Action Alert: 589 New Homes Up For Approval In Alameda December 19!
Tuesday, December 19th, the Alameda City Council will consider a proposal to build 589 new homes as part of the “Encinal Terminals” project in north-central Alameda. If approved, the project would be the largest single addition of new homes in Alameda in over a decade. Of the 589 proposed homes, 79 would be deed-restricted affordable housing. The project would also involve payment of $1 million into Alameda’s first-time homebuyer fund, create over three acres of waterfront public parks, and add a segment to the cross-Alameda bike trail. The project is located at a currently-unused site across the estuary from Oakland’s Brooklyn Basin project, so no residents or businesses would be displaced by construction.
Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, the project faces opposition from people claiming to be concerned about parking and traffic effects and the ‘visual impact’ of adding mid-rise buildings to Alameda. The opposition is organized and is already threatening to sue if the Alameda City Council approves the project. There will likely be a significant opposition turnout at the hearing, and there is a risk the Council will blink and either stop the project or push for a reduction in the number of homes.
Because of the organized opposition, we need people who support the project to show up at the hearing and tell the Council why more homes are critically needed and the project should go forward, and provide support to other speakers. Everyone is welcome to attend, but people living in Alameda are particularly important.
The meeting is on the 3rd floor of Alameda City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue, Alameda, and starts at 7:00 pm. Several EBFE’ers will be there with stickers and/or other goodies. More information on the project can be found at http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/12/14/my-word-alameda-has-moral-legal-obligation-to-approve-encinal-terminals-project/ and https://alamedaca.gov/sites/default/files/document-files/department-files/Planning/2017-06-19_encinal_terminals_feir_reduced.pdf.