2 million and
land acquisition estimated at $1.3 million, Location 3
has a total cost of $16.5 million or one million higher than Location 1.
Planned Library Building Area: 10,010 SF
Total Site Acquisition & Construction Cost: $16,502,960 North Oakland Community Charter (K-5)
Oakland Military Institute College Preparatory Academy
McClymonds High
Street Academy Alternative High
Westlake Middle
KIPP Bridge Academy
West Oakland Middle
Oakland School of the ArtsMartin Luther King Jr Elementary Yu Ming Charter (K-8)
Ralph J. Bunche Continuation High
LOCATION 3
LOCATION 2
LOCATION 1
Walk Score Transit Score Bike Score
89 65 99
Very Walkable
“I went to the library because my
friends went to the library and it
was a way to connect.”
This corner location was desirable
due to excellent visibility and
proximity to schools.
HOOVER BRANCH FEASIBILITY STUDY
9 BIKE
PARKING
DIRECT ACCESS
TO GARDEN
DAYLIGHT
PUBLIC ART HOLD
STATIONS
SUSTAINABLE
APPROACH
Art as Civic Marker
Integrate Art into the
building signage sends a
clear message of
welcome and belonging.
Spend time with trees
Rest and recover by
passing a few quiet
moments in the garden.
Secure parking
Adequate
accommodation for
bikes, cars, vans and
third-party social service
providers.
Multi-purpose outdoor
space
Immediately available for
children programs, teen
hang-out or assembling
before a group event.
RESILIENT Neighborhoods start with KNOWLEDGE BRING BACK OUR LIBRARY! blinkLAB architecture
Promote Growth
04 Libraries lie at that crucial intersection between
public access and public knowledge. Given the wide
variety of needs, THE FUTURE HOOVER BRANCH
LIBRARY is comprised of key components which:
• Provide greatest visibility at locations central to resi - dents’ daily lives
• Integrate cultural references as a way of promoting
belonging
• Acknowledge that patrons vary and require a variety of learning opportunities through both physical and digital resources
• Provide a variety of space and seating types that encour - age interaction, collaboration, and patron-directed
activities
• Encourage community use through shared-space
programming
• Empower patrons through a welcoming environment
• Integrates environmentally sound and sustainable
materials
• Enhances the patron experience by providing both
daylight access, spatial accommodation and access to
the latest technologies.
We are at a moment in our nation’s
history where there is an urgent need
for literacy expansion - analog and
digital.
URBAN PLAZA
CHILDREN
HOOVER BRANCH FEASIBILITY STUDY
11 MEETING ROOMS
DIGITAL ACCESS
MAKERSPACE
COMMUNITY ROOM
TEENS
SEATING OPTIONS
RESILIENT Neighborhoods start with KNOWLEDGE BRING BACK OUR LIBRARY! blinkLAB architecture
With the completion of this feasibility study, the City of Oakland is positioned to advance the project once a site and necessary funding are secured. Future success of this project will greatly benefit from the public’s advocacy. If you would like to become a supporter of the Hoover Branch Library, please reach out to Friends of the Hoover Durant Public Library (FoHDPL) at https://www.fohdpl.org.
HOOVER BRANCH LIBRARY
FEASIBILITY STUDY TEAM
Architect
blinkLAB architecture
Community Engagement
RBA Creative
Jeremiah Tolbert Architects
Storytelling for Urban Planning
SFUFF
Economic and Funding Analysis
Land Econ Group
Cost Estimating
MACK5
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