Oakland

Oakland Restaurant Owner Worried About Warehouse Next Door

A restaurant owner in Oakland spoke out during a community meeting Wednesday about the warehouse next door to her business, saying it has similarities to the burned warehouse known as the Ghost Ship where 36 people died in a fire.

Dorothy King owns Everett and Jones restaurant, and she's concerned that if a fire breaks out in the white warehouse next door, lives could be lost.

The building on Second Street, near Jack London Square, is known as the Salt Lick. King says she felt compelled to speak up about what she's seen at the neighboring warehouse.

"I know for a fact there is only one way in and one way out," she said.

King said she often sees long lines of young people waiting to get into the warehouse for events. But tenants at the warehouse said they believe their building is safe. They said there is more than one way out, and the building also has a fire escape.

"There are two walkways in and windows opening to roofs below next door," warehouse tenant Sam Lefebvre said.

Tenants accused King of mounting a witch hunt to evict artists from spaces. But King said she supports the artist community and used to live in a warehouse herself. She just wants to make sure the space is safe.

Oakland City Councilman Noel Gallo, who represents the Fruitvale district also was at the conference. He wants the city to pressure property owners to make sure their buildings are safe.

Contact Us