The Pacific Island of Alameda Features Sailing
Alameda is the Bay Area’s most sailing-centric city, with more slips and yacht clubs than any other municipality, yet this doesn’t guarantee the town council’s recognizing the value of waterfront access. Like many waterfront cities, it continues to displace the maritime businesses that support this rich waterfront heritage with condos featuring the boating ‘lifestyle.’ These condo developments are heavy on views of the Bay but light on facilities to use the Bay; lifestyle developments are heavy on style but short on life. We recognize not all sailors live or vote where they keep their boats, but we do know we all have a role to play in supporting the programs and businesses that will keep sailing accessible, affordable and alive for future generations.
We were recently on the City of Alameda website, noticing the token gesture with their web page featuring a sailing image just below their anchor logo. While Alameda City Hall is in the middle of the island with no water in sight, the image is a small reminder that its most valuable asset is its waterfront. But beyond being able to see the water, having the access and services to enjoy living the sailing lifestyle is what will always keep Alameda an attractive place to live and work.
We continue to emphasize that one of the most important functions of all Bay Area waterfront municipalities is to preserve not views of the Bay, but actual access to the Bay. Development pressures continue to push aside the businesses and facilities that are the prime ecosystem for enjoying the Bay. We hope Alameda can find ways to prioritize space on land to access and participate in one of its main attractions — sailing.
You are very correct to note the impact on boating services and waterfront jobs that the (city council approved) massive development of million dollar condos has caused. This extreme expansion of housing on the island has also ignored the fact that we ARE an island. Absolutely no effort has been made to improve road access on and off the island so the new home owners can drive somewhere that offers jobs that pay enough to pay these mortgages. In fact the opposite has happened. Several of the main access routes on the island have been reduced from 4 lanes to 2 lanes. The lost two lanes have been changed extremely wide bike lanes that are almost always empty. I often am completely alone when I ride my bicycle on the new bike lane on Clement Street. But they have closed traffic lanes so that imaginary bicyclists could ride 4 abreast. While a stopped UPS van will totally stop commuter traffic in one direction.
Evidently the central location of city hall prevents the observation of the waterfront situation and the traffic situation that has been created.
Our city council continues to ignore the residents and boating community by authorizing more and more development, but not including any waterfront usage that includes boating. Sadly the marina in what was Alameda Marina is slated to be left on it’s own, probably to fall apart as time goes on. Looks like the proposed sixty space dry storage for trailerable boats is not gonna happen as promised. The new buildings going up which are huge and completely block access to the water will not allow any room for a dry storage. Sad that the city let the developer destroy the last bastion of the waterfront that served the pleasure boat community in Alameda.
I wonder what is the turover of Alameda housing allowing city budget to address this matter via increased property tax revenue. COULD be – the waterfront buildout is fosterd as a gasp for city funding. Home sales have been a steady stream, but in view of 2 years of inflation I bet that revenue isn’t keepin up with expenses.
Here in Benicia, city has chopped 25% of employees and promoting added sales tax, meanwhile potholes multiply, CA mandates for affordable housing consume resource without corresponding income. Our residents declined recent development opportunitys and old homeowners (prop 13 legacy) are the majority.