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A coalition of community groups and neighbors opposed to the conversion of the Kwik Way into a McDonald's.
For more information please email info@GreaterGrandLake.org
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A national fast food chain drawing traffic and litter into this pedestrian enhanced space seriously threatens the character of our revitalized Grand Lake Neighborhood. We want a business that will add to the neighborhood and succeed.
Over the course of the past couple of weeks, without any direct outreach on our part, we have already fielded numerous inquiries from businesses that are extremely interested in this location. For example, one is an organic, street food Asian restaurant and a second specializes in healthy, low-fat meals. We've also heard indirectly of at least two parties that would be interested in restoring Kwik Way as a vintage 1950's drive-in. In addition, there has been prior discussion about a new, mixed use development.
At this time, the Greater Grand Lake Action Coalition is not lobbying in favor of any particular use. Our focus, for the present, is on convincing McDonald's (or any other national fast food chain) that moving into our neighborhood would ultimately not be to their advantage. Once that objective is achieved, we will renew our offer to Alex Hahn to assist him in finding a viable tenant with the financial resources required and a product or service that will appeal to the community without the additional traffic and litter that a McDonald's would invariably entail.
Q1: What is the current status concerning the McDonald’s replacing the Kwik Way?
A1: The city of Oakland has suspended all the permits that have been issued to Alex Hahn/McDonald’s. As it is now, they can’t open a McDonald’s to replace the Kwik Way.
Q2: Does this mean that McDonald’s isn’t opening on Lake Park?
A2: Unfortunately, no. Alex Hahn has appealed the city’s decision and it will go to the Planning Commission.
Q3: What happens next?
A3: The Planning Commission will meet on June 2nd, 2004 and will issue their ruling about the suspension of the permits. The Commission has the power to reinstate the permits.
Q4: What if the Commission reinstates the permits?
A4: This would be a tragedy. If the Commission reinstates the permits, McDonald’s will be able to open at Lake Park. If this happens, there is very little we can do to stop McDonald’s.
Q5: What if the Commission sided with the City of Oakland and keeps the decision of suspending the permits?
A5: In this case, McDonald’s can’t open unless they apply for a Major Conditional Use Permit (CUP). .
Q6: What is a CUP and why is this important?
A6: The city’s current ordinances and regulations don’t permit a business like a McDonald’s with a drive-thru to open on Lake Park. The Kwik Way operates under a nonconforming use, because its operation pre-dates some of the ordinances and regulations. A McDonald’s at Lake Park (which will open 5 hours earlier than the current Kwik Way) represents significant change when compared with the current Kwik Way. Because of this change, the McDonald’s should need to apply for a CUP. This is important because the city would then do a study on the impact of a McDonald’s on Lake Park and most likely would deny a CUP to McDonald’s
Q7: All we have to do then is to convince the Planning Commission and the McDonald’s idea will go away?
A7: No. We must convince the Planning Commission that the city was correct in denying the permits. After that, a whole new battle will start, but we are focusing right now on the June 2nd meeting. If we have a positive outcome from that meeting, we will see what Alex Hahn/McDonald’s will do then continue our fight.
Q8: What is the main point against a McDonald’s on Lake Park?
A8: There are a number of reasons why a McDonald’s or any new drive-thru only business is a terrible idea. We are current focusing on the traffic issue. Because the new business will open at 6AM and serve breakfast, we expect that the traffic on Lake Park for commuters and pedestrians will be a nightmare. We believe that the traffic increase at all times will have tremendous negative effects on all neighborhoods around the lake. Kwik Way opens at 11AM. We did some preliminary studies on the McDonald’s on the other side of the lake and we can see long lines of idling cars at lunchtime. Lake Park can’t support this additional traffic.
Editorial Page.The Montclarion Fri, June 4, 2004.
Planning commissioners ask for further research to examine restaurant's possible negative impacts. The Montclarion Fri, June 4, 2004.
Neighbors await word on McDonald's. The Montclarion Fri, June 1, 2004.
Kwik Way owner not giving up fast food. Oakland Tribune Sat, Mayl 29, 2004
Bay Area People. KTUV Channel 2, Rosy Chun interview Danny Wan and Pamela Drake. VIDEO(12MB, MPEG4)
Gary Turchin: The truth 'bout the McDonald's. The Montclarion Fri, April 16, 2004.
McDonald's must seek special permit . The Montclarion Tue, April 13, 2004
Neighbors say 'no way' to Golden Arches San Francisco Chronicle Mon, April 12, 2004
Not so fast, Kwik Way, Oakland officials say. Oakland Tribune Sat, April 10, 2004
Fight continues against McDonald's. The Montclarion Fri, April 9, 2004
KPFA Hard Knock Radio interview.
