Oakland Council to Discuss Selling Convention Centers

The Oakland City Council will discuss this afternoon a proposal by city staff, concerning the possible sale of city-owned properties to help close a projected $19 million budget deficit. Staff has suggested such a sale might include the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, along Lake Merritt, and the George P. Scotlan Convention Center, in downtown Oakland. As reported by the Chron, city staffers estimate that the centers could generate $11.6 million in one-time revenues, although they acknowledge that selling the properties in the current real estate market could be difficult.