I say no

This is a detriment to public health if another hamburger place is built. The same arguments of why this community did not want McDonald's applies to Fat Burger. We can wait a few more years for a better solution.

I say no

Fat Burger should not be allowed to open in the location where Kwik Way currently presides. As a resident and community member of the Lakeshore/Greater Mandana area, I can demonstratively state that I will be voting an emphatic "No" on this proposed measure for the following reasons:

1) The neighborhood will be seriously devalued if a Fat Burger chain is allowed to set up shop. First, fast food restaurants typically diminish the aesthetic beauty of the area they inhabit by leading to an increase in garbage, heavy car traffic, and patrons with little respect for the surrounding environment. Second, a Fat Burger chain is ill-suited to the target market of Lakeshore avenue. With businesses such as Arizmendi, Mezze, Lakeshore Produce, and Trader
Joes, our community has a diverse and sophisticated consumer marketplace that should be encouraged, not diluted by an unoriginal and junky fast food chain. Third, if Fat Burger is added to that block, there will be two major fast food chains within 200 yards of each other (KFC is the other). This is not the proper protocol to increase the value of a community.

2) "Lean burgers" notwithstanding, there is nothing healthy about fried hamburgers or deep fried potatoes. If Fat Burger wishes to avoid the moniker of a "fast food restaurant", that's fine, but we, the public, will not be fooled so easily. According Webster's dictionary, fast food is defined as "designed for ready availability,
use, or consumption and with little consideration given to quality or significance ". As the definition suggests, Fat Burger would not make
a significant contribution to the quality of our community.

3) Lakeshore is a community that is transitioning and as a residents, we have the ability to create the neighborhood and area that we would like to see. We have the unique opportunity to create a special community that represents the diverse composition of its community members. Fat Burger does not represent the diversity of anything –
black owned or not. Although most of my young black friends eat burgers, we also like a variety of other options that Fat Burger could not fulfill. Moreover, we already have a burger restaurant next to the Hallmark store that is locally run and operated.

In closing, voting against Fat Burger does not mean that you favor a four-star restaurant that caters to only rich people. The vacant space need not be filled with a super fancy establishment only patronized by a few, but it also shouldn't be filled with an establishment that offers very little to our community. We are not that desperate for businesses that we have to take the fist offer.

I say no

No, for all of the same reasons that McDonalds was rejected in 2004. This wolf in sheep's clothing will be a scar on our neighborhood for the next twenty years. There are too many smart people in Oakland to let this happen. Together, we have done great things. Let’s reject this proposal and work with the Hahns to develop a solution that improves the neighborhood, while meeting their legitimate financial expectations.

I say no

The block would be grossly improved if we could avoid another fast food restaurant. Not only does the Kwik Way and the Serenader create an abundance of litter, emissions from vehicles waiting to be served from the drive through, and sketchy characteres, we live in a community that already is challenged with obesity. Why would we want another fast food restaurant that serves "fat" burgers?

Let's work together to make the neighborhood more walkable. To do this, we need businesses that are interesting, buildings that are human scale, and sidewalks that are safe and clean.

I say no

I have no problem with a chain as long as the visual architecture fits in with the neighborhood. If they said they'd do a Fatburger with neighborhood-like visuals that would be fine, but like almost every other chain I suspect they're going to have big bright-colored plastic signage (all their other stores do, that I've seen). This is too important a spot, across from the farmer's market and with a lot of traffic. I consider a step DOWN from the run-down place there now.

I'm an Oakland voter in the 'hood who votes ... and who votes generally because of issues like these. I'll be watching ... and thanks for asking Pat.

-Brian

I say no

What makes you want to spend time in some parts of the city and not others? It's areas that have some sort of charm that attract people and therefore make local shops thrive. A Fatburger won't enhance the charm of this civic space at all. It will be just another soulless franchise. Come on, let's get something good here, let's cultivate our civic space.

