I received a response from Linton Johnson, Chief Spokesperson for BART (and former NBC-11 anchor/reporter). The answers he gave indicated how early in the process all of this ballpark and ballpark village talk is. According to Johnson, the $70 million figure is based on “rough paper estimates” on how much it would cost to build [...]

The Legislature is back after their month-long recess. That means it’s time to check on SB 4. According to the latest update from aroundthecapitol.com, SB 4 is scheduled to hit the Assembly Appropriations committee on Wednesday. This legislation could have an enormous impact on the final deal between the A’s and Oakland/JPA, because of the [...]

From the San Jose Business Journal: San Jose’s Redevelopment Agency is continuing with its efforts to acquire the Diridon South properties. To do this they are going around the city’s charter, which requires a public vote before any money is spent on a sports facility. They’re able to do it by saying that the land [...]

After today’s game, I drove around the 90-acre site and took pictures of the various buildings in the area, the roads and railroad tracks. I’ll put them into a Photo Overview soon enough. (And no, I was not accosted at any point.) In the meantime, there’s a new report from the CBS-5 (KPIX) with video [...]

Paul Rosynsky’s Tribune article on yesterday’s announcement has a couple of eye-popping revelations regarding BART: BART spokesman Linton Johnson said it is possible for such a station to be built, but estimated it could cost at least $70 million. In addition, Johnson said, BART would have to buy at least 10 additional train cars to [...]

Disclaimer: I am not a professional architecture critic or architect, so these comments should be taken with several grains of salt. Now that the curtain has been lifted on the A’s plans, we can start to dissect them in earnest. I have to admit that I didn’t get the site right at all, but I [...]

The reports are starting to file in. Here is the first batch: KGO-7 report (new with video, 4:30 PM) KRON-4 report (with photos) CBS-5 (KPIX) report (with video) Contra Costa Times (with photo) SF Chronicle/Glenn Dickey (with large photos, expanded article including feedback from affected businesses – 10:30 PM) NBC-11 video Also, a larger picture: [...]

NBC-11′s website front page has a slightly larger than thumbnail sketch of a ballpark plan: Video is now available on the site. There’s also a new press release from the team: “On behalf of the Oakland Athletics ownership group, I have proposed a concept and a site to the Joint Powers Authority (JPA) and the [...]

More details are leaking out about the nature of the presentation that Wolff will give to the JPA tomorrow. The project would reportedly involve up to 90 acres of industrial land between 66th Avenue and High Street, and will be pitched as one requiring no up-front investment of public funds from a community still reeling [...]

In an editorial, the Trib implores Wolff to publicize the ballpark plans and stop teasing everyone with little details: If Wolff has something specific in mind, this would be a good time to throw out the old trial balloon. The A’s are the hottest team in baseball right now and could be in first place [...]