They did it, the Feds filed that condemnation claim against McKay Avenue as promised:
There’s more but it’s maps and legal descriptions etc. Lest you think the GSA is being coy about the “public purpose” for which they are staking claim on McKay Avenue, they are not, from the claim:
The public uses for which the property is to be taken are for the continuing operation of the federal building known as the “Alameda Federal Center,” located at 620 Central Avenue, Alameda, California, and other related purposes of the Government such as the sale of a portion of the property, and for such other uses as may be authorized by Acts of Congress or by Executive Order. [emphasis added]
I can’t imagine that the City of Alameda will be putting any money to fight this claim by the Feds, but EBRPD probably will, I’m not sure if the State of California is ready to invest their resources into a fight with the Feds over one strip of road. On one of the attachments the Fed valued the “interest” in the land at a whopping $10.
Blogging Bayport Alameda 
Property was the Property of the City of Alameda before it became annexed by the Federal gov just like the Naval air station was , it is time to put an end to that Russian style of invasion , they cannot claim it theirs when it was no to begin with .
Comment by john — April 22, 2014 @ 11:06 am
Who but the fed’s currently use that road? Do you want your tax $’s defending a non-winner of a lawsuit? Currently there are higher priorities in Alameda, and the State. They are both out of money. Personally, I would like to see the hospital close, a fire station close and let go of a couple of police officers…but that is unlikely to happen. A better use of our money would be to expand our colleges and universities. Fix the roads they already have. I still don’t understand why when they call for a ambulance a fire truck goes with them. Most places I lived besides the Bay Area that isn’t the case.
Comment by Joseph — April 22, 2014 @ 11:37 am
#2. My family uses that road to access Crab Cove, as do all the people who go there to walk, ride their bicycles, play at the beach, picnic, attend concerts, etc. Also, there are residents along that road. You say that Alameda and/or the State of California should “fix the roads they already have.” The road in question *is* a road that the State of California already has. That’s the point. The Feds are trying to take it from the State of California.
Comment by Sarah — April 22, 2014 @ 11:48 am
Joseph they always send a truck in medical emergency in California along with the Ambulances , the main reason is back up , there is no way 2 peoples can lift anyone injured safely on a stretcher . this aside having seen peoples cutting off ambulances with full sirens and light on , they do need something substantial to absorb the shock , nowhere it was more evident as an IDIOT ram into a City truck while they were working in the middle of the street right in front of my residence , yet they had cone the entire block , the driver had the guts to claim the cones were not there , the police officer pointed out to what was under his car , a cone officer but I did not put it there …….
Cutting off Police officers ? why? you want Alameda to become Oakland , Hey they still have good deal on houses , don’t even need to buy a bed as you will be sleeping on the floor as the bullets fly by , oh yes they have meters to count them LMAO, should you get in a non injury accident good luck Police never come , they barely record house burglaries .
Talking about expanding college and universities ? so they can milk a bit more the tax payers ? UC Berkeley ophtamologist {eye md } tuition was less than $500 30 years ago it is now in the $40 000 , can anyone justify the price increase meanwhile full office visit went from $40 to $150 using this metric the Students are being Gouge $ 38 500 Not my dream , the facts .
Comment by joel Rambaud — April 22, 2014 @ 12:03 pm
to tag onto Sarah, not only do they want to take it from the state of California. They want to do it to benefit a developer. I think the park users are a little more important than Tim Lewis Communities.
Comment by John P. — April 22, 2014 @ 12:07 pm
Why the Fire Department sends a fire truck in addition to an ambulance:
Comment by Lauren Do — April 22, 2014 @ 12:32 pm
I can’t comment on a case under litigation to which I am a party, as a resident of California. Contact my attorney Kamala Harris of Sacramento.
Comment by Richard Bangert — April 22, 2014 @ 1:50 pm
Hmm, interesting take given that you didn’t have the same stance when the EBRPD sued the City of Alameda to which you are a party as a resident of the City of Alameda.
Comment by Lauren Do — April 22, 2014 @ 2:05 pm
The Federal Government stands to benefit most from the resolution of this easement. The easement will give them clear title to the property they have enjoyed for many years.
Comment by Karen Bey — April 22, 2014 @ 4:27 pm
Karen, Tim Lewis communities stands to benefit the most from this resolution, it would mean that without spending any money the feds. would take care of them and the tax payers would foot the bill.
Comment by John P. — April 22, 2014 @ 4:33 pm
I thought a taking by eminent domain had to be a blighted area, and for the public good (not to benefit a private developer). This must not be so, or otherwise why would the Feds pull such a stunt? I heard that Lewis bid $3 million and EBRP bid 1.5 million for the property. The 1.5 million difference should be chump change to the Feds. It will cost that much to fight it. I wonder how deep the pockets are for CA, EBRP, and the Sierra Club?
Comment by Pat — April 22, 2014 @ 4:44 pm
But it’s the Federal Government who will be able to convey title to whomever it pleases for the full value of the property which is all they have wanted to do all along. Whether or not its Tim Lewis Communities or EBRP who acquires the land is a separate issue.
It’s the EBRP who is trying to acquire the federal land at a price below what the market will bear. Therefore I think that if the EBRP wants the property, they should be required to pay the full value of the land, plus the city’s legal costs — not the tax payers.
I think the EBRP has had ample opportunity to resolve this issue long before the Federal governement filed it’s law-suit, now its gotten out of hand.
Comment by Karen Bey — April 22, 2014 @ 5:04 pm
In this market where we’re seeing multiple offers – sometimes hundreds of thousands over asking, would you accept the lowest bidder because that’s all they can afford to pay?
Comment by Karen Bey — April 22, 2014 @ 5:16 pm
Karen, yes, if its EBRP (taxpayers)bidding against an for profit land developer. I feel the federal gov. (us) should be looking out for the highest and best use for the most people.
Comment by John P. — April 22, 2014 @ 7:45 pm
John, I respect your views. They are the views that many people share as it relates to this issue. I’m just not sure that’s the role of the GSA.
My point is that there are several competing interests that all believe they are entitled to this property (1) Federal Government who has enjoyed and maintained the property for many years (2) EBRP who has coveted the property and wants it to expand the park, and (3) the developer who is/was the highest bidder.
In my opinion they all have a legitimate right to the property – and no one is either right or wrong to pursue their own interests. My hope is that they find a solution that works for all parties. I see no reason why they can’t create a public private partnership and work towards a solution where everybody wins – the GSA gets market value for their land; the EBRP gets land to expand the park, the developer gets land to build housing; and (4) the tax payer doesn’t have to pay a dime.
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Comment by Mike McMahon (@MikeMcMahonAUSD) — July 5, 2014 @ 8:37 am