Dozens of older residents at Oakland Station say life inside their East Oakland affordable housing complex has gone from senior living to daily struggle, with roaches, trash, broken elevators and unrepaired flood damage all part of the routine. Frustrated by what they describe as long-standing security gaps and stalled maintenance, tenants have begun organizing to pressure both the landlord and the city to intervene.
Tenants describe infestation and hazards
Residents and on-site photos show live and dead roaches, flickering fluorescent lights over stained carpets, wires dangling from ceiling holes, and what tenants say are piles of garbage and even feces in carpeted hallways, according to NBC Bay Area. Tenant Linda Wade told the outlet that roaches “race down the hallway,” while resident Isabelle Ruiz held up a jar of dead roaches to show how widespread the infestation is. Tenants also report loose floor panels that have caused injuries, broken heaters and elevators that sometimes fail to work at all.
Ownership, management and marketing
Oakland Station opened in 2021 as an affordable community for residents 62 and older and appears in housing directories as a senior property managed by ConAm. The development’s leasing materials bill the building as a luxury community in Oakland’s most desirable area, and local listings likewise identify ConAm as the property manager. The Oakland Station Senior website and an affordable housing listing provide contact and leasing information.
Inspections and earlier safety actions
The building already has a paper trail of safety concerns. In April 2024, the Oakland Fire Department ordered a 24/7 fire watch after a small fire triggered the sprinkler system, and state inspectors, as well as Cal/OSHA, identified issues with elevator testing and other hazards, KTVU reported. The city’s Code Enforcement division is responsible for investigating housing complaints, issuing notices of violation and conducting follow-up inspections when problems continue, according to the City of Oakland. Residents can request inspections, and the city can seek warrants to enter properties when needed.
Residents organize and press the city for action
Roughly three dozen residents, many over 62, have organized with the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment to push the landlord to make repairs and to demand that city officials enforce housing codes, NBC Bay Area reports. According to that report, Oakland code enforcement staff opened investigations and returned in May with notices of violation for pest-related issues. Valarie Bachelor, identified by local outlets as ACCE’s Oakland director, has been helping residents organize and urging city leaders to follow through; the San Francisco Chronicle has previously highlighted Bachelor’s role with the group.
Legal implications
Under Oakland’s enforcement rules, property owners must correct confirmed substandard conditions within specific timeframes, and the city can issue administrative citations, impose civil penalties or pursue abatement actions if problems are not fixed. The municipal code lays out inspection, abatement and reporting requirements and gives the Building Official authority to mandate repairs and penalties when necessary.
Tenants say they plan to keep organizing and pushing elected officials until the building is made safe. For now, they remain skeptical of assurances and are watching closely for follow-up inspections from the city and lasting repairs from the landlord.
