YOU’LL FIND WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR IN KONO!
The KONO District stands out as a distinctive and captivating neighborhood teeming with diverse communities. It serves as a hub for businesses catering to Korean-American, Somalian, and Eritrean populations, featuring an eclectic mix of mom-and-pop shops, traditional and modern restaurants and bars, and vibrant galleries. Notably, it is home to the Sutter Health Alta Bates-Summit Medical Center and new housing developments like Telegraph Arts, Town 29, and Forma, adding 482 residential units. The new Moxy Hotel, with 172 guest rooms and outdoor terrace space, offers convenient accommodations near Fox and Paramount Theaters. Established as an arts and entertainment district, KONO promises even more housing and businesses, ensuring a dynamic and thriving community.
We’ve recently updated the KONO Business Directory on our website. You’ll find what you’re looking for in KONO! Our directory showcases an array of local businesses, encouraging you to shop local and support the unique charm of our community. Please contact us for any changes or additions. Have an idea for a business you want to see in our district? Let us know!
STREET AMBASSADORS
KONO contracts with StreetPlus to provide a team of street ambassadors in the district . They work to keep the corridor clean of trash and graffiti, and engage with passersby to ensure a safe district. Our KONO Ambassadors are dedicated to removing blight and pressure washing large block faces throughout the district to ensure the district the side walks are clean. StreetPlus ambassadors are wearing safety gear and focusing on cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, engaging with the homeless community and keeping eye on the neighborhood. Pictured above is the Streetplus team: James H., Ramon H, Robert V, Bryon
Merchant Safety + Crime Experience Survey
The Merchant Safety + Crime Experience Survey, conducted in the fall of 2023, represents a pivotal step towards shedding light on the impact of criminal activity on Oakland businesses. The purpose of this survey was to gather data to conduct a comprehensive analysis, ensuring businesses' concerns are heard and addressed effectively. Click the button down below to review results + analysis.
KONO Camera Project: A Successful Tool in Fighting Crime
Within our KONO district, we've have implemented a network of various surveillance cameras, and the impact has been substantial. The installation of these cameras has proven to be incredibly beneficial in enhancing the overall safety and security of our community. Notably, these cameras played a crucial role in the successful identification and capture of two homicide suspects! The tangible results highlight the effectiveness of our commitment to utilizing advanced technology to ensure the well-being of our residents and visitors.
The success of the KONO Camera Project underscores the importance of the KONO Community Benefit District and the community-led initiatives in bolstering public safety. By harnessing the power of technology and collaboration between property owners, residents, businesses, and law enforcement, KONO has set a commendable example for other communities grappling with similar challenges.
As KONO continues to prioritize the safety and well-being of its businesses and residents, the expansion of more cameras in 2024 will serve as a beacon of hope, reaffirming the collective efforts to create a safer and more secure environment for all.
MONTHLY COMMUNITY ARTS FESTIVAL— Oakland First Fridays
Oakland First Fridays is Oakland's monthly celebration of arts, culture, food and community. It happens on the first Friday of the month on Telegraph Avenue from West Grand to 27th Street. It draws up to 30,000 people from Oakland and the surrounding area to celebrate our community. Over the years it has served as an incubator for many Oakland artists and small businesses, a driver of economic growth in KONO and the rest of downtown, as documented in this report on its economic impact, and a major factor in Oakland’s resurgence as an arts destination (evidenced by the fact that Oakland is the only North American destination in National Geographic’s Places to Visit 2019 cited for its culture).
Next First Friday Event: March 7, 2025
murals in KONO
After enduring years of tagging and graffiti cover-ups, the corner of 27th and Broadway was revitalized in 2022 with a striking new mural. Renowned artist John Horton took inspiration from Japanese graphic illustration, choosing the iconic American symbol, the Chevy Corvette, as a tribute to the historic Auto Row. This mural complements another one on the parking structure at 27th and Northgate, also complete in October of 2022, forming a captivating artistic landscape. The collaborative efforts of talented artists from 333Arts, including Jesse Hernandez (Urban Aztec), David Cho (Hyde), Vogue, and in partnership with Kaiser Permanente, have brought this project to life. The transformation is a testament to the vibrant and creative spirit of KONO.
before and After: 27th and NORTHGATE mural
litter receptacle mosaics
In 2018, KONO received a grant of $5,000 from the Fleishhacker Foundation to place mosaic art on litter containers in the district. Mosaics on the trash cans are a great way to beautify the district and the project has been a success in local areas such as Temescal, Montclair, and Old Oakland. Artist, Juan Lopez, has completed 5 litter containers. This artist has been working with tile for 25 years and is invested in community transformation especially with his work on trashcans. He often creates the mosaics with a nature scene and wildlife which is refreshing in a concrete, urban environment and symbolize an evolving neighborhood. As he says, “I’m turning a trashcan, which is normally an eyesore into something beautiful for everyone…I’m transforming trash into treasure.” Beautifying the trashcans elevates the artistic presence of the neighborhood and fosters pride in the district. They are representative of KONO’s renaissance and emergence of the arts, culture and environmental consciousness. Contact us if you would like to sponsor a mosaic art can (510) 343-5439. KONO is looking to add more mosaic receptacles in 2024/2025.
Utility Box Art Project
In 2012, KONO commissioned 14 different artists to paint art on utility boxes around the district. See interviews with the artists in this video produced by Laney College Digital Media Club. Go on a self-guided tour of the Art Boxes with our neighborhood map. A big thanks to all the artists: Fulani Carter, Eddie Colla, Jack Eastgate, Stevan Guiterrez, Lisa Hoffman, Dave Young Kim & Stephanie Leung, Joanne Ludwig, Pancho Peskador, David Polka,Lynne-Rachel Altman, Momoko Sudo, Ashia Tymous, and Desi Wome. KONO will soon invite the artists back to refresh the utility art boxes.
BEAUTIFYING KONO
In 2011, KONO planted over 100 trees using the City of Oakland Redevelopment Funds and partnering with Sierra Club. Recently, KONO introduced a cardboard recycle Go Green project which is transforming our tree wells from weeds to beautiful gorilla hair.
