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long-vacant California College of the Arts campus in Oakland is set for a major redevelopment into nearly 450 homes after the City Council approved plans. The project, initially paused by developer Emerald Fund due to economic concerns, will see 10 buildings razed to make way for two apartment complexes with 448 units, shops, and restaurants.

    The plan includes a 1.5-acre park and 23 affordable housing units for low-income households. Historic buildings like the Macky Hall and Carriage House will be preserved for commercial use. The project has undergone revisions since its initial proposal in 2022, scaling back from 589 units to 510 homes with 51 affordable apartments.

    Emerald Fund's president, Marc Babsin, stated that the project's timeline is uncertain, pending changes in regional economic conditions. "It's when the whole region's economics change," he said. "When we have job growth and population growth and a return to office work, then new projects will make sense." The redevelopment aims to revitalize the Rockridge area, with Councilman Dan Kalb praising community input for improving the project.