The flurry of new development activity currently underway at Alameda Point is something that hasn’t been seen since 2018 when work began on the Site A residential and commercial project. The vast majority of demolition taking place is for long-awaited housing projects. But two buildings were taken down simply because they were unsafe, unusable eyesores. And a parking lot is being repurposed for the Food Bank’s new store.
After a decade of city planning, Catellus Development Corporation and Brookfield Properties formed a partnership and entered into a development agreement with the city in July 2023 to build market-rate housing at its West Midway Project and to prepare adjacent land for the supportive housing project called RESHAP (Rebuilding Existing Supportive Housing at Alameda Point).
Here’s a rundown on the action.
West Midway Project
The West Midway Development Plan calls for the construction of approximately 478 market-rate housing units of three- and four-story condominium and townhome type buildings, 10,000 square feet of non-residential space, and a grid of internal streets, bikeways and alleys on 26 acres of city-owned land.
Before beginning this work, the developer had to address some unfinished business regarding gasoline leaks from the old commissary gas station. The Navy had conducted extensive cleanup activities at the site reducing the contamination substantially. But a few questions remained, and the Regional Water Quality Control Board was not yet ready to sign off on closing the books for this site. So, on May 31, 2023, the developer’s contractor Engeo submitted a work plan to the Water Board for testing the soil and groundwater. On March 15, 2024, the Water Board found no environmental concerns requiring further work and issued its letter closing the books, finally giving the green light for work to commence.
The developer is now clearing the site. The former commissary building has been demolished, and soon the commissary gas station building will also be demolished.
The project will be constructed in phases, anticipated to occur over the next eight years. “Construction activity will begin in the section bordered by Main Street, West Midway Avenue, West Tower Avenue, and Orion Street before expanding westward,” said Abby Thorne-Lyman, Director of Base Reuse and Economic Development.
RESHAP Project
The RESHAP project will be built on eight acres adjacent to the West Midway project. The project will provide 332 units of affordable housing, including replacement units for existing Alameda Point Collaborative residents, along with community spaces and supportive services for formerly homeless individuals, families, veterans, and survivors of domestic violence. It will be constructed by MidPen Housing.
The market-rate West Midway project is responsible for preparing the land for new construction. Projected costs for the infrastructure and the site preparation work is in excess of $20 million. Once completed, the city will convey the property to the collaborating partners for the RESHAP campus.
To date, structures and old utilities have been removed for the first phase of development. The former WAVES living quarters will demolished in a later phase. “The site is currently undergoing surcharge, a process in which residential-grade soil is placed on the property to stabilize the ground for future construction,” said Director Thorne-Lyman. “The RESHAP buildings will be constructed in a later phase of the project.”
In parallel with site preparation, infrastructure improvements are also underway along adjacent streets. This work includes road widening, the installation of new utilities, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, asphalt pavement, and landscaping. “These improvements are expected to continue through fall 2025,” added Director Thorne-Lyman. “Utility work specific to the RESHAP site will begin once MidPen Housing initiates its vertical construction phase.”
Food Bank store
Construction of the new Food Bank, across the street from its former leased space on West Ranger Ave., is nearing completion. When it opens, it will be an historic achievement for the volunteer organization.
Buildings 114 and 116 demolished
Two buildings in the center of Alameda Point were recently demolished, since they had become dilapidated and unusable. Building 114 once sat on the now-empty lot across the street from the General Storehouse on West Ranger Ave. Building 116, which sat on the adjacent block to the north, was demolished last month.
The city has no immediate plans to offer the lots for sale. “It’s not the best time to be selling land, as not many developers are starting new projects right now,” said Director Thorne-Lyman. “We will do some cost-benefit analysis and market research before we advance the land sale for the former Building 114 empty parcel and adjacent empty lot next to the Food Bank. I do hope to have more answers on potential land and building sales in this area by the fall.”
A look back at the beginning of mixed-use redevelopment in 2018 …
… and the progress to date.
Alameda Point Environmental Report 