 KPFA Tue, April 6, 2004 (1.2MB MP3 file)
McDonald's debate set for Wednesday. The Montclarion Tue, April 6, 2004
Neighbors have beef with McDonald's. Oakland Tribune Mon, April 5, 2004 KPFA Evening News report.
KPFA Fri, April 2, 2004 (750KB MP3 file) Editorial Page.The Montclarion Fri, April 2, 2004.
Gary Turchin column: Grand Lake groups supersize efforts to stop golden arches. The Montclarion Fri, April 2, 2004.
Residents say 'no' to McDonald's. The Montclarion
Tue, March. 30, 2004
KCBS reports on the protest. KCBS Sun, March 28, 2004
Neighbors fight to keep out the golden arches. Oakland
Tribune Sat, March 27, 2004
Lake Merritt Locals Fight Planned McDonalds IndyBay Sat, March 27, 2004
Irish Heath Board
opposes a McDonald's citing concerns about the possible effects on
children's health. The
Irish Times, Feb 3, 2004
On January 23, 2004 the
Ontario Municipal Board of Toronto outlawed drive-thrus within 100 feet
of residential properties. This action was motivated by a fight to keep out
McDonald's.
June 4, 2003 Philadelphia
Neighborhood keeps out McDonald's
Wednesday, January
23, 2002
Another Portland
neighborhood tells McDonald's to hold the fries.
What's wrong with McDonald's
Center for Informed Food Choices
Carfree Cities
Oakland City Council Member Danny Wan
Oakland City Council Member Ignacio de la Fuente
Oakland City Council Member Nancy Nadel
Grand Lake Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)
Grand Lake Grime Busters
Splash Pad Neighborhood Forum
Rose Garden Neighborhood Preservation Association
Adams Point NCPC
Beat 15X (Haddon Hill) NCPC
Garfield NCPC
Brooklyn Block Club
Center for Informed Food Choices
Calmar Neighborhood Association
Northlake Neighborhood Group |
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The latest news
June 4, 2004. Editorial: The Montclarion Fri, June 4, 2004
June 4, 2004. The Montclarion Fri, June 4, 2004
June 1, 2004. The Montclarion Tue, June 1, 2004
Grand Lake Theatre marquee announces meeting
May 29, 2004. Oakland Tribune Sat, May 29, 2004
May 25, 2004. We want the Commission to uphold its staff’s decision to require a Conditional Use Permit. Hahn wants the Commission to overrule its own staff’s decision and grant McDonald’s a rubber-stamped approval: No reviews, no traffic studies! We are preparing for the Planning Commission meeting Wednesday, June 2 6:30 pm at City Hall.
May 3, 2004. Alex Hahn filed an appeal to the Planning Commission. The Commission put the issue on its calendar for its June 2nd meeting
April 23, 2004. Gary Patton (Oakland Planning & Zoning Division) sent a letter informing Alex Hahn (property owner) that his plans would require him first to apply for and receive a Major Conditional Use Permit. (Hahn had hoped to convert the Kwik Way into a McDonald's without any special permission.) Patton's letter cites the planned expansion of operating hours (opening at 6 am rather than Kwik Way ’s current 11 am ) as the rationale for finding that Hahn's plan would not be merely a continuation of its current permited use. The letter refers to negative impacts on the neighborhood traffic and describes Lake Park Avenue as an important pedestrian connection between the Grand and Lakeshore business districts. The letter refers to the City's investment in the Splash Pad Park and designation of the area as Neighborhood Center Mixed Use (a General Plan category that encourages a pedestrian orientation).
April 17, 2004. KTVU Channel 2 video(12MB MPEG4)
April 16, 2004. The Montclarion Fri, April 16, 2004
April 13, 2004. The Montclarion Tue, April 13, 2004
April 12, 2004. San Francisco Chronicle Mon, April 12, 2004
April 10, 2004. Oakland Tribune Sat, April 10, 2004
April 9, 2004. The Montclarion Fri, April 9, 2004
April 8, 2004. Press Release after Community Meeting
April 8, 2004. Overwhelming community presence at meeting. Between 500-600 people.
April 6, 2004. KPFA Hard Knock Radio.
KPFA audio (1.2MB MP3 file)
April 6, 2004. The Montclarion Tue, April 6, 2004
April 5, 2004. Press Release on Community Meeting
April 5, 2004. Oakland Tribune Mon, April 5, 2004
April 4, 2004. Our Neighborhood is No Fast Food Nation. Statement by coalition members.
April 3, 2004. More than 1700 people have signed the petition. Have you?
