Early post on the Planning Board meeting on Monday, just because there are a few things I wanted to dedicate a specific post on as opposed to one big PB meeting agenda dump. A day before presentation to the City Council the Planning Board will get the first look at the Phase Zero plans for Site A at Alameda. Phase Zero is all the temporary activities and events that will build excitement before the actual construction starts. There are some great things planned.
Here’s a map of where some the physical structures will be placed in the interim:
The timing on some of these projects:
- Urban Beer Garden, October 2015, Spring 2016
- Indoor Venue (pop up galleries, food and wine festivals), Early 2016
- Bike Playground, early Summer 2016
- Waterfront pop up, Summer 2016
Large scale public art will be erected in Spring 2016 and Landscaping will start going in the Summer of 2016.
Here are some of the scheduled events, I’m really looking forward to the Tinkering School because if it becomes a permanent fixture at Alameda Point that would be fantastic for Alameda:
Between the Tinkering School Academy and the Bike Playground, I’m really pleased with the Phase Zero offerings for the first year. Hopefully if physical additions like the Beer Garden and the Bike Playground are successful they can be incorporated into the actual project and not dispensed of once construction starts.
Blogging Bayport Alameda 
Looks fun. Lots to look forward to!
Comment by Karen Bey — September 10, 2015 @ 7:32 am
I’m hoping that urban park beer garden will be staffed by Faction Brewery.
Comment by John P. — September 10, 2015 @ 9:46 am
I’ll have to try some more of their stuff but I was not impressed with the Faction pale ale I had at Hobnob recently. I did go to new brew pub next to bakery across from Market Place and was really impressed. Can’t wait to go back. Since Faction is a tenant at the Point it makes sense for them to get the gig I suppose.
Comment by MI — September 10, 2015 @ 11:05 am
Mark, today would be a perfect time to come to the West End and try some really good beer, and a great view of S.F.
Comment by John P. — September 10, 2015 @ 11:47 am
On Friday and Saturday they usually have a food truck late in the day.
Comment by John P. — September 10, 2015 @ 11:48 am
If beer Prices had risen as Much as city of alameda Permit fees, you’d Pay Three thousand dollars per Pint of Faction ale. But incomes are Tied to the CPI.
Interesting times.
Comment by BC — September 10, 2015 @ 5:18 pm
I think we need a discussion about how the planning and building dept.’s are funded. I may be mistaken but I was always led to believe that they are revenue driven. Thus in a slow market they lay people off, in an aggressive market they hire to meet the needs. Please let’s deal in facts only.
Comment by John P. — September 10, 2015 @ 5:38 pm
I believe these departments are what are called ‘enterprise” in the gov’t trade. This means that they must charge fees, fines and charges enough to meet their operating costs, which include payroll and administrative overhead (share of space, utilities, personnel administration, risk management cost, city management staff, janitorial, computer, etc.). They are self funded and do not rely on the general fund for their upkeep.
At least for now they have stopped the prior practice of telling the patrons “If you want this permit approved in your lifetime it will cost you ($ some exorbitant amount). If you are willing to wait as long as it takes to get to the top of the pile it will cost you ($ a much lower amount.)” So the more affluent got things done fast and the poorer schmucks had to wait forever. I always thought that led to a lot of unpermitted work being done throughout the City. So some things are much improved and other things are still being complained about.
Comment by Kate Quick — September 10, 2015 @ 6:16 pm
4. I successfully cleaned the carburetor on my outboard even though it’s above my pay grade, and was able to go for unexpected sail in moderate wind out of Ballena Isle Marina. No better view of the bay and SF. Now enjoying room temp Redtail Ale at home, but next time I’ll remember Faction. Alameda living hasn’t been ruined quite yet.
Comment by MI — September 10, 2015 @ 6:18 pm
Kate that is total BS…..Planning and Building Departments were a great asset to the residents of this City.
They helped in every step of the way and would recommend who was best in doing a particular remodel and what exactly the flow was in making things happen. The Bureau Of Electricity was the same.
When they turned it into a Enterprise Fund is when sh_t hit fan.
Probably Jacking Fees and Permits hundreds to ten’s of thousands of percent is when unpermitted work started happening.
Most were just trying to keep their homes up and City went on witch hunt.
Prop 13 was to stop people from losing their houses to taxes. It was savior to most seniors in this town.
Fees and Permits have been on steroids since turning this into Enterprise Department and has driven up rentals and housing costs.
Comment by Cobalt Black Keys Johnson — September 10, 2015 @ 9:48 pm
Not sure what part is BS, CBKJ, but it is true that not too long ago it was the practice to ask people seeking permits if they wanted to pay a larger fee to “expedite”, letting them know that it might be a very long time before the permit was issued if the higher fee was not paid. There was a substantial difference in the amounts.
Of course unpermitted work has gone on here, and in many cities forever, but I was just stating a personal opinion that I was glad that practice changed since I believed that many who could not afford the higher fee just did the work with no permit. No criticism of the permit people, just the City policy that set the fees that way. Do you know the year the department became an enterprise fund? Maybe you could research the number of citations for unpermitted work before and after that year to make a fact based observation.
Comment by Kate Quick — September 11, 2015 @ 8:28 am