I say no

My initial reaction is posted at the end. After reading others' arguments, I have revised my opinion/vote from a "maybe" to a "no."

I was most persuaded by the following observations made by others:

1. Putting in another drive-thru that will be used MUCH more than the current one, will make Lake Park even more pedestrian unfriendly (and I am one of those stroller pushing mommies who often uses Lake Park to get to the Post Office and shops on Grand).

2. People dining in a fast food restaurant are unikely to be those who live in and care about the neighborhood...so we will likely see a huge uptick in garbage and wrappers thrown around.

3. The traffic and potential back-up to get in and out of there will likely be ugly (like the traffic on Grand getting in to and out of the Ace parking lot on the weekends).

I, too, would like to see something more creative...though I do agree with some of the comments about avoiding something too "Disney" (like Bay Street). The idea of a sit down eatery sounds appealing. An excellent pizza restaurant would be nice. Many of the other ideas that others suggested were appealing as well.

We have a history now on Lakeshore of asking for and attracting businesses that we support (most recently Trader Joe's, but 10 years ago we wrote letters and ASKED Starbucks to come...). Perhaps we can achieve something by holding out a little longer.

Original comment:

It seems to be the lesser of a couple of evils, but I am concerned about traffic. We are already going to see an increase in traffic for Trader Joe's (which is good for the other businesses on Lakeshore and potentially a pain in the neck for those of us who live in the neighborhood)...so adding more traffic to the Fatburger may just be too much. I am not sure.

I say no

Please stop our neighborhood from being hijacked by tacky shops and fast food joints that cater to people who don't even live in our neighborhood.

Why can't the residents of our neighborhood have shops and restaurants that WE would actually use instead of having to drive to Emeryville or Rockridge?

We do have some wonderful shops and restaurants, like Mezze's, Arizmendi's, Lakeshore Deli Cafe, Urban Indigo, Juniper Tree, Michael Mischner's Chocolates (on Grand), but we have so many more tacky fast food restaurants and tasteless shops in our neighborhood. Who in our neighborhood actually needs 9 nail salons on Lakeshore and Grand, and who actually shops at Wigs and Braids and Dirt Cheap Discount Matresses (on Grand)? Let's take back our neighborhood!

The people that shop at the Farmer's Market across the street are not going to be the ones lining up at Fatburger.

A Fatburger would definitely increase traffic and mostly by people who don't live here. If there's going to be an increase in traffic, then let's at least make it worth it for our neighborhood!

I say no

This neighborhood does not need an unhealthy food outlet that creates litter everywhere and does not enhance the ambience that is so critical for community walking life, which in turn creates community safety. FATBURGER?! The name says it all.

Our neighborhood can do better.

Laurel Hulley

I say no

If we continue to allow more chain stores/restaurants in this beautiful and historic neighborhood, it will soon resemble nothing more than a strip mall.

I say no

Why attempt fitting something into a space with no practical contemporary use? If this space were an outhouse, we wouldn't say "let's make improvements to a 25% portion of the building which we're allowed to without permits". Would anyone consider approving an extensive overhaul to this severely outmoded structure (which is the restaurant equivalent of an outhouse)? Either put up a new structure or sell the land to someone who will. Why operate one of the grimiest, most embarrassing ventures I've ever seen and at a loss? A middle ground must exist between finding a tenant pathetic enough to occupy the Kwik Way building and last year's pipe dream of developing nearly every available horizontal and vertical inch of property for a mega storefront and condo complex (which I personally was enthusiastic about). While I appreciate the Hahn's sincere dialog, I feel confident a better solution will be found for everyone.

I say no

First, we don't need another fast-food business here. The argument that more jobs will be available to young people, even if true, is offset by the increased hazard of teenage obesity that such an establishment constitutes. The hamburgers may be leaner than is usual, but the soft drinks, fries, etc., that are eaten along with them do not promote good health. A professional football player should know this and should have more concern and respect for kids than to want to create a new hazard.

