Updating the Timeline for the Former Blood Bank Site
by Mark Aaronson, RCPC Board Member
On Dec. 19, the developers of the former American Red Cross Blood Bank at 6230 Claremont Ave. submitted a fully completed land-use application. This application has some design and other changes that differ from the proposal submitted with the preliminary application. The current proposal is for a 7-story building with a total of 203 rental units, which includes 159 independent living units, 20 assisted living units and 24 memory care units.
The proposed project will be subject to Oakland’s standard review process with public hearings.
In 2023, the Red Cross Blood Bank moved to its present Rockridge location at 5450 College Ave. The former 1.06 acre site is still owned by the Red Cross and is deteriorating. In early 2024, the Rockridge Community Planning Council (RCPC) board learned that the Red Cross was in the process of reviewing bids for the site’s sale and development.
Among bidders were nonprofit affordable housing development organizations. In April 2024, the RCPC board sent a letter to both City officials and private parties, “[RCPC] strongly supports the sale of the 6230 Claremont Avenue property for a 100% affordable housing development project.”
RCPC submitted this letter because we heard from many residents about the desire to have more affordable housing within our transit-oriented and high-resourced neighborhood. RCPC hoped that the Red Cross would align with this vision, but instead it signed an option-to-buy agreement with Ellis Partners and the Spirit Living Group.
In July 2025, the potential buyers as developers filed a preliminary application for the development of a senior residence rental facility with the Oakland Planning Department. The RCPC board met with the developers in August 2025 and encouraged them to hold a public meeting with neighborhood residents, which took place in September 2025 at the College Avenue Presbyterian Church.
In October 2025, the RCPC board established an RCPC Consultation Committee to meet with the developers throughout the planning process to provide neighborhood input and feedback regarding the project. The members include two RCPC board members (one lives near the site), two residents from the neighborhood generally and three residents whose properties are on Auburn Avenue or Florio Street, narrow streets abutting the project site.
Residents in close proximity to the project site have established their own advocacy group—Rockridge Neighbors for Sensible Housing (RNSH). The three nearby neighbors and an RCPC board member on the RCPC Consultation Committee are also participants in RNSH. While RCPC and RNSH will have their own responses to the proposed project, channels are fully open for continual communication and interaction between them, including regarding any differences that may develop on how to best balance various neighborhood concerns and priorities.
At this stage in the development process, RCPC focuses on gathering information and neighborhood views about the project. Through discussions with the developers, we look to provide a range of concerns and timely feedback. The RCPC Consultation Committee has scheduled a meeting with the developers on Jan. 21. Down the line, the RCPC board will consider taking a position on the project.
In a forthcoming issue of Rockridge News, I will provide a fuller summary of the most recent project specifics. I also will address the extent to which, if at all, State law supersedes Oakland height and bulk zoning requirements and affects the Oakland land use approval process for senior residence rental facilities. Please send questions and comments about the proposed project to landuse@rockridge.org.
