Oakland CA Office Space Guide

[Updated Oct 2020] A guide to executive suites and office space to rent in Oakland as well as general information that may be useful if you are thinking of renting offices in the city.

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History & Geography

Oakland is one of the largest cities on the west coast of the United States and sits on the east side of the San Francisco Bay, facing its larger counterpart. The city spreads along the east side of the bay taking up approximately 19 miles of shoreline and extending inland to the Oakland Hills. The earliest inhabitants of the area were the Huchion tribe, who were displaced by the Spanish in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. Due to the abundance of oak trees in the area the region the Spanish settlers named the region ‘Encinal’, meaning ‘oak grove’, from where the city derives its name. In the mid 19^th century an increasing amount of American and European settlers came to the area and in 1848, following the Mexican-American War, it was ceded to the United States. Oakland became a major terminus of the Central Pacific railroad and its port grew to become one of the most important on the west coast. In 1874 the port was dredged and it became a deepwater port. Industry also grew in the city and its population expanded. Following the disastrous 1906 San Francisco earthquake Oakland’s population grew still more, swollen by refugees from San Francisco. Throughout the early part of the 20^th century, the city continued to grow and its economy was bolstered by the creation of a Chevrolet factory by General Motors. During WWII Oakland was an important center of war-related industries and many workers from the Midwest and South immigrated to Oakland for work, boosting its population still more. After the war, the city’s shipbuilding industry declined, as did its automobile industry, leaving many of its residents out of work. The 1960s and 70s saw Oakland’s crime rate rise alongside civil strife. In 1991 the largest firestorm in American history broke out costing over a billion in damage and killing 25 people. During the 1990s the town experienced an economic upturn, however, with the city centre being redeveloped and the port expanded. Today Oakland is the eighth-largest city in California and one of the most forward-thinking and progressive on the west coast.

Economy

Oakland is one of the largest ports in the US and more than 200,000 residents of the city are employed in marine cargo transport. Among the major corporations who call Oakland home is Kaiser Permanente, Clorox, Matson, Dreyers and Cost Plus World Markets. Of late more tech companies have begun to call Oakland home, including Ask.com and Pandora Radio. Other major employers in the city include Wells Fargo, Albertsons, Safeway and the IRS. Oakland is known for having a high crime rate and is consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous US cities. However, efforts have been made to reduce the rate of violent crimes in the city which are gradually seeing success. Oakland is among the top US cities for sustainability and is the number ranked city in the country for the use of electricity from renewable resources. Oakland also has a thriving tourist industry, which while not as large as its neighbour San Francisco, still plays an important part in the city’s economy.

Tourism & Culture

Oakland has the highest concentration of artists of any city in the US and is home to a thriving cultural scene. There is a glut of galleries in the city, with most gathered around the Uptown neighborhood. Oakland is also quickly gaining a reputation for its restaurants. Due to the city’s ethnically diverse population, international foods are in abundance. The use of locally sourced produce is also gaining popularity in the city. Oakland also has a large music scene. Traditionally the city was home to the West Coast blues scene and but today has thriving jazz, funk, punk, and hip hop scenes. Among the attractions in the city are Jack London Square, named after the author of White Fang and Call of the Wild, Chinatown, Lake Merrit, Oakland Aviation Museum, the USS Potomac and Oakland Zoo, one of the best on the West Coast. A number of annual cultural events also take place in the city, among the most popular being the Oakland Greek Festival, Lakefest, Chinatown Streetfest and the Art and Soul Festival.

Transportation

Oakland is served by the Bay Area’s three major airports, Oakland International Airport, San Francisco International Airport and San Jose International Airport. Of these Oakland International is the most accessible, being located in the city only four miles south of downtown Oakland. Amtrak also serves Oakland and has stations near both Jack London Square and Oakland Coliseum. Oakland city itself has an efficient public transport system, the main bulwark of which is the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit). BART has eight stations in Oakland and its main hub at MacArthur and 19^th Street. There is also a ferry serving Oakland, which transports passengers from the city to Alameda, San Francisco and Angel Island.

Office space to rent in California

Oakland currently has an overall vacancy rate slightly higher than 17 percent. The Oakland office market had a stale year in 2012 though of late there have been some signs of recovery. It has been predicted that by the end of this year deals that are currently in the pipeline will have restored the Oakland office market to positive growth. The average rental price is currently USD 2.14 per square foot per month. This is unlikely to grow significantly before 2014. Most Grade A office space in Oakland is located in the CBD however there are currently developments in the pipeline for space on the outskirts of the city.

We carry out a free office space search and our advisory and acquisition services are also free, always. Our Oakland office space brokers and agents are globally regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) ensuring the highest standards of commercial property advice and service at all times. We look forward to helping you find the best office space for rent for your business.