ACCOMPLISHMENTS

DIA Accomplishments

Dimond Branch Library

In the 1980s, the DIA worked with the City of Oakland to move the Dimond Library to a new site with improved facilities, a larger space to house the library collection, and a community meeting place. The Dimond Library is now an extremely busy branch library and provides educational and fellowship programs for all age groups, also hosting community meetings and events in the large meeting room. The Dimond Branch Library celebrated its 100th year Anniversary in 2015. Website: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/dimond-branch.

Closure of Hillcrest Motel

In 2003, a group of DIA members and neighbors were able to work together in closing the Hillcrest Motel. The DIA partnered with Boston Avenue neighbors, the Oakland Police Department, our Oakland City Council members and other supporters to shut down a motel that had become a mecca for drug traffickers and prostitutes. In 2004, the motel was leveled and a senior housing facility, Lincoln Court, was built at the former Hillcrest Motel site. The DIA continues to work with the directors and residents of Lincoln Court to include these seniors in Dimond activities.

Dimond Public Safety Council / 22X NCPC

The DIA formed the Dimond Public Safety Council incorporating the Oakland Police Department Beat 22X into a neighborhood crime prevention council. After a number of years of working with the City, this council became its own organization encompassing several surrounding neighborhoods. It is now the Neighborhood Council 22X (NC22X). Both the DIA and NC22X work to address crime issues in the Dimond District including burglaries, robberies, aggressive panhandling, and quality of life issues. Website: http://ncpc22x.org.

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Fruitvale Alive Project & Champion Transit Plaza

Between 2004 and 2013, the DIA worked with the City of Oakland and Alameda County to create a pedestrian and bike friendly corridor starting in the Dimond District and continuing south along Fruitvale Avenue. The Dimond District is an Alameda County transit hub providing accessible means of travel for residents and visitors. The Fruitvale Alive Project was completed in 2013 with the dedication of the Champion Transit Plaza, a dramatic transit structure that now stands in the middle of the Dimond District surrounded by a garden area maintained by DIA volunteers.

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Dimond Gateway Garden & Beautification in Dimond

DIA volunteers created a mini-park at the major intersection at MacArthur Blvd and Lincoln Avenue, supported by both the DIA and Dimond merchants. This is known as the Dimond Gateway Garden. The land is owned by the City of Oakland, but maintained by community members. In addition, DIA volunteers have established and continue to maintain many planted pots and flower containers on various corners and sidewalks in the Dimond District.

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Economic Development

From 2002 to 2013 the DIA has surveyed residents, built relationships with commercial property owners, and has actively encouraged businesses and merchants to establish their businesses in the Dimond District. As a result, Farmer Joe’s, a major family-owned market; La Farine Bakery; Peet’s Coffee & Tea; Paws & Claws; and, additional coffee spots, a variety of restaurants, a copy shop, and a purveyor of handmade ice cream have energized the neighborhood. With the opening of Oaklandish in 2013, there is hope with combined effort between the leadership of the DIA and the merchants, more businesses will choose to locate in the Dimond District. The Dimond’s economic development is an ongoing focus of the DIA. If you are a DIA member and would like to help the Dimond’s economic growth, you can do so by joining the DIA board and serving on the Economic Development Committee.

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Public Art

The DIA fosters and encourages Public Art and is supportive of many local artists. The Dimond is home to several large public murals depicting its history, diverse cultures, and vibrancy; and, a mural featuring the diverse cultures in Dimond. In addition, there is an exhibit created by children “Stars of Dimond”; a photographic exhibit featuring residents and local scenes; directional sidewalk mosaics; and, mosaics on several of the City utility structures. DIA–A Nonprofit, continues to work with local artists to bring more Public Art to Dimond.

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District Maintenance

DIA’s Keep Dimond Clean (KDC) program came to exist when the City of Oakland could no longer provide maintenance beyond garbage can pick-up and street sweeping. KDC was organized in 2009 as a volunteer-driven project to remove litter, graffiti, cigarette butts, and debris. Some 30 volunteers pick up about 12,000 pounds of sidewalk litter each year. Volunteers also remove graffiti from signs, posts, newspaper stands, utility boxes, etc. Starting in 2012, DIA and the Dimond Business & Professional Association (DB&PA) pooled resources to hire a paid crew to remove litter and debris five days a week, supplementing the volunteer teams on Saturdays and Wednesdays. In 2019, graffiti removal from public infrastructure and storm drain clearing were added to the paid services. Since 2012, an annual fundraiser has raised about one-third of the paid-crew cost from residents and merchant contributions. DIA believes that a clean commercial district is key to economic vitality, livability, and safety.

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