The Uptown Downtown Oakland Community Benefit Districts (CBDs), formed in 2008, are committed to revitalizing Oakland’s historic downtown by maintaining cleanliness and order in the public rights-of-way, promoting district identity, building community, promoting business attraction, fostering cultural opportunities, and creating and maintaining new public spaces as well as advocating on behalf of the district stakeholders.
The Uptown Downtown Oakland Community Benefit Districts (CBDs), formed in 2008, are committed to revitalizing Oakland’s historic downtown by maintaining cleanliness and order in the public rights-of-way, promoting district identity, building community, promoting business attraction, fostering cultural opportunities, and creating and maintaining new public spaces as well as advocating on behalf of the district stakeholders.
Our work is anchored in a set of core values that guide every program and partnership. These values reflect the spirit of Oakland and the aspirations of our stakeholders:
Enhance and support Oakland’s diversity and charm
Celebrate Oakland’s specific history and legacy of multiculturalism
Facilitate economic
development and
community building
In 2008, local business owners, entrepreneurs, and property owners formed the Uptown Downtown Community Benefit Districts (CBDs), first of its kind in Oakland, to supplement municipal services and strengthen shared public spaces. In 2009, the Hospitality and Maintenance Ambassador Program launched—establishing a consistent, visible presence focused on cleanliness, safety, and stakeholder support across both districts.
Since then, the CBDs have expanded their impact through coordinated cleaning & safety services, public space activation, and direct engagement with businesses, residents, visitors, and community partners. Since renewed by voters in 2018 for another ten-year term, the CBDs continue to support the districts by strengthening daily operations, supporting economic development, activating public spaces, and helping to ensure that Uptown and Downtown remain welcoming well-managed neighborhoods.
In 2008, local business owners, entrepreneurs, and property owners formed the Uptown Downtown Community Benefit Districts (CBDs), first of its kind in Oakland, to supplement municipal services and strengthen shared public spaces. In 2009, the Hospitality and Maintenance Ambassador Program launched—establishing a consistent, visible presence focused on cleanliness, safety, and stakeholder support across both districts.
Since then, the CBDs have expanded their impact through coordinated cleaning & safety services, public space activation, and direct engagement with businesses, residents, visitors, and community partners. Since renewed by voters in 2018 for another ten-year term, the CBDs continue to support the districts by strengthening daily operations, supporting economic development, activating public spaces, and helping to ensure that Uptown and Downtown remain welcoming well-managed neighborhoods.
Downtown Oakland Association and
Lake Merritt-Uptown District
Association are officially formed
comprised of a combined
total of 57 blocks.
20
09
Opened our Administrative Office
and launched the Ambassador Program
with 14 full-time Security
& Maintenance Ambassadors.
Held Uptown Unveiled to announce the
establishment of the Uptown Arts and
Entertainment District to 12,000
attendees and widespread media
coverage.
Sponsored Art Murmur’s First Friday
Monthly Block Parties on 23rd Street
that transformed into the monthly
festival known as Oakland First Fridays.
Sponsored and launched The Great
Wall of Oakland on the side of 2201
Broadway. This project was developed
by Chris Curtis, a founding board
member.
Received approval from the City of
Oakland for the first ever Master
Encroachment Permit allowing
Business Districts to install public
improvements like planters, trash
cans, or furniture.
Hosted and produced Latham
Square’s Grand Re-Opening Party
and launched 3rd Thursdays at
Latham Square.
Opened The Lot at 1100 Broadway:
Downtown’s first popup park on the
corner of 11th and Broadway. Hosted dozens
of events including a concert by Oakland’s
Grammy Award winning artist Kehlani.
Executed numerous large scale mural
projects with public art partners including
Xio Zigler’s 10-story piece on the Cathedral
Building and Joshua Mays 7-story mural
located at 17th and Broadway.
District renewal approved for both
CBDs and combined district area
grew from 57 square blocks to 83
square blocks.
Launched AMP Oakland, a
curated busker program in
Downtown Oakland.
