UBA Lets the City Know about Seismic Issues of the Proposed Project
For all these reasons, we believe that the plans for elderly housing in such high-rise structures at this site need to be seriously reconsidered.
UBA's top priority
Save Rockridge's Trader Joe's
Two towers, 306 and 276 feet tall, are proposed for the Trader Joe's site at 5727 College Avenue. Here's everything in one place.
Save Rockridge's Trader Joe's
Sign the petition →Albertsons (the parent company of Safeway) and Align Real Estate want to replace the Rockridge Trader Joe’s at 5727 College Avenue with two market-rate senior living towers, 306 and 276 feet tall (26 and 23 stories), on a block where the rest of Rockridge is single-family homes and two- to four-story apartment buildings. The proposal contains no affordable units. A revised application filed on August 19, 2026 sets aside about 12,940 sq. ft. of grocery space, but names no grocer and makes no commitment that Trader Joe’s will return.
This is UBA’s top priority right now. Below you’ll find the project fact sheet, every update we’ve published, the documents behind the proposal, and the ways you can help.
The proposal at a glance
- Status
- Formal application submitted 8/19/2026 (Planning No. ZW2601986); SB 330 vesting preliminary application ZP260014 submitted 4/22/2026
- Location
- 5727 College Avenue (the current Trader Joe's site)
- Developer
- Align Real Estate / Albertsons (Rockridge Property Owners, LLC)
- Height
- 306 ft (26 stories) and 276 ft (23 stories), atop a 40-ft base building
- Units
- 372 units total (senior living / continuing care)
- Affordable
- None (no dedicated affordable units)
Updates
News about the Two Towers
Formula for calculating maximum Two Towers height
How is the maximum allowable height calculated for the 2 proposed towers on the Trader Joe's property (at 5727 College Ave) according to recent legislation such as SB 79, SB 130 and SB 330? Albertsons/Align dba Rockridge Property Owners, LLC submitted a SB 330 vesting preliminary application.
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Photos of the large number of attendees at the July 13 District 1 Community Town Hall at St Augustine's Church
The District One Community Town Hall regarding the proposal to build 2 towers on 5727 College Ave (present site of Trader Joe's) was very well attended. Many neighbors commented about this project.
Fight The Two Terrible Towers and Save Rockridge's Trader Joe’s - Sign the change.org petition
Albertsons (the parent company of Safeway) plans to develop two huge market rate residential senior living towers at the tiny Trader Joe’s site in the Rockridge neighborhood of Oakland. No affordable units are planned, and the developer says they will kick out the very popular Trader Joe’s grocery store currently on the site.
Documents & resources
- California Senate Bill 330 overview
On April 20,2026 Albertsons/Align aka Rockridge Property Owners, LLC submitted a VESTING PRELIMINARY APPLICATION (SENATE BILL 330 HOUSING CRISIS ACT OF 2019) to the City of Oakland. The link is to California Legislative website page for Senate Bill 330. SB 330 was authored by State Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). This info below pertaining to SB330 was compiled by MS Copilot: SB 330 is California’s Housing Crisis Act of 2019, designed to streamline housing development, limit local restrictions, and increase housing supply statewide. Overview California Senate Bill 330 (SB 330), signed into law on October 9, 2019, and effective January 1, 2020, addresses the state’s housing shortage by reducing regulatory barriers and expediting housing approvals. It is part of the state’s broader effort to create 3.5 million new housing units by 2025 under Governor Gavin Newsom’s housing agenda The law applies to residential projects, mixed-use developments with at least two-thirds of square footage dedicated to housing, and transitional or supportive housing projects Key Provisions 1. Limits on Local Regulations SB 330 prohibits cities and counties from enacting new ordinances or policies that would reduce the number of housing units allowed, impose downzoning, or establish moratoriums on housing construction Local agencies cannot apply new rules that would delay or restrict housing projects beyond what was in effect when a preliminary application was submitted 2. Streamlined Application Process Developers submit a preliminary application with required information, including public easements and site details. Once submitted, the local agency must adhere to a checklist of applicable ordinances and cannot request additional information not listed. Developers have 180 days to submit a full development application, and agencies must review completeness within 30 days for smaller projects or 60 days for larger projects 3. Tenant Protections SB 330 includes provisions to protect existing tenants, requiring resettlement benefits or first right of refusal for displaced renters, or compensation for rehousing This ensures that housing development does not unfairly displace current residents. 4. Approval Deadlines and Enforcement Local agencies must approve or disapprove projects within specified timelines. If deadlines are missed, applications may be deemed complete, and courts can compel compliance or direct approval. Fines for noncompliance can be $10,000 per housing unit, with funds directed to local housing trust funds 5. Duration and Extensions Originally set to facilitate housing development through 2025, SB 330’s provisions have been extended by subsequent legislation (SB 8) to remain in effect until 2030 .
- Formal Application for Trader Joe's Site (August 2026)
The City of Oakland's public planning record for the formal application at 5727 College Ave (Trader Joe's Site), Planning No. ZW2601986, filed by Align Real Estate on August 19, 2026. The City's own description of the record confirms a 372-unit Senior Living facility. Open the "Record Info" tab and choose "Attachments" to read the cover letter and drawings.
- Formula for calculating maximum Two Towers height
How is the maximum allowable height calculated for the 2 proposed towers at 5727 College Ave (Trader Joe's site)? (Albertsons/Align dba Rockridge Property Owners submitted a SB 330 vesting preliminary application). The multiplier is applied to the unit allowance, and the unit allowance comes from the lot's square footage, not from the height limit. Height is downstream: if a height limit would block the units a developer is entitled to, State density bonus law lets them waive it. The planning code stipulates 1 unit per 200 sq. ft. as the maximum density for the TJ’s zoning, CN-2. Therefore, 67,201 sq. ft. divided by 200 = 336 regular dwelling units for this site. Adding in the 20% density bonus, 1.2 x 336 = 404 regular dwelling units for this site. They are proposing 415 units. It seems likely that the other 11 units are efficiency dwelling units such as the memory care units, which have a different multiplier.
- Preliminary Application for Trader Joe's Site
Vesting Preliminary Application (City of Oakland Senate Bill 330 Housing Crisis Act of 2019) for 5727 College Ave (Trader Joe's Site) submitted by Rockridge Property Owner, LLC on April 20, 2026.7 pages
- Yes High Rises are Bad for Low-to-mid-rise Neighborhoods
How you can help
- Sign the change.org petition and share it with your neighbors.
- Join our email list so you hear about hearings and community meetings in time to attend.
- Write to your District 1 Councilmember, Zac Unger, and to Oakland Planning staff, then speak at Planning Commission and City Council meetings.
- Questions, photos, or information to share? Email us at UBAOakland@gmail.com.