Claremont Hotel Expansion




165 New Rooms and a 3 Level Parking Facility


5 to 10 Years of Construction


During the April 26th. meeting at the Claremont, Ted Axe, the Claremont's general manager, admitted he wanted to add 165 new rooms, possibly including time shares and a 3 level parking facility. Previously, the Claremont discussed adding 90 rooms and 45 parking spaces (see April website). Construction would take place over the next 5 to 10 years. Axe said he did not wanted to be quoted in the press as everything was in the beginning stages. [This website is a neighborhood project run by volunteers. We do not consider ourselves the press.] 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.

Two Phase Construction

The Claremont's management is hoping to expand the hotel in two phases. The initial phase has begun with renovations to the main building and a 1.5 million dollar seismic retrofit. In October the Spa will be moved closer to the proposed 90 rooms. This will also increase the amount of space alloted to the Club.

Environmental Impact Report

This is the most important part of the expansion project. Before any new construction, the Claremont must prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). This will be written in June or July. After it is submitted to the City of Oakland, there will be a public comment period, after which permits may be granted. The whole EIR process may take as little as 4 to 6 months.

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 Monterrey pines and a landscape area for its 90 room addition. The arbor area will become a third swimming poool. 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.

[More details of the open meeting will be added as soon as possible. This website is updated weekly, or more frequently as information is received]


Recent Expansions



The Claremont is known for its beautiful trees and landscaping. It has expanded many times over its long history, adding buildings and parking lots, decreasing its trees and gardens. In 1997 the Claremont built a 6 million dollar wing, with 40 deluxe rooms. This brought the total number of guest rooms up to 279. They also significantly increased the size of the spa and health club area. [Information from the Claremont's website.]

The New Traffic Signal

In 1999 KSL had the state widen Tunnel Rd. and add a stop light. This halved the number of parking spaces in the employee parking lot. The solution? People now park along the red curb on the Claremont's private road. This restricts access for emergency vehicles, especially fire trucks.

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 May 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.


Who Put the K in Klaremont?


In 1998 the Claremont Resort and Spa was purchased by KSL Recreation Corp. KSL owns some of the largest resorts in the world. It is currently in negotiations with the City of Oakland to develop the Chabot municipal golf course. This multimillion dollar deal has been hotly contested by both neighbors and golfers, whose fees would skyrocket under the proposed contract (see April website). KSL is in turn owned by KKR and Co. The K in both companies stands for Kravis. Henry Kravis is world famous for inventing the leveraged buyout in the 1980s. KKR has approximately 58.5 billion dollars in assets. It owns almost 30 national and multinational corporations, including Safeway.

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., Jerry Brown attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Zhone's new campus. [Zhone 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 is also involved with technology in local recreation centers and schools in Oakland.

[Information from KKR and Zhone websites]


Community Meeting May 6


The City of Oakland will discuss the Claremont's proposed expansion, as well as KSL's plans for Chabot Golf Course, in an informal meeting with Jane Brunner and Robert Bobb, Oakland City Manager, on:


Contacts


If you would like more information now contact:
How do you feel about the Claremont Hotel's proposed expansion? Visit the Yahoo! Claremont Expansion Club.

Or go to our new, improved [this one works] message board


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. Nothing on this website is intended to defame any individual or corporation.

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