Permits Filed To Replace Ghost Ship Warehouse in Fruitvale, Oakland

Preliminary permits have been submitted for a five-story affordable housing complex at 3073 International Boulevard in Fruitvale, Oakland. The proposal would replace an empty lot and two structures, including the Ghost Ship Warehouse, the site of a horrific fatal fire in 2016. Local developer Unity Council hopes to bring new low-income housing to the corner lot.

3073 International Boulevard aerial view, rendering by Mithun and Yes

The 60-foot tall structure is expected to yield around 76,900 square feet, including 71,000 square feet for housing and 5,800 square feet for parking. Once complete, the structure will provide 58 affordable units for households earning at or below 80% of the Area Median Income. Apartment types will vary, with 22 one-bedrooms, 16 two-bedrooms, and 20 three-bedrooms. Parking is included for 24 cars using stackers and 15 bicycles in a separate room connected to the gated ground-level courtyard.

The ground-level courtyard will be looked over by a community room and three one-bedroom residences. A second-floor terrace above the ground-floor units divides the project into two five-story structures connected on each floor by skybridges.

3073 International Boulevard view from 31st Avenue looking at the sky bridges, rendering by Mithun and Yes

Mithun and Yes Community Architects are jointly responsible for the design. The project features a natural-tone palette achieved through a mix of textured cement plaster, natural tiles, and patterned breeze blocks. One caption indicates that the sky bridge will be an opportunity to feature ‘commemorative art,’ while the street-level walls facing International Boulevard can be decorated by a local muralist. The final artists or potential designs for both public artworks have yet to be finalized.

Unity Council purchased the property in 2023. Speaking at the time to the Bay Area News Group, Unity Council CEO Chris Iglesias said, “We’ll give this land much-needed care moving forward… We just want to be really, really thoughtful in this process and just understand what a tragic event this was to [the families.]” In a recently published community engagement summary, Unity Council summarized the feedback into five separate themes: safety, promoting culture, supporting health and healing, community services, and making the project rooted in Fruitvale.

3073 International Boulevard entry corner view, rendering by Mithun and Yes

3073 International Boulevard existing condition, image via Google Street View

Future residents will be nearly a quarter mile away from the Fruitvale BART Station. The blocks surrounding Fruitvale Station have been redeveloped over the last two decades, in large part by Unity Council, to become a dense mid-rise neighborhood with housing, office space, and retail.

The estimated cost and timeline for construction have yet to be shared.

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