rEbuild the bay

Our Concerns

Inefficient Land Use

Unsafe Streets

Unequal Investments

Sprawling, low-density planning leads to isolation, disconnection, and limited access to services.

Dangerous intersections and damaged roads put pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers at risk.

Historically disadvantaged neighborhoods continue to face underfunded infrastructure and limited opportunities.

Situated at the heart of California's East Bay, the Tri-City Area (Fremont, Newark, and Union City) facilitates global innovation in Silicon Valley. At the same time, the Bay Area's population is set to increase from 8 to over 10 million by 2050, placing unprecedented stress on the decades-old road and transit infrastructure still used today.

National Revitalization of Shopping Centers Act of 2025

With lagging post-pandemic foot traffic, more than 3,000 abandoned strip malls take up large footprints in urban zones nationwide, limiting economic activity and decreasing surrounding property valuations. Our proposal authorizes grants to local jursdictions for the purpose of facilitating grayfield mall redevelopment into transit-oriented, mixed-use affordable housing; it promotes municipal deregulation via ministerial review and funds local fee and tax abatements for developers.

Greyfield Malls to Affordable Housing

Abandoned Strip Center

Greyfield shopping center at Fremont, CA

Affordable Housing

Rebuild the Bay case study and proposal

BEFORE

AFTER

Our Outreach

Rebuild the Bay relies on the input and advice of nonprofit organizations, public officials, and elected representatives to further our youth-led urban development advocacy programs.

50+

30+

Cities reached

Public entites reached

United Nations Submissions

Special Rapporteur on the contemporary forms of racism

Call for Input: Questionnaire on Conflict and Racial Discrimination for 80th session of the General Assembly on conflict and racial discrimination

Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing

Call for Input: Questionnaire on Land and the Right to Adequate Housing for the October 2025 Report to the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Rebuild the Bay authors submissions for United Nations bodies pertaining to Bay Area urban development concerns.

The Latest

Activities, meetings and important milestones for Rebuild the Bay.

July 20, 2024

Rebuild the Bay is founded in Fremont, CA by Cham Yu and Gautham Ramkumar.

Mission Blvd./Dalgo Rd. Intersection Improvement is proposed.

August 2, 2024

September 7, 2024

Director Cham Yu successfully lobbies the Vice Mayor of Fremont for a traffic investigation.

March 8, 2025

Congressional Strip Mall Revitalization Bill initiative begins development.

Director Cham Yu attends the United Nations Economic and Social Council Youth Forum.

April 15-17, 2025

April 18, 2025

Rebuild the Bay organizes international research partnerships in Kenya, Nigeria, and India.

June 7, 2025

Director Cham Yu and Deputy Director Gautham Ramkumar speaks at Rep. Ro Khanna's town hall.

Deputy Directors Gautham Ramkumar and Sihan Zhang conduct meeting with Santa Clara County Supervisor Betty Duong.

June 20, 2025

August 11, 2025

Rebuild the Bay begins cooperation with Strong Towns, and begins planning for local concept initiatives.

October 29, 2025

Director Cham Yu meets with California State Senator Scott Wiener on behalf of Rebuild the Bay.

Rebuild the Bay conducts meeting with Mountan View City Councilmember Allison Hicks.

November 11, 2025

Director Cham Yu meets with San Francisco Mayor London Breed on behalf of Rebuild the Bay.

August 31, 2024

March 27, 2025

Director Cham Yu solicits bill proposal advice from CA Treasurer Fiona Ma.

Director Cham Yu conduct meeting with Congressman Mullin's Executive Assistant Marta Richenburg.

November 21, 2025

November 21, 2025

Director Cham Yu and Deputy Director Gautham Ramkumar conduct meeting with Berkeley's District 2 Council Member Terry Taplin

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