Claremont Hotel Expansion

Axe said construction would take place over the next 5 to 10 years. Axe said he is looking at maximum development of 22 acres and maximum profits for KSL, which owns the Claremont. Axe said there would be minimal impact on traffic, views, and the neighborhood.

Next would be the 90 room wing built into the hillside. A parking deck would be put where a tennis court is now on the Domingo side (near Peet's), with a new tennis court on top of it. This would be two stories high. During the second phase, a campus-like area with 75 large suites or condominiums would be built. Another pool might be added, according to Axe. Berkeley neighbors say the pool would be covered under the permanent noise injunction they won several years ago. More levels of parking topped with tennis courts would replace the current tennis courts, until all 6 tennis courts would be above a three story parking facility. The Claremont would now have 400 parking spaces. With valet parking, they could park 1500 cars.

At some point, according to Axe, they may put an entrance on Claremont Ave. (there's already an unused curb cut) with a deceleration lane for cars to stack up. Parking places on Claremont Ave. would be eliminated, although anyone who wants to pay what the Claremont charges could park in the new parking garage.

To give a better idea of when all this could take place, we have developed an unofficial timeline based on information from the Claremont and KSL.

This spring and summer is a crucial time for public involvement. The EIR must detail the new construction's effect on the environment. For example, every tree that is removed affects the microclimate, air quality, and wildlife habitat. The Claremont plans to remove a mature grove of pines [ Update: this writer saw approximately 24 very large, mixed conifers, 2 smaller pines with a sickly appearance, and 2 oaks in the area to be developed.], a native oak and a landscape area for its 90 room addition. The arbor area will become a third swimming pool. Axe said the trees would be replaced, (including the mature trees destroyed last summer)but saplings have a different effect on the environment than mature trees.

Earthmovers will be brought in to carve up the hillside below the Terrace Bar. The 90 room wing is planned for the hillside below the hotel and would be connected by elevators. The EIR should detail how this will affect the stability of the hillside and the homes above it.

Earthmovers will also excavate the land under the Claremont's 6 tennis courts. The Claremont proposes a 3 level parking facility beneath new tennis courts, increasing its total number of parking spaces to 400. With valet parking included at no extra charge, the Claremont could have 1500 cars parked at once. This would be a major environmental change and seriously affect our air quality.

The Claremont-Elmwood Neighborhood Association (CENA) invited Ted Axe to its May 24 general membership meeting to discuss the proposed expansion. Daniel Lieberman, a developer and neighbor, and Elizabeth Kibbey, also a neighbor, shared the stage. An unidentified neighbor, not connected with this website or Elizabeth Kibbey and Prof. Michael Smith's e list, printed and distributed copies of this webpage, along with a map of the expansion project. Axe said they both seemed fairly accurate. He pointed out 3 or 4 things he considered inaccurate, and we have updated accordingly (see Corrections, below). Axe said he was considering 75 condominiums rather than timeshares, [Ed. note: We stand by our original report.] which raises different issues.

In response to persistent questioning,Axe said the EIR would not be started or finished before Labor Day. He also said the new wing would cost about 15 million dollars, and the rest of the proposed construction 15-20 million dollars. Axe continued to emphasize that the plans are very preliminary and have not been approved by KSL yet. If his plans are approved by KSL, Axe said he would hold a series of community meetings.

The CENA meeting had about 200 participants, including Berkeley Mayor Shirley Dean. When Kibbey asked how many had been to the Claremont in the past 6 months, nearly everyone raised their hands. This was to prove to Axe that the Claremont is a vital part of our community, and that its neighbors are its core users. Other issues raised icncluded continuing problems with traffic and congestion due to the new traffic light, night construction at the Claremont [Axe said it would stop], and environmental concerns.

Due to time constraints, a small group of concerned neighbors joined the aforementioned speakers in a smaller conference room, allowing the general meeting to move on with its agenda. In just 2 weeks, an e list of people concerned about the Claremont expansion has grown to more than 200 people. Axe promised to meet with this group on a regular basis.

