Save the Esther's Facade!

The historic Esther’s Orbit Room "stone" facade (pictured above) is in danger! Our construction company and other builders insist that conserving or reproducing the current rock facade is either impossible or cost prohibitive due to a decline in skilled craftsmanship in our country. Folks who might have the skill have even refused to give us a quote!

We are seeking referrals for workers, craftsmen, masons, material artists, or conservationists to remove the current “stone” facade so we can reinforce the sheer wall strength and reproduce (or reinstall) the facade back onto the building.

Over the last six decades, Esther's Orbit Room has been a space for Black culture and organizing in West Oakland that remained committed to our community’s future. Now is the moment for us to combine our collective knowledge, networks, and skillsets as a community to save one of West Oakland's cultural heirlooms!

We can prevent this beautiful facade and the history it represents from being destroyed. Help us find our craftsman! Contact esthers@ebprec.org if you know someone!

Esther's Secrets

Report by Christina Kenney, Esther's Cultural Manager

A few months ago, we shared Esther's updated design renderings (which were influenced by community input to better reflect 7th Street's history). We were excited by the warm reception to Esther's new look!

While waiting for the City of Oakland’s approval, we discovered hazardous materials within Esther's walls that required us to undergo abatement (the process of safely and permanently removing hazardous materials like asbestos, lead, and mold to protect humans from health risks). Walls were removed, the ceiling was pulled back. We never expected Esther's had more history for us to discover.

Our abatement team uncovered Esther's original structure: Walls were built on walls. Ceilings on ceilings. A boarded up stairwell. A red brick chimney upright against the roof, surrounded by 100-year-old wood. Original stage lights that shone on B.B. King, Al Green, Etta James, and the other countless legends who graced the Harlem of the West.

We're delighted by these discoveries, and committed to preserving what we can to make sure our community can enjoy them too. The beginnings of an archival project are in the works, but we'll save that for a future update. In the meantime, keep an eye out for our Esther's Orbit Room groundbreaking celebration!

Is EB PREC really anti-displacement?

Report by Chris Wakefield, Cooperative Education & Engagement Manager

Over the summer, EB PREC Staff found itself grappling with a difficult question: In the midst of a unstable economic landscape, how do we balance the operational needs of our cooperative while supporting residents who are struggling to make their housing payments?

Rather than try and answer this question on our own, we researched various eviction diversion policies and facilitated two Community Owner Circles with our members at the Omni Commons. Together, we analyzed the assumptions, strengths, weaknesses, and even the financial considerations for each of the various policies before proposing potential policies of our own. For example, could we create a cooperative fund where members can support Resident Owners in times of need to prevent their displacement?

Based on our collective analysis and conversations, we're poised to launch an Eviction Diversion Policy Working Group; led by Community Owners and supported by Staff, that will develop a policy that is compatible with EB PREC's unique model. Interested in being part of these Community Owner conversations and shaping our cooperative's future? Click the button below to learn more about EB PREC membership!

BECOME A MEMBER

Celebrating Omni's Anniversary

Report by Valerie Jameson, Commercial Property Manager

September 9th marks one year since Omni Commons was purchased! Through EB PREC’s financial investment and in-kind property management support, the building has developed stewardship principles and practices, and made strides in renovating the building (such as putting on a new roof, improving ADA accessibility, and installing updated security!) for current and future users. Check out the before, during, and after of a recent water damage repair in the photos above!

EB PREC Community Owners will soon be invited to run workshops and activities through CALLI's Omni Stewardship Pilot. If you interested in being contacted directly fill out our interest form by clicking the button below:

VIEW PILOT INTEREST FORM

Vacancies: Live in an EB PREC property!

Interested in becoming a Resident Owner or know someone who might be? Check out these two cooperative housing opportunities below and share these listings with anyone who think might be a good fit!

Move in to our Pippin St. property, a 10-unit garden style apartment complex in Deep East Oakland. We're seeking folks experienced in cooperative living practices and/or with the desire to embark on the journey of co-stewardship of land and home together. Both units are 2 BD/1 BA and are around 760 square feet in size — water & trash & parking included! Section 8/Housing Choice Voucher holders and people earning 60% or less of Area Median Income (AMI) are encouraged to apply. Email pippin@ebprec.org to learn more!

Co-op 789 (pictured above) is a stucco 2-story quadplex apartment in the Bushrod neighborhood of Oakland, with 4 nearly identical, spacious units that serve as 2-bedroom units. Each unit serves between 1 and 3 persons that jointly share the lease on that unit. There is a shared yard and the exterior has been recently repainted. The building is walking distance to major transit nodes including Ashby Bart, major bus lines, and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital along with Rockridge, Temescal neighborhoods. Applicant(s) total gross household income can not exceed 60% of Area Median Income (AMI).

Contact our Residential Property Manager, Atif, at (510) 470-0060 or email atif@ebprec.org for more information.

Mapping out the year ahead

Our last newsletter recapped our spring staff retreat, where we we reviewed EB PREC's history with our newer hires and committed to stabilizing our operations in preparation for a future capital campaign. Since then, each of our Circles developed and refined goals and key deliverables for the next year, culminating in a two-day strategic retreat at the end of August.

Our retreats are a key venue for cultivating a culture of communication and shared ownership, which are crucial to EB PREC's health and mission as a cooperative. Sixteen hours of honest conversation, tactical considerations, and laughter ensued as each Circle presented their workplans to the rest of the collective for feedback. By the end of our sprint, our exhaustion was matched by our clarity for the work that laid ahead. We can't wait to share what we've got cooking up with all of you!

Catch Esther's at the Oakland Museum

Make plans to visit the Oakland Museum! OMCA's "Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain" traces the rise of West Oakland and East Bay communities and their subsequent displacement.

Viewers familiar with our work know that we've been deeply engaged in the re-ignition of 7th Street for years: from the acquisition of Esther's Orbit Room and the Barn to our corridor-wide cleanups during our annual Black Earth Day event.

"Reclaim and Remain" grounds our work in West Oakland's rich history, helping visitors understand the role 7th Street played for Black Oaklanders, and how the state violently destroyed our neighborhoods in the name of profit and urban "renewal".

Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain is on view until March 1, 2026. Let us know what you think if you have a chance to visit! If you're inspired by the exhibit, you can follow our ongoing 7th Street Thrives initiative by signing up for updates at 7thStreetOakland.com