In Friday’s Journal article, the Chamber’s Lorre Zuppan says that if the initiative fails, SunCal “can be creative and make something happen.” Maybe we should take a look at just how creative the plan to revitalize Alameda Point actually is.
The Alameda Point Revitalization Initiative addresses a complex array of issues. SunCal spent over two years and several million dollars doing geotechnical, historical and economic analyses as well as holding dozens of community meetings to come up with a plan that fulfills the community goals, incorporates the City’s General Plan principles and that is financially viable.
World-renowned architect and urban planner Peter Calthorpe was secured as the project designer. Calthorpe specializes in designing environmentally sustainable, walkable, people-oriented neighborhoods.
The December 19th Draft Redevelopment Plan clearly illustrates the expertise and creativity that went into this design. Take a look at the principles that guided the development on page 17. The sustainability strategies begin on page 123 - Alameda has the very real opportunity to establish a world model for a cutting edge environmentally sustainable design!
Check out the executive summary on transportation solutions on page 98, then look at the myriad of strategies proposed on page 102. Page 115 shows when phasing of the mitigations occurs and how that supports transit-oriented development.
The many geotechnical challenges that had to be evaluated before coming up with a viable plan are daunting. Sea rise, issues of soil stability, and flood plain considerations are all challenges to the design principles that the community established for Alameda Point. You can find those on pages 6 – 11.
So many complex details went into the historic preservation and adaptive reuse strategies, which were developed by Phil Tagami, who led Oakland’s Rotunda Building and Fox Theatre’s restoration project.
We encourage you to educate yourself. Take a look at what all went into this complex plan. Review the potential this new neighborhood has to contribute to the City’s vitality and economic strength. It’s not just creative; it’s good for Alameda.
