Gauging College Avenue's Economic Health

A recent visit by a Patch editor to Rockridge's commercial artery along College Avenue found at least seven empty storefronts between Broadway and Claremont, a stretch of about a dozen blocks.

We asked Chris Jackson, operations manager of the Rockridge District Association, for an assessment.

"We have a very, very low vacancy rate," Jackson said. "We've got three spaces that are officially vacant out of 135."

He said the three officially vacant spaces are those that are on the market, while the other vacancies are "in transition."

"We've got a very thriving neighborhood, with a popular place to live," he said.

Melissa Evans, who works at the Lesley Evers clothing and jewelry store that opened two months ago at College and Forest, was upbeat about the vibrancy of the area and its ability to attract business.

"In the two months that we've been open, we've been doing phenomenal," Evans told Patch. "We knew locals would step in, but I'm surprised by how many people outside of Oakland come to the shop."

We'd like to know what our readers think about the economic health of College Avenue. You can tell us in the comments.