Grand Lake Theatre marquee announces meeting
April 2, 2004. Emergency message from the Grand Lake Theatre's Allen Michaan. An archived gallery of previous marquee's is available on David Gans' web site.
April 2, 2004. KPFA Evening News report.
KPFA audio (750KB MP3 file)
April 2, 2004. The Montclarion Editorial.
April 2, 2004. Gary Turchin Article.
April 1, 2004.
Bobby Haynes (the McDonald's franchisee) meets with representatives
of the coalition of neighborhood groups. April 1, 2004. Alex Hahn, is in serious negotiations with a McDonald's franchisee, but a final contract has not been signed. Half a dozen building permits have been pulled for plumbing, kitchen and sign renovations.
March 30, 2004. The Montclarion
Article
March 30, 2004.
Mr. Hahn meets with representatives
of the coalition of neighborhood groups and tells us that
the deal is not yet signed and he can do whatever he wants with his
property.
March 28, 2004. KCBS Article
March 27, 2004. OaklandTribune
Article
Lake neighborhoods say no to McDonald's
March 27, 2004.
80 people join a demonstration in front of the Kwik Way to protest a
McDonald's in that location. The first 800 signatures are gathered for
the petition againse McDonald's. City Council members Danny Wan and
Ignacio de la Fuente march with us!
March 26, 2004.
Mr. Hahn contacts Kim Cardoso of the Ad Hoc Coalition and finally
offers to meet with us.
March 25, 2004.
The Ad Hoc Community Coalition that is coordinating opposition to
McDonald's hand-delivers this letter
to Mr. Hahn with carbon copies to the Mayor
and City Council.
March 24, 2004.
Pamela Drake, Director of the Lakeshore Business Improvement District
and the Grand Lake Neighborhood Center receives a call from Bobby
Haynes, the McDonald's franchisee asking for a meeting with community
business leaders.
February 24, 2004.
Representatives from various neighborhood groups meet to discuss the
future of the Kwik Way property.
January 16, 2004. In response to calls to Mr. Hahn, his son Alan called Mary Ellen Navas saying that Mr. Hahn was out of town out of town but would meet with the neighborhood group leaders within 2 weeks.
December 2, 2003.
A record number attend the Grand Lake NCPC meeting, expecting to talk
with Alex Hahn. He does not attend as promised. He sends his son,
Charles, instead (who gave us no answers). November, 2003.
Bob Archibald of the Grand Lake Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council
&
Mary Ellen Navas of the Grand Lake Grime Busters meet with Alex Hahn to
determine if there is a firm plan and the extent to which the
neighborhood can influence the selection of a tenant and the
expectations of the new business. November, 2003. City Council Member
Danny Wan has a conversation with Alex Hahn in which he encourages Mr.
Hahn to meet with the community to address community concerns.
Alex Hahn agrees to attend a meeting at the Grand Lake Neighborhood
Center with members of the community. November 14, 2003. Andy Usher,
the Grand Lake NCPC Co-Chair, mails a
letter to Alex Hahn requesting that he meet
with the community regarding the Kwik Way.
October 2003.
Ken Katz of the Splash
Pad Neighborhood Forum gets word of a permit
application
for 500 Lake Park Avenue- possibly McDonald's.
HISTORY
The Kwik Way Story
A restaurant was first built on
that spot in the mid-1950s. It remained the Grand Lake Drive In for
several years. The Kwik Way was serving burgers there by 1969,
according to a phone book printed then. There are two other Kwik Way
locations in Oakland: 2150 Telegraph Ave (no longer a Kwik Way) and 6215 International
Boulevard.
The architectural style is called Googie.
Burger Joints site with a feature on the Kwik Way
Here
is a December 2000 article from the Smithsonian Magazine.
SFChronicle on Googie, showing the Kwik Way at risk.
Greater Grand Lake Action Coalition
In November 2003, we heard that
the current property owner of the Kwik Way, Alex Hahn, was talking with
McDonald's as a possible new tenant. Over many months, he repeatedly
broke his promise to meet with the community and is now preparing to
sign a lease with McDonald's despite our
objections.
Who opposes a McDonald's on Lake Park Avenue?
Oakland City Council Member Danny Wan
Oakland City Council Member Ignacio de la Fuente
Oakland City Council Member Nancy Nadel
Grand Lake Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (NCPC)
Grand Lake Grime Busters
Splash Pad Neighborhood Forum
Rose Garden Neighborhood Preservation Association
Adams Point NCPC
Beat 15X (Haddon Hill) NCPC
Garfield NCPC
Brooklyn Block Club
Center for Informed Food Choices
Northlake Neighborhood Group Calmar Neighborhood Association |
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