This warehouse frightens me has me tied up in knots

Tonight at the Planning Board the Del Monte project is up on the agenda again — no vote tonight, it’s just a public workshop so don’t get mad if the Planning Board doesn’t vote against it, there’s no scheduled vote tonight — here are some highlights from the staff report with regard to open space.   One of the more substantive critiques of the project that I have heard is the lack of open space/park space for the site itself.   However it appears that the developer has agreed to commit $2 million to develop the Beltline parcel which is a huge source of funding for a project that had no identifiable funding source previously.  Total cost to construct the design is apparently in the neighborhood of $8 million.   Additionally, it appears that porches and patios will be constructed for the units and there is an addition of a shared rooftop garden which I hadn’t heard of before mentioned in connection to this project.

Regarding the Clement Street extension:

The project will construct the Clement Avenue extension from Atlantic Avenue to Entrance Road. The Marina Cove II project is constructing the Clement extension from Entrance Road to Marina Cove I. Marina Cove I has completed its segment from Marina Cove II to Pennzoil.  With the completion of this improvement, traffic to and from the site from the west (Posey Webster Tubes) will be able to access Atlantic Avenue directly and avoid Sherman Street. Once the extension is completed through the Pennzoil site, access from the east (Park Street Bridge) will be provided by Clement Avenue and allow the existing Buena Vista Avenue truck route, and much of the existing Buena Vista Avenue traffic, to be relocated to Clement Avenue, thus reducing traffic volumes on Sherman Street and Buena Vista Avenue.

Which means that residents on that site — and possibly the Marina Cove II project (Chipman site) as well as the original Marina Cove development folks) — could and probably should use Clement to access their units which should divert traffic from Buena Vista.  The only hang up to connecting Clement through to Grand after these two projects are complete will be access through the Pennzoil site.   Fun fact, when Marina Cove was built all those years ago one of the selling points was that the oil tanks were going to be taken down “soon.”   Fast forward to 10+ years and they’re still there.

Regarding the parking, even though folks are making a lot of noise about the lack of parking provided on site, there will be at least one space available to lease per unit, but in the unbundled model.   Which means that units can opt to not purchase a parking space if they do not have a car.   According to the staff report there will be a car sharing service (City Car Share would probably be the best because there is an existing presence in Alameda already) which generally goes hand in hand with unbundled parking developments.   The development will have three spaces dedicated to the car share program.

Residents of the development will also get free monthly AC Transit passes and access to a shuttle to BART and other Alameda commercial areas, according to the staff report this project will catalyze the Transportation Demand Management program by forming a “Transportation Management Association” to help manage these transportation options.   Interesting thing about the shuttle is that they will be free to use for residents of the TMA area (essentially anyone who will be paying that monthly surcharge fee) but there will be fireboxes so if other neighbors want to use it they can.   They are looking at a 20 minute headway express shuttle which could be really valuable.   I hope there is some coordination with the Estuary Crossing Shuttle so the service is not duplicative.

Also a bicycle “kitchen” where folks can repair their bikes as well as bike storage.

As an aside, I had heard that there was the intention to move the inclusionary units offsite, but am glad to read in the negative declaration that the units are supposed to be on-site.   I hope this doesn’t change.