North Kennedy Tract

Like many neighborhoods in this area, much of North Kennedy Tract is filled with really old, worn-out looking homes. Older model cars with missing panels and bald tires are the staple of this neighborhood that hugs the western shoulder of the Union Pacific railroad. Many of lots in the neighborhood have been altogether abandoned.

On the southern end (and somewhat at the northern tip) of the neighborhood, however, businesses have moved in as part of the attempt to revitalize Oakland. There are now an Office Depot, a Boston Market, and a Lucky Supermarket—a definite improvement in a section of Oakland where sources for fresh produce are few and far between. In part, this is an attempt to piggyback on the nearby Fruitvale Village outdoor shopping area that people hope will help revitalize what might otherwise become a blighted area.

Unfortunately, the neighborhood is plagued by many of the problems of Oakland. The schools are a bit overwhelmed and underfunded and have difficulty dealing with a population of second language speakers.

Overall, this is not really an attractive neighborhood for most.