Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

Last Friday, the Oak Knoll Naval Hospital, also known as the Naval Hospital Oakland, was demolished through implosion.  The hospital, located in the east hills of Oakland, was first built in July of 1942, during World War II to provide medical care and treatment to all American military personnel who were being injured in the Pacific.  Prior to the U.S. government taking over, the 220-acre property was a golf course and country club. 

When Oak Knolls was first commissioned, it started as 25 wooden barracks.  In 1945, with the hospital handling more than 6,000 patients, over 100 new buildings were constructed.  The Naval Hospital continued to serve both active and veteran Navy and military personnel who were injured in the course of duty and during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

In 1968, a new permanent hospital facility was completed after almost 3 years of construction.   The Hospital continued to serve all those within the military as well as their families until it was closed in 1996 as part of the 1993 U.S. Base Realignment and Closure Program.  Upon closure, the majority of the property was purchased by SunCal Oak Knoll, LLC, with the backing of Lehman Brothers Holding Inc. 

Demolition of the site began with plans to develop a 960 home development, shopping area and 50-acre park. This continued until Lehman Brothers abandoned the project mid-stream and filed for bankruptcy in November of 2008, leaving behind over a hundred buildings contaminated with toxins, such as lead and asbestos.

Asbestos was commonly added to thousands of construction materials prior to the mid 1980’s because of its heat, fire and erosion resistant properties.  Almost all buildings constructed prior to 1980, and especially at the time that the hospital base was being built, used asbestos containing materials. 

Hopefully, abatement of asbestos, as well as other well-known toxins, was removed prior to the implosion.  Videos show plumes of smoke and ash blowing in the wind.  If complete removal was not performed, toxic fibers could be carried in the dust and then easily inhaled or ingested by anyone within and around the vicinity.  If even one microscopic fiber is taken into the body, decades later it can develop into mesothelioma, an incurable cancer, or asbestosis, scarring of the lungs.

There would be a rather sad irony if the implosion were to lead to illness as military personnel and navy veterans are at highest risk of mesothelioma due to being exposed to asbestos on board ships and during duty. 

City officials hope that with the demolition of the decayed buildings and clearing of the site will lead to continued urban development as originally planned.