Oakland real estate developer announces plan for data center in downtown
A real estate developer, Colin Bering, has announced plans to convert a former supercomputer building in downtown Oakland into a data or AI technology center. The proposal, which leverages the building's 20-megawatt power capacity, has raised concerns among some residents about its impact on the community. Bering's venture, Stack, aims to expand the tech ecosystem in Oakland, a city also attracting other tech giants like Amazon.
Real estate developer Colin Bering has unveiled plans to transform a vacant building at Franklin and 20th Street in downtown Oakland into an AI technology or data center. The building, which previously housed a supercomputer for the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory with a 20-megawatt power capacity, was purchased last year by Bering's company. Bering, whose firm also developed the adjacent 38-story luxury apartment building with a high-tech workspace called Stack, stated that the legacy power capacity presents a strategic advantage for expanding Stack's ecosystem and deepening ties to the venture and technology communities.
The announcement has elicited a mixed reaction from the community. Some residents express apprehension about the idea of an AI center, with one individual noting, "If I saw AI up there, I'd probably be scared." Another resident, De La Grande, voiced concerns that a data center would primarily benefit wealthy individuals and not address the city's human problems, such as homelessness. She suggested the property could be put to a more humanitarian use.
Oakland is increasingly seen as a hub for applying AI and robotics in practice, distinguishing itself from San Francisco and San Jose's focus on the cyber world. Bering's Stack model envisions the city as a place for the development and manufacturing of robotics and autonomous vehicles. This trend is underscored by Amazon's Jeff Bezos recently leasing space in another Oakland building for "Project Prometheus," also focused on similar technological advancements. However, for residents like "America," the rapid development raises concerns about human life and livelihood being overlooked.