Waterfront Developer Seeks Input
In November, when preliminary plans were proposed that would drastically change the layout and character of Alameda Marina, it created a furor of protest and outrage among many local boaters.
Yesterday, Bill Poland, a major shareholder in the marina’s ownership, explained his position on redevelopment of the property in an op-ed piece in the Contra Costa Times, and reached out to the boating community for input. "I became part-owner in Pacific Shops Inc. (PSI) in 2006," explains Poland, "joining the Svendsen family in buying the property from John Bentzen with the express intention from Day One to redevelop it with a mix of waterfront uses… On behalf of PSI, Svend and Sean Svendsen signed a new tidelands lease with the city in May 2012, requiring a master plan for demolition and/or replacement and/or comprehensive rehabilitation of existing improvements on the property and for construction of a new, higher-value project."
Poland further explains, "Our agreement with the city includes conditions to make an initial $10 million investment, including a mixed-use commercial and residential project, by 2020… The lease extension and financial investment cannot be sustained under the current marina and boatyard business model. Working within the current zoning for the property, a mixed-use development project is the only financially viable plan to restore and redevelop the property."
Poland encourages boaters and other interested parties to visit the marina’s website for additional info on potential development plans, and he encourages feedback via the site’s email portal. So if this is a hot-button issue for you, don’t miss your chance to chime in.