Kwik Way has operated its drive-in restaurant for a long time. It provides a service to people who have very little money for food. A plain hamburger, with only a tomato sauce for added flavoring, is very inexpensive; since there is no inside seating, no one is turned away. They used to sell milk shakes and the best apple pie (in small slices) you could want. I was told that the Health Department was dissatisfied with their kitchen arrangements and has banned the sale of shakes and pie. To me that indicates that any buyer would be likely to demolish the whole building and start over. If that's true, then why have a restaurant there at all? (For a really tasty broiled hamburger with all the trimmings -- all very fresh -- at a reasonable price, there's always Adam's Burgers on Lakeshore, another long-established business.)

But, supposing Kwik Way is eventually sold, why not convince the Bank of America to be a good corporate neighbor and give up its parking spaces so that a low-cost housing unit could be built on the property? I suppose some people think of Kwik Way as a blight because the building would look nicer with a new paint job, or maybe just because the business is an old-fashioned one. But the real blight in this area is trash from the bank's ATM machines. The trash bins provided (by whom I don't know) near the ATMs aren't used consistently, and apparently the bank doesn't think it has a responsibility to keep its premises trash free. Wind blows papers onto the sidewalk in front and into the parking area. That's what I call a real blight. By the way, I seldom if ever see trash from Kwik Way on the ground.

We've already lost several old neighborhood fixtures, such as a pharmacy and a variety store, to higher leases. It would be a pity to lose an old Oakland fixture like the Serenader, too. I've never had a drink there, but I've enjoyed hearing the jazz that floats out its doors. I disagree with people who think it's a good idea to rid the neighborhood of all its old businesses. They give character and individuality to a neighborhood. And I question whether a new business such as a nail shop improves things just because it can afford the higher rent.

Housing is a problem that won't go away, so if those who believe in modernization prevail, let's demand low-cost housing in an attractive building in return for the loss of tradition and individuality.

We will all have to compromise to some extent. For some families in the area, Trader Joe's will be an expensive place to buy groceries. But, although it was cheaper, Albertson's gave us little variety and used its Lakeshore store as a place to send inferior merchandise. By summer we should be able to buy healthful food at that spot, but it will cost more. Another fast-food business as a replacement for Kwik Way would increase prices without any offsetting benefit except perhaps in appearance.

Let's put more pressure on the Bank of America to help with the problem. Other merchants are beginning to recognize that philanthropy creates good will. Certainly the bank has the money for getting a useful project started by offering a low-interest loan as a public service. Let's encourage them to get a tax break by doing that. But if they continue to refuse to do their part in improving the area, then we should not allow them to profit from any change in the use of the Kwik Way property.

Let's also encourage the Hahn family to be patient for a little longer.

Terry Stauduhar
94610

I say no

Let's do something better. I would like to see LakePark turned into a pedestrian street, diverting traffic to Macarthur. Then let's really improve that street and put lots of lovely mixed used and retail spaces in that compliment the market, not oppose it! That would also connect Grand and Lakeshore in a sorely needed way. No Fatburger please. Let's try once again to do something with vision.

