Stop, Drop and Roll

22 April 2008 | Alameda Community, Alameda Community Development Forum, Measure A | John Knox White

I can see for miles…

Starting last October, the Alameda Point Vision (APV) started collecting feedback from Alameda residents on what they would like to see built at Alameda Point. Clearly the process for redesigning and redeveloping Alameda Point is a long one, it’s already been 10 years and we still don’t have a plan! The Alameda Point Vision used two surveys to ask people both what is important to them in considering development at Alameda Point and then what types of buildings and land-uses are acceptable based on their vision. Toggether, the surveys collected over 450 responses which have been collected and posted at the Alameda Point Vision website.

These 450+ responses were then used to create a consensus vision statement which is now posted and signatures of support are being gathered from the site. (no muss, no fuss).

You may remember, if you watched the Measure A discussion, that one of the public speakers referred to living next to the three-story apartment building pictured on page six as “hell.” Apparently, there are many people who feel otherwise as 73% support the idea of including such structures. (People were asked to respond to the size and uses, not the architectural flourishes).

The overall goal of the APV is to help facilitate a community dialogue around what our community wants created. The development process for the Point has three, often competing, pressures: The City, whose number one interest is mostly in generating revenue to fill it’s depleted coffers (though to be fair this is not the only focus, but as push comes to shove, it’s a biggie), the developer, who is looking to maximize profits, and the community, who may have completely “other” interests.

The APV is just one more way for people to add their voice to the process and to help those interested in sustainable development, community design and economic growth to come together in an easy way and lend their voices to the important civic processes that lay before us. The APV has been created from the voices of hundreds of people, more than have attended SunCal’s processes.

The last SunCal meeting (in December) 50% of the room was full of people who had never been involved in the Alameda Point planning process. Clearly, there many Alamedans who are interested in these issues, but busy lifestyles, etc. have kept them from getting involved.

Check out the Vision Statement, and if you agree, sign your name to it.