Built and created the 13th Street
Commons, radically reimagining a
public street as a community
gathering space.
Launched the award-winning Black
Joy Story Windows public art
project in partnership with Black Joy
Parade, Artists As First Responders
and Town Futurist Media.
Launched Pablo’s Alley concert
and vendor series in Frank
Ogawa Plaza in partnership
with Rubicon Point Partners.
20
23
Activated Frank Ogawa Plaza with large-scale events such as hosting Grammy Award Winning producer Black Coffee and Red Bull’s Dance Your Style Competition
Launched the Summer on the
Plaza event series.
Created the Muralists of
Oakland: From Street Art to
Public Art, a mini-documentary
series featuring 5 of Oakland’s
most talented muralists.
Assist in the launch of Northlake
District in Uptown Lake Merritt district.
Co-hosted the Celebration of Olympic
Gold Medalist Alysa Liu at Frank
Ogawa Plaza.
Securing our future through the
Second District Renewal so we
can continue to build on the
massive impact the Uptown
Downtown CBDs’ have had.
Stay tuned, much more great
things to come!
20
08
Downtown Oakland Association and Lake Merritt-Uptown District Association are officially formed comprised of a combined total of 57 blocks.
20
09
Opened our Administrative Office and launched the Ambassador Program with 14 full-time Security & Maintenance Ambassadors.
Held Uptown Unveiled to announce the establishment of the Uptown Arts and Entertainment District to 12,000 attendees and widespread media coverage.
Sponsored Art Murmur’s First Friday Monthly Block Parties on 23rd Street that transformed into the monthly festival known as Oakland First Fridays.
Sponsored and launched The Great Wall of Oakland on the side of 2201 Broadway. This project was developed by Chris Curtis, a founding board member.
20
11
Received approval from the City of Oakland for the first ever Master Encroachment Permit allowing Business Districts to install public improvements like planters, trash cans, or furniture.
Hosted and produced Latham Square’s Grand Re-Opening Party and launched 3rd Thursdays at Latham Square.
20
17
Opened The Lot at 1100 Broadway: Downtown’s first popup park on the corner of 11th and Broadway. Hosted dozens of events including a concert by Oakland’s Grammy Award winning artist Kehlani.
Executed numerous large scale mural projects with public art partners including Xio Zigler’s 10-story piece on the Cathedral Building and Joshua Mays 7-story mural located at 17th and Broadway.
District renewal approved for both CBDs and combined district area grew from 57 square blocks to 83 square blocks.
20
19
Launched AMP Oakland, a
curated busker program in
Downtown Oakland.
20
20
Built and created the 13th Street Commons, radically reimagining a public street as a community gathering space.
Launched the award-winning Black Joy Story Windows public art project in partnership with Black Joy Parade, Artists As First Responders and Town Futurist Media.
Launched Pablo’s Alley concert and vendor series in Frank Ogawa Plaza in partnership with Rubicon Point Partners.
Launched the award-winning Black Joy Story Windows public art project in partnership with Black Joy Parade, Artists As First Responders and Town Futurist Media.
Launched the Summer on the Plaza event series.
Created the Muralists of Oakland: From Street Art to Public Art, a mini-documentary series featuring 5 of Oakland’s most talented muralists.
Assist in the launch of Northlake District in Uptown Lake Merritt district.
Co-hosted the Celebration of Olympic Gold Medalist Alysa Liu at Frank Ogawa Plaza.
THE
FUTURE
Securing our future through the Second District Renewal so we can continue to build on the massive impact the Uptown Downtown CBDs’ have had.
Stay tuned, much more great things to come!
Behind every clean sidewalk and well-executed event is a team committed to the day-to-day work of supporting downtown Oakland. Our staff brings experience in operations, program management, communications, and stakeholder engagement, working together to deliver consistent service, stay organized, and keep the districts moving forward.
Our ambassadors are available to help with buddy escorts, litter removal, umbrella escorts, graffiti removal, power washing, or reporting a crime.
Call or Text (510) 898-8592