East Bay Hot Spot: San Leandro Featured in the San Francisco Business Times

On Friday, February 17, 2023, the San Francisco Business Times published its East Bay Hot Spots: Hayward and San Leandro report, highlighting current projects and happenings in these two cities. The content is available online and in print, and includes a story on development in Downtown San Leandro as well as a get-to-know-you Q&A with Mayor Juan Gonzalez.

In his Q&A, Mayor Gonzalez talks about What Makes San Leandro Stand Out, including our accessible location, strong infrastructure, broad labor pool, community and recreation amenities and nimble, business-friendly staff and processes. He also highlights up-and-coming businesses, including innovative battery manufacturer Cuberg, premium baker, Shaw Bakers, and great restaurants, such as Top Hatter’s Kitchen. Finally, he shares his favorite part about San Leandro: its diverse community.

Breaking Ground on a New Downtown

Another story by Neil Gonzalez highlights the ongoing transformation in Downtown San Leandro, and how we are “embracing a walkable, transit-oriented city.” Following years of policy making and investment, from the Creekside Office Complex, to the San Leandro Tech Campus and Marea Alta housing project, to the current and upcoming commercial and housing developments, “the prospect of a successful new downtown and the investment growth generated by that look robust,” says Gonzalez.

The story shines spotlights on Martin Group’s Centro Callan project, which broke ground in September 2022, as well as Beam Development’s Town Hall Square project across the street, expected to enter the approval process this year. Maximus’s gargantuan project at 899 Alvarado Street is also included as a cornerstone project, creating a trio of residential projects within a short walking distance to the Downtown BART station. These projects will provide housing, retail and community amenities for existing and new residents, all in a more environmentally friendly manner than more auto-centric developments.

Downtown San Leandro is well-positioned in the market. With a modernizing industrial business base, ultra-fast fiber optic internet, and close proximity to the BART and retail, office vacancies remain relatively low, and rents are stable. “Businesses are finding San Leandro an affordable alternative to Oakland and Fremont,” says Jon Holmquist, senior managing director of investments at commercial real estate services firm Marcus & Millichap. “San Leandro is the next frontier. It’s coming into its own. It has the benefits of being close to both San Francisco and the Peninsula and, at the same time, has room for expansion because it is not overbuilt.”

The San Francisco Business Times is the #1 print and online source for Bay Area business news and information on the most successful people, companies and transactions in the region. Its content reaches a national audience of 14.6 million monthly unique online visitors, 1.3 million weekly print readers and 213,000 annual event attendees across the US.

The City of San Leandro has also been featured in two unique inserts in 2019 and 2022 – these are supplementary publications that accompany the regular paper but whose content focuses chiefly on the city sponsoring the insert. You can access the online versions of these inserts below:

https://media.bizj.us/view/img/11366681/062819-sfbt-sanleandro-download.pdf

https://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/partners/150-years-of-making-things-in-san-leandro/