Oakland A's plan for Howard Terminal ballpark takes leap forward

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - The City of Oakland released a draft of the Environmental Impact Report for the Athletics proposed waterfront ballpark. 

The 35,000-seat stadium would be built at Howard Terminal located in the city's entertainment district of Jack London Square. 

According to documents, the project includes 540 residential units, about 400 hotel rooms, and 250,000 square feet of commercial office space.

The team released a video that offers glimpse through renderings of what the complex could eventually resemble.

Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf said the ballpark is what the city needs.

In a tweet, Schaaf said the stadium provides Oakland with, "an opportunity to expand our entertainment district near JLS, increase housing, provide good jobs, and keep our beloved waterfront working. #LetsGoOakland."

The project would demolish all current buildings at the site except four shipping container cranes. 

A coalition group opposing the project said that the environmental review will show that the team should remain at the Coliseum.

"Our coalition of labor, community, and business groups who are significantly impacted by the Oakland A’s proposed project at Howard Terminal will be doing a thorough analysis of this draft report," said Mike Jacob, an executive with Pacific Merchant Shipping Associates and East Oakland Stadium Alliance. "We know that Oakland's working waterfront is no place for a stadium, office, and luxury condominium complex, and this environmental review must ultimately shine a bright light on the many significant adverse impacts of building the proposed stadium complex at this location."

The EIR is just one of many steps needed to get final approval for the stadium site. 

The planning and building department is set to hold an informational workshop on March 6 to further discuss the report and community feedback.