Welcome to the HOMES e-newsletter!  HOMES is a grassroots citizen’s group dedicated to preserving Alameda’s character at the Alameda Point redevelopment site.  We believe that by offering a variety of homes in lively mixed-use neighborhoods, Alameda Point will offer the historic feel, cultural richness and economic vitality that make Alameda such a wonderful place to live.

 

October 2005

 

  1. Alameda Point PDC to be adopted at December 7th ARRA meeting – Please attend!
  2. The League of Women Voters and The Alameda Ministerial Association present 2nd forum on Alameda Point on November 16th.
  3. HOMES Notes
  4. Historical Perspective

 

Alameda Point PDC to be adopted at December 7th ARRA meeting

Turnout is encouraged for the December 7th ARRA meeting at 7:00 in the Council Chambers, 3rd floor, City Hall.  At the October 5th ARRA meeting, a draft PDC (Preliminary Development Concept) was presented and input received from Council members as well as citizens.  The PDC was presented as a Measure A compliant plan with an indication that citizens have requested that they want to see what the development could be without the restrictions of Measure A.

 

This concept is still in draft form.  At the request of the Council a final version will be presented on December 7th.  We need your help in attending and lending support to the advantages of a non-compliant plan.  Specifically, let’s let the Council know that we should achieve the optimum development possible for Alameda.

 

League of Women Voters/Alameda Ministerial Association Forum on Alameda Point

On November 16th at 7:00 pm, the League of Women Voters and The Alameda Ministerial Association present “Alameda Point, Part II.”  This forum will talk about:

·        Historic Preservation:  What can/should be saved?

·        Housing:  Affordability – are any groups excluded?

·        EIR (Environmental Impact Report):  How will we be impacted by this project?  Toxic clean-up issue.

·        Transportation:  Are there creative ways to manage increased traffic?

·        Financial Trade-Offs:  What are the tax consequences and tax revenue opportunities?

 

“Alameda Point, Part I” occurred September 29th.  At that forum, the topics included the new transportation plans and an overview of the status of the negotiation with the Navy and the Developer.  The discussion of the topics was lively.

 

The November 16th forum will be held in the Parish Hall of Christ Episcopal Church, 1700 Santa Clara Ave.  For more information, call 523-1235.

 

HOMES Notes

Members of HOMES have been getting together with members of several other organizations representing transportation, housing, real estate, and environmental groups and discussing ways to make optimum development at Alameda Point a reality.  Together, we’re discussing how to ensure that Alameda Point include a variety of housing types, usable open space, effective public transportation and viable neighborhood retail while at the same time preserving the character of historic Alameda, such as echoing the historic “stations” that provided clusters of housing around retail with neighborhood transportation stations.  By no means do we want to see density that is not “seamlessly integrated” with the Main Island, nor do we want to see the Main Island suffer from excessive traffic impact. 

 

Historical Perspective

In perusing Imelda Merlin’s 1977 book, Alameda:  A Geographical History, one can’t help but notice the surnames of many families from early in Alameda’s history that are still prominent today in Alameda:  Ratto, Parodi, Peralta.  Clearly, many Alameda families have been here for generations.  And while today’s world has changed drastically and people are more mobile and less likely to settle where they were raised, wouldn’t it be nice if that remained an option for today’s Alameda families who have come to love living here. 

 

With today’s rising real estate market, our children are less likely than ever to be able to continue to call Alameda home.  With a single family “starter” home costing close to three-quarters of a million dollars, young people are priced out of Alameda.  But with a little more variety in terms of housing types at Alameda Point – for-rent apartments,  for-sale condos and town homes along with single family homes, maybe our children will be able to continue the tradition of settling in the town in which they were raised.

 

 

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Please feel free to pass this e-newsletter along.  To subscribe or unsubscribe, email:  homesalameda@comcast.net

 

Tax-deductible contributions are needed to fund HOMES educational efforts!  Make checks payable to:

HOMES

816 Grand St.

Alameda, CA  94501

 

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HOMES Steering Committee:

Helen Sause, Chair – 510-521-3940; helensause@alamedanet.net

Doug Linney, Strategic Advisor, The Next Generation

 

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