Reso 2001-021 RDA 2001-003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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1928 r••..+" ~ .n; ~~~ .li ^. u ~~ ~ } ,. _~ r ' i 1 i~ " . ~`~ San Leandro continued to grow and prosper in the early part of the twen- tieth century. The Key Rail, a light rail transit system connecting Berkeley and Oakland, arrived on E. 14th Street in downtown San Leandro in 1928. Established rail lines, as well as a growing automobile network, made it easier to transport people and goods between the east bay cities and down to San Jose. Bridges across the bay still had not been built -travel to the peninsula relied on ferry service or long trips around the south bay. San Leandro's industrial activity grew significantly. The Caterpillar Tractor Company, located on Davis Street, developed and successfully marketed their tractors first to farmers in the San Joaquin Valley, and eventually through- out the world. The portal of the original Caterpillar factor still stands today on Davis Street. With the overall economic growth and development, the downtown con- tinued to densify, providing housing and services to a steadily growing popu- lation. By 1940 the population of San Leandro was 14,000. Portugese immi- gration continued to concentrate in San Leandro, drawn by opportunities in agriculture and land. By 1930, the majority of residents living between San Leandro and San Jose were descendants of immigrants from the Azores Is- lands or Portugal. The leftover wedge created when the city was originally laid out was developed into a plaza by the 1930's. Punctuated with palm trees and edged by a low wall, the turf filled plaza represents the first effort at defining this space at the heart of San Leandro. San Leandro Downtown Plan & Urban Design Guidelines October2000 page 29 Portal of Caterpillar Tractor Company