While Ted Axe and Dave Robbins, a vice president of development at KSL, denied any link between the privitization of Lake Chabot Golf Course by KSL and KSL's proposed expansion of the Claremont, KSL's own figures disagree. Their proposed fee structure for the golf course gives Claremont guests a discount. Oakland residents would also get a discount (more than double the current fees), but only if there's room for them after others, including Claremont guests, play.

Golfers at Jane Brunner's meeting were very angry about this, and feel they will lose access to the golf course. City manager Robert Bobb treated the golfers of Oakland with open contempt, telling them, "things are going to change whether you like it or not." He actually laughed at their distress, and while we have striven for objectivity, we must say he should be glad he doesn't answer directly to the voters. In our years of experience with politics on both the local and national level, we have rarely seen such a display of arrogance.

Several speakers and Jane Brunner expressed concerns that the golf course deal violated open process. Robert Bobb said the city did not have to have open bidding, as the current concessionaire for Lake Chabot had recommended KSL. Speakers pointed out that this was the same man who brought Oakland the disastrous Raiders deal.

In this writer's opinion, there was a feeling of consensus among audience members unusual in Oakland or Berkeley. The consensus was that the people of Oakland are being treated shabbily, that the whole KSL expansion with the Claremont and Lake Chabot was a backroom deal. We are losing our previous optimism about working with KSL (see April).

Robbins said KSL will present its DraftEIR to the Oakland City Council later this month. There will be a 45 day public comment period. They also need a major conditional use permit. There will be a public meeting about this in June. (See Timeline.)

During the road work, a row of mature shade trees and a large area of shrubbery and landscaping were destroyed. To date, the area has not replanted. While pedestrians feel safer with the traffic signal, a previously pleasant walk is now hot and unpleasant. The sun glares off the roofs of cars in the parking lot (previously screened by shrubbery). There is nothing but dirt and gravel on the ground. There is no shade. This is called an urban heat island. At the April 26th meeting, Ted Axe said the Claremont will replant the area sometime this summer. However, there will be a large entrance monument, and saplings rather than mature speciments.

Plants and trees are aesthetically pleasing. More importantly, they reduce pollution, lower the temperature in the summer, and emit oxygen. Each mature shade tree gave enough oxygen for a family of four.* At this point, we do not know how many trees or how much landscaping KSL intends to remove in its next expansion.

*Information on trees and urban heat islands from The San Francisco Examiner, East Bay Edition, Thurs. 4/13/00.

KKR also owns Zhone Technologies, a communications equipment startup company based in Oakland. With 500 million dollars in startup capital, they have the largest equity financing ever raised by a communications equipment startup.

In Feb., Mayor Jerry Brown attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Zhone's new campus. [Z hone press release2/2/00] Zhone is putting up 4 multistory buildings with 300,000 square feet, for up to 1500 employees, with space for manufacturing as well as offices. Brown had nothing but praise for Zhone, which has apparently donated technology to public recreation centers and schools in Oakland.

[Information from KKR and Zhone websites]

Berkeley residents have expressed great frustration, as the Claremont is officially in Oakland. Berkeley residents can contact Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson, who attended Jane Brunner's meeting. Berkeley Mayor Shirley Dean also attended Jane Brunner's meeting. Berkeley residents can attend Jane Brunner's open meetings in North Oakland. They are free to speak and to ask questions. Both Berkeley and Oakland residents can read the EIR, comment on it, and challenge it if necessary.

How do you feel about the Claremont Hotel's proposed expansion? Visit the Yahoo! Claremont Expansion Club

Or go to our message board to express yourself and to see what people in the community are saying.

According to Ted Axe, underground electricity has not been installed for the proposed 90 room wing. Mr. Axe said he never intended to put in 45 parking spaces, as it would not be economically feasible and as they need more than 45 spaces. 45 would be the legal minimum of parking spaces for 90 guest rooms (Oakland zoning calls for 1 parking space per 2 hotel guest rooms). Axe says that the Claremont Draft EIR was not scheduled for June.

This website is a volunteer effort and intended as a public service. Every effort is made to provide accurate information. We encourage you to check facts and figures with the Claremont, KSL, KKR and your local government officials. Any opinions expressed in the message board, guest book, Yahoo! Club, or articles, are not necessarily those of the website owner. Please ask permission before distributing the site and always include this disclaimer. Nothing on this website is intended to defame any individual or corporation.