Alameda Snapshot: Alameda Point Runway Light

I took this photo of a runway light out at Alameda Point a while back, but with all the talk and the release of the Alameda Point Master Plan I thought it was appropriate for this week. I should title the photo "Searching for safety at Alameda Point"

Have a good Friday and terrific weekend

New Year, New Plan for Alameda Point

Happy 2009 everyone and Welcome back to 94501 Real Estate!

Besides the weekly Alameda Real Estate inventory report, which shows inventory continuing to decline, I had a chance to take a look at the SunCal Draft Redevelopment Master Plan over the Holidays. Thanks to Lauren Do over at Blogging Bayport that outlined the report and provided some insight into the details.

For my purposes, I focused on page 40 the section titles Diverse Housing. The report reveals that the plan is to build 4,500 new housing units. This addition to the Alameda housing stock would rise to 36,301units or a 14% increase in total housing stock. Suncal expects to build the housing units in five phases and plans to have high density blocks (non-Measure A compliant), medium density blocks (non-Measure A compliant), low density attached blocks and single family residents blocks.

According to Census 2000’s 2007 ACS Update Alameda has:

Total Housing Units:       31,801

Owner-occupied:            14,561

Renter-Occupied            14,726

The high density blocks appear to be lining the corridor that is across the street from the hangers. The industrial buildings that are on Tower Avenue and Monarch Street are slated for work force housing, live work, tuck under and multi-family.

The medium density blocks of the project includes small and large townhomes plus work force housing, live work and tucks unders. For the low density the just add in duplexes and remove the tuck under. These units are in the old barracks and office quarters that are near the parade ground and surround City Hall Wst.

For any portion of the high, medium or low density parts of the project to move forward it would need voter approval, so a Measure A showdown appears to be on the horizon.

The plan outlines single family residences blocks to also including homes, duplexes and townhomes. Which is confusing because by definition it must be detached—The Census defines as: This is a 1-unit structure detached from any other house; that is, with open space on all four sides. Such structures are considered detached even if they have an adjoining shed or garage. A one-family house that contains a business is considered detached as long as the building has open space on all four sides. A duplex normally falls into this category, but townhomes share walls.

Phase 1 would be start near the Atlantic Avenue entrance go west to the Seaplane Lagoon and go North toward the Alameda Point Collaborative. The first phase has SFRs, low and medium density.

The City Council, Sitting as ARRA, will revue the plan at its next meeting. According to Save Our City website that meeting is January 7, 2009 at City Hall 7 PM. The City website does not list the meeting this week, and there is no agenda posted. I will keep you posted as soon as I find the correct information.

By the way the Save our City website has an anti-SunCal ad on their website http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SrsdbNj0k4. I will leave it to other websites to comment on the ad.

Best wishes for 2009. Here is the Alameda Real Estate Inventory Data . . .

Alameda Inventory Data

Data Pulled January 4, 2009, at 9:30 AM

Total Units                                 149

94501                                       116

94502                                       33

Single Family Residences          83

Condominiums                           38

Multi-Family                              28

Foreclosure                               13

Short Sale                                 20

Price Reductions                       51

Highest Price Listing                  $1,995,000

Lowest Listing                           $179,900

Two for the Planning Board

North Housing Parcel Map

The City of Alameda Planning Board will be taking up two Real Estate related topics at their 7 PM meeting tonight. The first item, the Community Reuse Plan for the North Housing Parcel is on the consent calendar and the issue of a second unit ordinance is on the regular agenda.

The North Housing item appears to be for the Planning Board to accept the recommended amendments to the NAS Alameda Community Reuse plan. After reading the documents the best information was a description of the current state of units in North Housing; which are in poor shape and have little functional use coupled with lead and asbestos issues. Basically it is being suggested that the entire North Housing Area be raze. North Housing is comprised of the vacant Navy Housing which is 282 units on 34 acres and Coast Guard Housing – Marina Village has 300 units on 26 acres.

This will be an increase of 153 housing units in the same space. See below for a breakdown of units:

Staff is recommending that the Proposed “New” North Housing Parcel

1.       Park 8 Acres – This is already open space and being used as a park.

2.       Market Rate Housing 21acres; 315 units

3.       Alameda Housing Authority 9 acres; 90 units

4.       Habitat for Humanity Housing 2 acres; 30 units

5.       Open Space 2 acres

Subtotal North Housing Parcel 42 acres 435 units

Coast Guard Housing “Marina Village” will stay, but the big giveaway that the city wants to bulldoze the current vacant buildings is on page 7 of the Draft Amendment where it is recommended to create a grid system for the streets. North Housing is currently a loops and circles with one entrance and exit on Singleton at Main. The new design has Singleton connect Main with a street to the East that looks like Webster, but is unlabeled. The other corridor is the new Mitchell Mosley street that will start at Main go by Rosenblum Cellars through the FISC property to Marina Village.

8-B. Reuse Plan Amendment Recommendation. Recommended amendments to the Community Reuse Plan for the North Housing Parcel. The North Housing Parcel is located north of Singleton Avenue. The site was declared surplus by the Navy in November 2007. The property is proposed to be conveyed for public and private uses. It is anticipated that the existing vacant housing may be demolished and new market rate and affordable housing, parks, open space, and civic uses may be constructed consistent with the City of Alameda General Plan. Continued from November 24, 2008. (DP/EC)   [ view item ]

  Attachment 1. Base Map   [ view item ]

  Attachment 2. Meeting Notes from November 3, 2008 Planning Board Workshop   [ view item ]

  Attachment 3. Draft Amendment to the NAS Alameda Community Reuse Plan   [ view item ]

The Second unit Ordinance is to comply with State law. The Board asked staff to modify the ordinance based on some concerns, but basically you can build a second unit if you meet the requirements for lot size, set backs and parking. The minimum lot size on which a second unit shall be allowed is 7,500 square feet and The parking space for the second unit shall function independently of other parking spaces on the site. A tandem parking space shall not count as meeting the required parking for the second unit. Very few lots will be able to meet the requirements.

 9-A. Second Unit Ordinance. Proposed amendment to the Alameda Municipal Code to allow attached or detached secondary housing units to be constructed on sites with a single-family dwelling. In compliance with State Secondary Housing Unit law, the proposed ordinance provides for the administrative review and approval of secondary units meeting the development standards contained in the code. Continued from November 24, 2008. (JB)   [ view item ]

Weekly Inventory Report -- Total Alameda Inventory

Data Pulled December 7, 2008 at 9:00 AM

Total Listings: 164

Single Family Residences: 91

Condominiums: 42

Multi-Family: 31

Short Sales: 21

Foreclosures: 13

Price Reductions: 65

Highest List Price: $1,995,000 – 4 Bedroom; 4 Bathroom; 3,876 Square Feet

Lowest List Price: $199,900 – 1 Bedroom; 1 Bathroom; 710 Square Feet; Foreclosure

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The Forgotten North

As I was planning my post, I had planned to write about NAS North housing this week, but Lauren Do over at Blogging Bayport wrote a very articulate post that conveys the current state of the project much better then I would be able to pen. I did decide to document the current state of the housing. Much of the area is barricaded off, but I believe I got enough footage to communicate its present state without trespassing.

This neighborhood is very important too me, because I lived in North Housing from 1977 to 1983. Kollman and Mayport Circles were my home, playground and social scene. During that time it was a thriving community. So, to see the streets empty, buildings falling into disrepair and work being performed to mitigate toxins in the ground becomes very tough to watch. It is my hope that this area is not forgotten and it can become a thriving community again.

On to the video . . .