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.
Continue reading “Burst of new development activity underway at Alameda Point”Tag: affordable
Affordable housing construction begins by unearthing history
Heavy equipment arrived in early November at the corner of Lakehurst Circle and Mosley Avenue, two blocks away from Target, to begin construction of the first block of North Housing, a planned 12-acre affordable housing site owned by the City of Alameda Housing Authority.
The massive 10.5-foot-thick concrete base of the building, though dramatic in scale and ready for earthquakes and groundwater rise, is only part of the story. The excavation and exposure of 13 feet of soil layers is a reminder, both figuratively and literally, of the 200 years of social, political, and geographical events that directly influenced what is happening here today.
This article highlights the history:
- The days when the whole area was marshland;
- Industrialization that brought pollution;
- Filling in the marshland;
- Navy ownership; and
- National priorities and a social movement that laid the groundwork for today’s affordable housing plans.
Housing Policies Perpetuate Inequality
State-mandated housing policies will never end the monumental deficit of affordable housing. The private market cannot end the deficit either. Only a dramatic shift in federal and state funding policies for affordable housing will bring relief.
North Housing – A Case In Point
The “North Housing” site near Alameda Landing owned by the Alameda Housing Authority is a case in point. This project, which aims to build 586 all-affordable units, is ready to build but lacks the necessary funds.
Continue reading “Housing Policies Perpetuate Inequality”Transportation agency calls for more housing in Alameda
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) issued a new regional planning document on August 30, 2016, suggesting the amount of housing needed in Alameda to meet state goals. MTC is requesting input from local jurisdictions.
Alameda City Planner Andrew Thomas slammed the commission’s recommendations as being woefully out of touch with Alameda’s existing land uses and its limited regional transit connections.
MTC’s forecast calls for adding roughly 10,000 new homes in Alameda by 2040, with the majority to be added in existing neighborhoods, outside of so-called Priority Development Areas (PDAs) like Alameda Point and the Northern Waterfront. This could only be accomplished if a host of improbable and unrealistic events were to occur, according to Thomas. Continue reading “Transportation agency calls for more housing in Alameda”
Alameda Point Environmental Report 