Bay Area Proposals/Approvals/Construction Tidbits II

[San Frangelino]

In addition to the arena, the plan outlined in the poll included a 68,000-seat football stadium, 6,000 units of housing, and open space and parks -- all to be "privately financed,"

Correct me if I am wrong but that would make the residential component equal in size to Mission Bay's at 6,000 units final build out? Not too bad at all, hopefully it will be good, dense and well planned. Does anyone know what the unit count and Hunter's Point is to be at final Build out?

[BTinSF]

Originally Posted by FourOneFive

right on! now we won't have to shelp to oakland or san jose to see big time musical acts! let's hope they finish it before madonna retires. i want to see her live on SAN FRANCISCO soil.

Naw. You'll have to schlep to Candlestick Point--with no public transportation of significance. That thing should have been built across McCovey Cove from AT&T Park where it was talked about for so long.

[J Church]

BT is right. At least the Coliseum is by BART.

[rocketman_95046]

Originally Posted by J Church

BT is right. At least the Coliseum is by BART.

and the Shark Tank in SJ is next to Caltrain, and VTA.

[tuy]

And don't forget all the Commercials running about taking Capitol Corridor to the Coliseum.

[EastBayHardCore]

How many trains per day actually stop at the Coliseum? I can't imagine anyone would brave Amtrak to or from an A's game.

[SFBoy]

I'll have no problem getting to the arena in my car. But they really should go for 20,000 to get the Warriors back in the city.

[dimondpark]

Originally Posted by BTinSF

Houses in Oakland:

Oakland's condo mania is now single-family home frenzy
San Francisco Business Times - September 1, 2006
by Ryan Tate

After eight years of high-density, downtown condominium development, Oakland is seeing a return to single-family home construction.

The countertrend began with SunCal Cos.' plan for 816 homes, some in a stand-alone configuration, at the site of the former Oak Knoll naval hospital in the Oakland Hills. SunCal bought the 167-acre site for close to $101 million in November.

Now another landowner is peddling his own plan for 67 acres in the hills. Edward Patmont and his Chabot Dunsmuir LP would construct 61 single-family homes ranging from $900,000 to $2.5 million. They range in size from 2,100 to 4,610 square feet. The land is bounded by Interstate 580, Lake Chabot Golf Course and Knowland Park.

The development needs city approval for a subdivision of legal lots but falls within density allowed by existing zoning as well as allowed uses under the city's general plan.

The land and planned development, at 3421 Malcolm Ave., is for sale at $8.5 million through Gary Robinson of Coldwell Banker.

my friend a prominent realtor in that particular area expects this development to become the bay area's black Bel Air. If it'll keep some wealthy blacks considering Elk Grove and Antioch in The Town-then thank goodness!

[dimondpark]

Fox Theater billed as key to new downtown area
Oakland takes up restoration of 1928 theater in attempt to create a downtown arts district
By Chris Metinko
STAFF WRITER

Nearly 80 years after its doors first opened, city officials are hoping the rebirth of the long-silent Fox Oakland Theater will be a key to sparking the development of a new arts and theater district downtown.

The Oakland City Council unanimously approved the $53 million rehabilitation plan for the theater late last month and construction is on schedule to begin in September. The renovation plan includes a theater, space for the Oakland School for the Arts and the development of a new bar and restaurant on the theater's ground floor.

"We're very excited about this," said Phil Tagami, managing general partner of California Commercial Investments, who is leading the rehabilitation project. "When I first saw this place, my first thought was 'Let's fix this up.'"

Tagami has experience restoring old buildings -- his résumé includes redoing the Rotunda Building in downtown Oakland -- and it's hoped this project also will breathe life back into the city's downtown.

The Oakland Redevelopment Agency purchased the Fox for $3 million in 1996 with the intention of restoring the historic building and trying to encourage investment in the city's Uptown district. While efforts to rehabilitate the Fox moved slowly, the neighborhood has seen other development, including construction of 655 apartments by the firm Forest City Inc. next to the theater. It's hoped the Fox will help contribute to the night life in the area and create an arts district downtown has lacked.

"It's very fortunate that Oakland still has the Fox," said Daniel Vanderpriem, the redevelopment agency's director. "In 1963, the Fox Theater in San Francisco was demolished. That was a terrible mistake. It's good fortune Oakland was able to hold onto its Fox Theater."

A large portion of the project will be paid for by a $25.5 million loan from the Oakland Redevelopment Agency -- money that will be raised mainly through issuing bonds -- with other money coming from a combination of tax credits and grants.

The redevelopment agency already had spent more than $6.5 million in costs related to the project, including a much needed $1 million roof replacement in 1999.

"There was mold at least an inch thick in some areas," Tagami said. "It needed some work."

The leaky roof and grimy interior represented quite a fall from grace for the old theater. The Fox opened in 1928 -- three years before the Paramount in downtown Oakland -- and operated as a first-run movie house until 1962. After that, theater ownership changed hands several times, as did the movie house's direction. For a few months in 1962, the theater showed adult-themed movies, and in 1965 the Fox closed for the first of what would be many times. By 1975, the city's public works agency wanted to demolish the shuttered theater to make room for a parking lot, but the proposal lost steam and in 1979 the theater was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

After that, the theater played host to only a few special events and eventually closed permanently in 1984.

Tagami is hoping to reopen the doors in September 2008, when the theater is expected to make its triumphed return to the city's arts stage.

