The Gap falls into Oakland's downtown, paving the way for other retailers to move in.(Brief Article)

When Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown addressed San Francisco's Commonwealth Club in January, he touched on a topic that has been uppermost in his mind since taking office: The importance of attracting retail to his city.

To be sure, Oakland is undergoing a radical transformation with more development flooding in than ever before, but a key component in creating a revitalized city remains stimulating a healthy retail environment. Retail is the glue that holds a city together attracting after-work shoppers, stimulating activity and generating tax dollars.

That is why Gap Inc.'s decision to locate a 10,000-square-foot store on the site of a long-vacated bank building …