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OUR STORY BY THE  NUMBERS

Community Stewards Reach

17,000 +

Reached through BCZ’s Community Stewards program, with $800,000+ paid to 160+ stewards (July 2024–June 2025).

Businesses Support

300 +

Businesses engaged across BCZ programs, with direct navigation support provided through Biz Nav.

Collaborative Network

90 +

Partners in the BCZ Collaborative, including  General Assembly members working together for community impact.

Partnered in Securing

$100 Million

Invested directly into East Oakland through stewards, businesses, and collaborative partnerships.

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The Black Cultural Zone (BCZ) drives a vibrant renaissance in legacy Black communities by unapologetically centering Black arts, culture, and economics. Defined by Place, Partners, and Purpose, we serve all current and Legacy Residents who live/lived, work/worked, and create/created in this community.

The Place (The Zone): Our vibrant cultural campus is a 60x60 block area in East Oakland, comprising 12 districts. It is the foundation, celebrating the people, places, and history that define our community.

 

The Partners (The Collaborative): This powerful network of 90+ partners (residents, churches, public agencies) works together to preserve and uplift Black culture, arts, and community in the City of Oakland, fulfilling the vision of a thriving community

The Purpose (The CDC): The CDC is our nonprofit developer, revitalizing the Place by designing and transforming it. We acquire and develop Hubs, Places, and Spaces to ensure perpetual community ownership and economic vitality.

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The Collaborative

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Tour the Zone

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Get Involved

REAL ESTATE

Our Black Cultural hub Model will elevate Black Arts/Culture, Building, Community Wealth, Quality of Life and Community Healing within community cultural facilities.  We are working with the East Oakland Black Cultural Zone Collaborative, Allies and Supporters to build a model which will include community investment, cooperative ownership and collective management.

Key Efforts

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Commercial Corridor Hubs

Securing and activating commercial real estate in East Oakland to create vibrant indoor and outdoor cultural spaces.

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Liberation Park

A 54,000 sq. ft. lot serving as a resource hub for rapid response, community events, and the Akoma Outdoor Market—while advancing plans for a permanent mixed-use cultural and community space.

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Space Activation

Transforming public and private spaces across East Oakland into places for connection, collaboration, and collective action.

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Black Cultural Corridors

Developing commercial corridors in legacy Black communities that celebrate culture, commerce, and a strong Black economy.

Projects

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 THE RESIDENCES AT LIBERATION PARK 

2751 73rd. Avenue Oakland, CA 94621 The Residences at Liberation Park is being developed in partnership with the Black Cultural Zone Community Development Corporation (BCZ) and Eden Housing, Inc. This 119-unit affordable housing development is located in East Oakland, adjacent to the Eastmont Mall. The land is a city surplus land property and will be ground leased from the City of Oakland. All the residential units will be reserved for extremely low, low, and very low-income households earning between 20% and 60% of the median income for Alameda County. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the units will be reserved for Special Needs Populations, prioritizing two primary target populations, identified through a robust community engagement process. Approximately 8 of the units will include home occupation space for small in-home artist/entrepreneurial businesses and a family childcare business. BCZ is also developing the Black Cultural Zone Marketplace and Hub immediately adjacent to the Residences, in partnership with the Community Arts Stabilization Board. We are excited to execute the community’s vision to bring about affordable housing opportunities in the City of Oakland and to provide the catalyst for economic development and investment activities needed to transform and revitalize the community immediately surrounding the proposed project in one of East Oakland’s legacy Black communities. The apartments are on a 0.73 acre site with shared indoor and outdoor spaces that include: co-working spaces, collaboration spaces, a community room, laundry rooms, and car/bike parking. The scope of work includes: Development of affordable housing: 119 units comprising of 10 studio units, 40 one-bedroom units, 33 two-bedroom units, and 32 three-bedroom units Building of parking garage, bike parking, community room, office space for property management services, and amenity spaces for residents Infrastructure Improvements Realignment of streets and sidewalk improvements to create pedestrian-friendly and safe access to nearby resources and transit centers Developer(s): BCZ & Eden Housing JV

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LIBERATION PARK MARKET HALL & CULTURAL HUB

7101 Foothill Blvd. Oakland, CA 94621 This is a future concept in development and renovation, being shaped into a vibrant cultural marketplace. We are at 70% design completion, with ongoing architectural constraints and cost control work. Once complete, it will be an iconic space embodying Black excellence, serving as a cultural destination and economic engine. Developer(s): BCZ CDC and CAST JV

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BRIGHTER BANCROFT SENIOR HOUSING

7600 Bancroft Boulevard Oakland, CA, 94605 This vital 90-unit affordable senior housing project, a future concept designed to empower East Oakland's older adults and combat displacement. The ground floor will feature "The Kinship Commons," a space for intergenerational connections, with a cafe and a studio for senior-friendly workshops. We are actively developing the architectural and programmatic plans for this integrated hub. Developer(s): BCZCDC & EDEN HOUSING JV

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LIBERATION PARK WELCOME CENTER

8321 International Blvd. Oakland, CA 94621 This 1,072-square-foot space is a future concept for a multifaceted community hub serving East Oakland. It will provide BCZ CDC office space, a Welcome Center, a Resource/Navigation Center for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and a Content Studio for local influencers. This space fosters collaboration and empowers residents by offering crucial services. Developer(s): BCZCDC

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Sankofa Sanctuary

2750 73rd Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard Oakland, CA 94605 Located directly across the street from Liberation Park, The Sankofa Sanctuary is a future concept for a dynamic, inclusive hub that celebrates East Oakland's cultures through food, gathering, and collaboration. Its first phase will be a gathering space with a warming kitchen for catered offerings. Our vision includes a "Ujamaa" Garden, named for the Swahili word for "cooperative economics," and potential future expansion into a whole event and conference center based on community demand. Developer(s): BCZ

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AFFORDABLE HOUSING

9240-9244 MacArthur, Oakland, CA 94605 This is not a future concept; it's an active project that is a key part of our strategy to preserve affordable housing in the MacArthur corridor. We also add short-term rental space for visiting artists and partners, creating a unique hybrid model that supports community members and our broader creative network. Developer(s): BCZ CDC

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AFFORDABLE HOUSING

9240-9244 MacArthur, Oakland, CA 94605 This is not a future concept; it's an active project that is a key part of our strategy to preserve affordable housing in the MacArthur corridor. We also add short-term rental space for visiting artists and partners, creating a unique hybrid model that supports community members and our broader creative network. Developer(s): BCZ CDC

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AFFORDABLE HOUSING

9240-9244 MacArthur, Oakland, CA 94605 This is not a future concept; it's an active project that is a key part of our strategy to preserve affordable housing in the MacArthur corridor. We also add short-term rental space for visiting artists and partners, creating a unique hybrid model that supports community members and our broader creative network. Developer(s): BCZ CDC

ChatGPT Image Jul 10, 2025, 02_20_48 PM.png

AFFORDABLE HOUSING

9240-9244 MacArthur, Oakland, CA 94605 This is not a future concept; it's an active project that is a key part of our strategy to preserve affordable housing in the MacArthur corridor. We also add short-term rental space for visiting artists and partners, creating a unique hybrid model that supports community members and our broader creative network. Developer(s): BCZ CDC

INVEST IN THE FUTURE:
HOW YOU CAN HELP DRIVE IMPACT

The Black Cultural Zone (BCZ) is driving equitable change in East Oakland, and your help is essential for its success. By joining our efforts, you directly contribute to cultural preservation, economic opportunity, and self-determination for its current and legacy residents, communities, and businesses. We warmly invite you to partner with us to create a truly thriving and stable future for our community.

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