I say no

Of all the posts that I have read very few seem to realize that all though the public has the right to vocalize what they would like to see placed in their neighboorhood, the Hahn's also have a right to conduct business on their property.
I myself would like to see the Kwik-Way site cleaned up as I'm sure the Hahn's would (don't know them and can't speak for them, but according to the article on this site they're losing money). It is an eyesore and yes there are problems in the neighborhood, but why can't the site be leased to Fatburger under the long standing Oakland name of Kwik-Way?
Kwik-way has been part of the neighboorhood longer than some of it's residence. My parents went to Kwik way during high school as an after school hang-out. I myself have been going to Kwik-Way since I was a kid and I'm not fat as a result of Kwik-Way. So what's with all the fuss about having a burger joint on Lake Park? Is it because some feel it's their duty to watch out for other's health issues? Are we entering some sort of trans-fat prohibition to be followed by "fat-runners" instead of "rum-runners?" Will I be sneaking over the border to Nation's in Jack London to score my fix of grilled fat?
Do some have issues with the traffic? Traffic is there and will always be there and it will get worse as more people move to the neighborhood...Who has tried to drive on Lake Park on a Saturday morning while peds from the Farmer's market cross the street at their timing and pace...it's as bad as the intersection of Piedmont/40th/Monte Vista....I work saturday mornings and on the occcasion have had to go through the Lake Park neighborhood to get to the bank...it's worse than Kwik-Way's busiest night, not to mention the traffic from the Grand Lake or how about when the drainage issue was being resolved on Lake Shore? Or how about a busy night at Seranader? Lake Shore Traffic is just as bad and it's wider!
Some have called for a mixed use facility at the site. The previous developer found it not fessible to have anything less than a five story building....50 feet tall. What would happen to the site lines of the neighborhood? Would we be able to see the Grand Lake sign on weekends? And if the area was propsed as a mixed use site, wouldn't traffic only increase? Where would the parking come from for this type of proposal? Does anyone remember the loss of parking on Walker Avenue when the lot behind the now non-existent breeze way was closed up for housing not affordable to the general public?
Many of the arguments are valid, I don't want Fat Burger to move in to my neighborhood and I don't want Kwik-Way to leave either, but as I said before the Hahn's have a right to conduct business and Chester McGlockton has offered a solution that meets the needs of the community through jobs and cleanliness. By having a resturaunt that includes seating many issues may be resolved such as litter and loitering (two of my favorite L words)and it might help with the congestion in the neighborhood.
We as a community need to get behind our small business owners and support them to bring in businesses that we want. We don't need to be argumentative with people like the Hanh's telling them what they can and can't do. We should be working with them to ensure they bring a clean and Oakland friendly business to help our community.

I say no

Please, let's not turn our neighborhood into a strip mall. Fast food restaurants mean more traffic, more trash on the streets and sidewalks and a general decline in the overal quality of the Lakeshore/Grand Ave. neighborhood.

Carolyn & Larry French

I say no

I'd really like to see a restaurant with international flavors at this site.

How can we support a local restuaranteur to bid on this space and make something that fits with the nature of the neighborhood. Given the huge success of the Grand Lake Farmers Market, it's clear that the neighbors want high quality food.

I say no

I am in favor of "mixed use" development that would include: small retail; a moderately upscale dinning estabishment (excluding any type of "pick up" window); and housing (mix of low income (subsidised?) together with market rate.

I say no

The way in which Kernighan poses her question clearly indicates her bias towards what she consider to be an "improvement" (NOT) and Kernighan's lack of vision and can't do attitude, "wait-possibly many years.." Those of us who live in the Grandlake now all to well the close relationship Kernighan has with the Hahn family...the son was a devoted volunteer on her campaigns.

Are we to believe Kernighan doesn't have a clue as to how the neighborhood feels about a another fast food chain in the neighborhood? Doesn't she remember the outcry from the community at Lakeshore Baptist Church oppossing Mc'ds. Actually, she was M.I.A....possibly a conflict of her interest?

Q. What's the difference between Mcd's/Fatburger.
A. The name!

This community deserves better. In fact, all of our communities deserve better.

I say no

don't want increased traffic b/c there's no capacity to handle it plus the menu is unappealing and i wouldn't patronize it.

I say no

I endorse the other comments that there is already enough congestion, trash-generation and fast food establishments in the area. While the Kwik Way itself is a blight, I believe having a newer place which will likely stay open even later hours will just worsen an already unattractive situation. Thus, I vote for continuing with the devil we know until an acceptable proposition appears. The Lakeshore area has been on a definite upswing the last few years and it would be a pity to impede the momentum.