Sierra Club weighs in on East Housing
(now known as Bayport)
Susan Fuller, Alameda Journal, Dec. 25, 1998
Following presentations by Vice Mayor Tony Daysog and
members of Renewed HOPE Housing Advocates, the
Sierra Club's Northern Alameda County Group
unanimously approved a resolution asking for more
information and public input on the proposed demolition
of East Housing.
The Sierra Club is concerned about urban sprawl, and
consequent impacts on transportation, air quality and
wildlife habitat, as well as lack of affordable housing in
the East Bay. That a majority of the material in landfill is
construction debris also concerns the club.
The approved resolution "supports Renewed Hope
Housing Advocates in their request that any
environmental review include a study of an alternative for
the restoration and adaptive reuse of the buildings at
East Housing."
It also "supports Renewed Hope in their effort to involve
the public in a discussion on the future of East Housing."
The club asked for a comprehensive environmental
review of redevelopment alternatives for the former base,
including East Housing."
East Housing, a 500-plus unit complex of former military
housing, is located along the north side of Atlantic
Avenue between College of Alameda and Main Street.
The 58-acre property has been fenced during the
two-year-long debate over the future of the townhouses
and apartments.
In February, the city accepted an exclusive negotiation
agreement with Catellus Development Corporation for
redevelopment of the adjoining Fleet Industrial Supply
Center. The Catellus proposal, unsolicited, incorporated
development of East Housing property.
The San Francisco-based developer maintained that
linking the two sites would create a square-shaped area
that would be more conducive to building a community.
In July, the city modified the ENA to include East Housing.
Long-time Sierra Club member and Alamedan Carl
Anderson brought to the committee meeting the city's
2-year-old housing feasibility study, which showed that,
in Anderson's words, "East Housing is excellent
housing, and easily rehabilitated into $150,000 for-sale
units."
"We have a public investment of $59 million (in the
construction of East Housing. By demolishing it,) we
essentially lose $59 million of good will," said Patrick
Lynch of Renewed Hope.
Taking a "social justice perspective on environmental
issues," Lynch said, "Low-income housing is
concentrated in West Alameda largely because of the
polluting industry of the base. Once pollution is
removed, the area becomes to good for people who have
lived there."
Several committee members were concerned about
"suburban-style development," a term that Anderson took
credit for coining, ut was not clearly defined.
Daysog disputed the assertion that the development of
the FISC and East Houing would be "suburban-style."
The proposal is "transportation-oriented development,
built to the person, not to the car," in Daysog's
perspective.
(now known as Bayport)
Susan Fuller, Alameda Journal, Dec. 25, 1998
Following presentations by Vice Mayor Tony Daysog and
members of Renewed HOPE Housing Advocates, the
Sierra Club's Northern Alameda County Group
unanimously approved a resolution asking for more
information and public input on the proposed demolition
of East Housing.
The Sierra Club is concerned about urban sprawl, and
consequent impacts on transportation, air quality and
wildlife habitat, as well as lack of affordable housing in
the East Bay. That a majority of the material in landfill is
construction debris also concerns the club.
The approved resolution "supports Renewed Hope
Housing Advocates in their request that any
environmental review include a study of an alternative for
the restoration and adaptive reuse of the buildings at
East Housing."
It also "supports Renewed Hope in their effort to involve
the public in a discussion on the future of East Housing."
The club asked for a comprehensive environmental
review of redevelopment alternatives for the former base,
including East Housing."
East Housing, a 500-plus unit complex of former military
housing, is located along the north side of Atlantic
Avenue between College of Alameda and Main Street.
The 58-acre property has been fenced during the
two-year-long debate over the future of the townhouses
and apartments.
In February, the city accepted an exclusive negotiation
agreement with Catellus Development Corporation for
redevelopment of the adjoining Fleet Industrial Supply
Center. The Catellus proposal, unsolicited, incorporated
development of East Housing property.
The San Francisco-based developer maintained that
linking the two sites would create a square-shaped area
that would be more conducive to building a community.
In July, the city modified the ENA to include East Housing.
Long-time Sierra Club member and Alamedan Carl
Anderson brought to the committee meeting the city's
2-year-old housing feasibility study, which showed that,
in Anderson's words, "East Housing is excellent
housing, and easily rehabilitated into $150,000 for-sale
units."
"We have a public investment of $59 million (in the
construction of East Housing. By demolishing it,) we
essentially lose $59 million of good will," said Patrick
Lynch of Renewed Hope.
Taking a "social justice perspective on environmental
issues," Lynch said, "Low-income housing is
concentrated in West Alameda largely because of the
polluting industry of the base. Once pollution is
removed, the area becomes to good for people who have
lived there."
Several committee members were concerned about
"suburban-style development," a term that Anderson took
credit for coining, ut was not clearly defined.
Daysog disputed the assertion that the development of
the FISC and East Houing would be "suburban-style."
The proposal is "transportation-oriented development,
built to the person, not to the car," in Daysog's
perspective.
Daysog also emphasized that the city and Catellus
are still negotiating, and that the neighborhood look
and house price range have not been determined.
"For revitalization of that part of town, this
(middle-class to high-end housing) is the kind of
development we need," Daysog said. "You can't just
snap your finger and get boutiques as in Rockrige"
(where the Sierra Club committee meeting was
held).
"Gentrification is happening. High technology
companies are bidding up rents," Daysog said.
Lynette Lee of the east bay Asian Loca Develoment
Corporation talked of her organization's experience
in the development of affordable housing. She
believes that the East Housing units are very
liveable with cosmetic rehabilitation costing $8,000
or less. By way of contrast, she said their
experience is that newly built affordable housing
sells for $150,000 to $200,000.
Lee said, however, that the East Housing units are
built to lower federal building standards, not local
codes.
"East Housing is a wonderful resource that cannot
be replaced," Lee said. "It is in good condition, built
for large families. It can serve a multitude of
families."
The concern that long-term tenants are being forced
out of Alameda by rapidly rising rents arose several
times during the meeting, but was set aside by the
group because the issue is not strictly
environmental.
Renewed Hope is an Alameda organization that
grew out of the realization among parishioners at St.
Barnabus Catholic Church of the impact of rising
rents on their neighborhors. The name is a revival
of Houseing Opportunities Provided Equally, a
fairhousing advocacy organization in the 1970s.
are still negotiating, and that the neighborhood look
and house price range have not been determined.
"For revitalization of that part of town, this
(middle-class to high-end housing) is the kind of
development we need," Daysog said. "You can't just
snap your finger and get boutiques as in Rockrige"
(where the Sierra Club committee meeting was
held).
"Gentrification is happening. High technology
companies are bidding up rents," Daysog said.
Lynette Lee of the east bay Asian Loca Develoment
Corporation talked of her organization's experience
in the development of affordable housing. She
believes that the East Housing units are very
liveable with cosmetic rehabilitation costing $8,000
or less. By way of contrast, she said their
experience is that newly built affordable housing
sells for $150,000 to $200,000.
Lee said, however, that the East Housing units are
built to lower federal building standards, not local
codes.
"East Housing is a wonderful resource that cannot
be replaced," Lee said. "It is in good condition, built
for large families. It can serve a multitude of
families."
The concern that long-term tenants are being forced
out of Alameda by rapidly rising rents arose several
times during the meeting, but was set aside by the
group because the issue is not strictly
environmental.
Renewed Hope is an Alameda organization that
grew out of the realization among parishioners at St.
Barnabus Catholic Church of the impact of rising
rents on their neighborhors. The name is a revival
of Houseing Opportunities Provided Equally, a
fairhousing advocacy organization in the 1970s.
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