Remember Murphy Crossing? That 20-acre historic site in Oakland City where development plans spectacularly fell apart in public last year? Well, the Beltline folks haven't given up. They're back with Perkins+Will and a completely fresh vision that honestly looks pretty promising.
The new plan calls for more than 600 housing units, a retail and office village, and the light industrial component that city code requires. It's situated right next to the Westside Trail, which makes it prime real estate for anyone who wants to live, work, and play without needing a car. Given how Oakland City has been evolving, this could be exactly what the area needs.
What I like about this approach is that they're not just building housing and calling it a day. The mixed-use concept with retail and office space could create an actual neighborhood hub rather than just another apartment complex. After the very public failure of the previous plans, the Beltline team clearly went back to the drawing board in a serious way.