Reversed from the first

Earlier this week the City of Alameda sent out a Press Release and Community Advisory about the vote on Alameda Point. And almost as soon as it went out another email went out asking that the media type folks that received it try to incorporate the revisions that would be sent out later that day. Well, the revised press release didn’t get sent out until the next day and so I thought, for funsies, I would compare the two press releases to see what was so important that a revised version be sent out even though the first press release seemed to cover what should be covered.

A side by side:

The first major change is switching the language from just talking about the super boring sounding DDA and DA Agreements and instead styling it as a partnership with the developer and name dropping the developer name.

June 22 Press Release	June 24 Press Release
In an historic vote on June 16, the City Council unanimously approved a set of documents, including a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) and Development Agreement (DA), for the development of the 68-acre portion of Alameda’s former Naval Air Station known as Site A.	In an historic vote on June 16, the City Council unanimously approved moving forward in partnership with Alameda resident and developer Joe Ernst, of SRMErnst Development Partners to develop a 68-acre portion of Alameda’s former Naval Air Station known as “Site A.”

Pretty much the same, just got shifted into different places:

June 22 Press Release	June 24 Press Release
This decision gives the green light to begin the first major development at Alameda Point since the closure of the base in 1997. There was overwhelming community support for the project, with many speakers, including State Assembly member Robert Bonta, three former mayors of Alameda, and five members of the Alameda Planning Board, urging the City Council to move the development forward.	The Council’s decision gives the green light to begin the first major development at Alameda Point since the closure of the Base in 1997. There was overwhelming community support for the project, with many speakers, including State Assembly member Robert Bonta, three former mayors of Alameda, and five members of the Alameda Planning Board, urging the City Council to move the development forward.

This section had some removals and additions that speaks to what I guess were the revised priorities. Removed from the June 22 was the section about how the project was going to address the need for affordable and market rate housing. Added was a section indicating that Alameda was going to provide less overall housing because of the North Housing unit swap. Also removed but kind of incorporated into Elizabeth Warmerdam’s quote was about providing needed infrastructure for existing businesses.

June 22 Press Release	June 24 Press Release
The DDA opens up 600,000 square feet of commercial space for development, which will create an estimated 1,472 permanent jobs. The DDA also contains a $2.5 million commitment to rehabilitate and lease an existing 100,000 square foot building for flex office, light industrial, and specialty manufacturing uses during Phase 1 of the project. With 800 units of mixed-income housing, including 200 affordable units	The project opens up 600,000 square feet of commercial space for development, which will create an estimated 1,472 permanent jobs. It contains a $2.5 million commitment to rehabilitate and lease an existing 100,000 square foot building for flex office, light industrial, and specialty manufacturing uses during Phase 1 of the project. The project also includes 800 units of mixed-income housing, including 200 below market rate units.
, the development addresses the City’s need for rental and affordable housing units.	Removed from June 24 Press Release
Did not exist in June 22 Press Release	In order to address the community’s concerns about traffic as a result of new housing, that same night the Council reduced the number of allowable housing units at the former Coast Guard Housing Site, also known as North Housing, by approximately the same number of units.
By improving current infrastructure and drawing businesses and visitors, the development will be a catalyst for future business investment and attraction at Alameda Point.	Removed from June 24 Press Release, kind of incorporated into Elizabeth Warmerdam quote.

Exactly identical.

June 22 Press Release	June 24 Press Release
Alameda Point’s Site A — By the Numbers 68 Acre mixed use development site 600,000 Square feet of commercial space 1,472 Permanent commercial jobs $400 million In construction work 2,570 Direct construction jobs 800 Residential units (25% affordable) 15 Acres of parks and open space	Alameda Point’s Site A — By the Numbers 68 Acre mixed use development site 600,000 Square feet of commercial space 1,472 Permanent commercial jobs $400 million In construction work 2,570 Direct construction jobs 800 Residential units (25% affordable) 15 Acres of parks and open space
According to Interim City Manager, Elizabeth Warmerdam, “This first phase of redevelopment will transform Alameda Point from an underutilized military base into a vibrant mixed-use Transit Oriented Development. It will be enormously helpful in rebuilding the infrastructure at the base at no cost to the City. The City Council acted unanimously in this unprecedented decision. They should be proud of the legacy they will leave the entire Alameda community.“	According to Interim City Manager, Elizabeth Warmerdam, “This first phase of redevelopment will transform Alameda Point from an underutilized former military base into a vibrant mixed-use Transit Oriented Development. It will be enormously helpful in rebuilding the infrastructure at the base at no cost to the City and will support the existing business at Alameda Point who have faithfully invested in our community and patiently waited for much needed upgrades. The City Council acted unanimously in this unprecedented decision. They should be proud of the legacy they will leave the entire Alameda community.”

This following section is probably the most significant change which is the addition of an extensive quote by Trish Spencer where none existed in the June 22 Press Release. Which is such a departure from the quote she offered to KQED post election regarding Alameda Point when she said:

Regarding the base, she said, “I had many Alamedans say, you know, ‘We have a gift that we’ve just been given, and let’s create something our children will have as a treasure. And housing and retail is not that.’ ”

When it appeared that she was going to nix any Alameda Point plan that involved housing and/or retail.

June 22 Press Release

June 24 Press Release

Did not exist in June 22 Press Release

Mayor Trish Spencer added, “I believe that the community’s involvement was essential in shaping this project. Mr. Ernst and the Alameda Point Partners team’s responsiveness to the community’s questions and concerns was critical. There’s much more work to be done as the project unfolds. I look forward to and trust that we have a strong partnership to best serve Alamedans needs which will restore former NAS Alameda to once again be an integral part of our community.”

The rest is pretty much the same and it appears that even the photos are the same too.

June 22 Press Release

June 24 Press Release

Site A is the first phase of the larger 878-acre Alameda Point development on the site of the former NAS Alameda, slated for a total of 1,425 housing units, 5.5 million square feet of commercial, a new ferry terminal, and over 300 acres of open space. To stay current on Site A and Alameda Point in general, visit alamedaca.gov/alameda-point, follow us on Twitter, and like Alameda Point on Facebook. To be added to the Alameda Point informational mailing list, email your request to alamedapoint@alamedaca.gov.

Site A is the first phase of the larger 878-acre Alameda Point development on the site of the former NAS Alameda, slated for a total of 1,425 housing units, 5.5 million square feet of commercial, a new ferry terminal, and over 300 acres of open space. To stay current on Site A and Alameda Point in general, visit alamedaca.gov/alameda-point, follow us on Twitter, and like Alameda Point on Facebook. To be added to the Alameda Point informational mailing list, email your request to alamedapoint@alamedaca.gov.