Seating in the theater will be movable, allowing for as few as 500 people and as many as 2,300. The project also includes remaking the second and third floors of the building that wrap around the theater for use by the Oakland School for the Arts. The ground floor is planned to have restaurant/retail space opening both to the street and to the interior lobby of the theater. The theater will be managed by Another Planet Entertainment, which also runs the Greek Theatre in Berkeley.

The plans seem to please those who have been fighting for years for the Fox to take what they feel is its rightful place as one of the city's crown jewels in the Uptown district.

"I think this (plan) makes a lot of sense," said Patricia Dedekian, a founding member of the Friends of the Oakland Fox, a group that has been trying to save the theater. "I think the Uptown district needs the Fox. There are a lot of interesting things happening there with new restaurants and things, and with the Paramount and now the Fox you could have a thriving arts and entertainment district."


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reach Chris Metinko at 510-763-5418 or [email protected].

[tuy]

double post...

[tuy]

Originally Posted by EastBayHardCore

How many trains per day actually stop at the Coliseum? I can't imagine anyone would brave Amtrak to or from an A's game.

The newest schedule now has 9 Eastbound and 11 Westbound weekday trains daily that either begin, end or make a stop at the Coliseum station. However, the last Eastbound train of the day leaves at 8:10 pm, so it is a little late for a night game. Day games however, it would work.

They promote going to A's games on the Capitol Corridor website.

http://www.capitolcorridor.org/promotions/oakland_athletics.php

Maybe they run a late special train on game days, but I didn't see any indication that they do.

[BTinSF]

Originally Posted by dimondpark

my friend a prominent realtor in that particular area expects this development to become the bay area's black Bel Air. If it'll keep some wealthy blacks considering Elk Grove and Antioch in The Town-then thank goodness!

With Piedmont and Montclair in existence for a very long time, why would this development make such a difference? I'm not saying it wouldn't; just wondering.

[dimondpark]

Only a small number of wealthy blacks live in Piedmont or Montclair-the majority overwhelmingly live further east along 580 around and above the eastern hill areas. As you may know, California-especially the coast, is losing blacks at a steady pace. If these projects have the ability to attract upper class blacks who might otherwise move to the central valley or out of state-then Im all for it.

[FourOneFive]

from today's san francisco examiner:

Condos planned north of zoo

Melanie Carroll, The Examiner
Sep 7, 2006 2:00 AM (44 mins ago)
Current rank: # 34 of 6,984 articles

SAN FRANCISCO - Condominiums proposed for construction just north of the San Francisco Zoo will offer views of the Pacific Ocean, but those views won’t come to fruition before the demolition of three buildings where a motel, surf shop and café make their homes.

The proposal for the 2800 block of Sloat Boulevard, between 46th and 47th avenues, calls for three new mixed-use five-story buildings standing 60 feet, dozens of condominiums and 26,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

Eighty-two off-street parking spots are also in the blueprints.

“That whole block is kind of decrepit,” said Buffy Maguire, co-owner of the Java Beach Café on La Playa and Judah streets. “We really are due for revitalization. We are trying to revitalize our little nook.”

Plans call for tearing down three buildings totaling 21,000 square feet along with the existing 30-space parking lot. The developer aims to provide space for two of his commercial tenants, city planner Susan Mickelsen said. John’s Ocean Beach Café and the Aqua Surf Shop are expected to get retail space in the new development.

The café has been open for nearly three decades and the rent is affordable, said Tony Batshon, the son of the café’s namesake.

Batshon said the future of the café is unknown since it is unclear what the rent will be in the new building.

“The issue is how much” will it cost to stay, he said. “Anything that’s overpriced would have to push us out.”

The plan has yet to go through the public approval process. The soonest demolition could take place is in about a year, Mickelsen said.

Aqua Surf Shop intends to stay near Ocean Beach, co-owner Aleks Petrovich said. But he was reluctant to discuss further details since he doesn’t want his competition to know his plans.

The third tenant, Robert’s At The Beach Motel, won’t be given a chance to relocate into the new space.

Owner-manager Andy Patel said he’s not sure where he will move once he has to leave his oceanside motel.

“I want to stay in the hotel business,” Patel said. “I may look in another city or state.”
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overall, this looks like a great project. i was never a fan of that ugly motel. it's a shame we couldn't go taller on that lot though. it wouldn't block any views, it's close to transit (the 18, 23, and L-Taraval are right outside), and it's on an "edge", so it wouldn't be a huge monstrosity sticking out of the middle of the neighborhood. the urban design plan of the 1960s once called for buildings at tall as 160' for this site. maybe it's something we should revist?

[coyotetrickster]

Originally Posted by FourOneFive

from today's san francisco examiner:

Condos planned north of zoo

Melanie Carroll, The Examiner
Sep 7, 2006 2:00 AM (44 mins ago)
Current rank: # 34 of 6,984 articles

SAN FRANCISCO - Condominiums proposed for construction just north of the San Francisco Zoo will offer views of the Pacific Ocean, but those views won’t come to fruition before the demolition of three buildings where a motel, surf shop and café make their homes.

The proposal for the 2800 block of Sloat Boulevard, between 46th and 47th avenues, calls for three new mixed-use five-story buildings standing 60 feet, dozens of condominiums and 26,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

Eighty-two off-street parking spots are also in the blueprints.

“That whole block is kind of decrepit,” said Buffy Maguire, co-owner of the Java Beach Café on La Playa and Judah streets. “We really are due for revitalization. We are trying to revitalize our little nook.”

Plans call for tearing down three buildings totaling 21,000 square feet along with the existing 30-space parking lot. The developer aims to provide space for two of his commercial tenants, city planner Susan Mickelsen said. John’s Ocean Beach Café and the Aqua Surf Shop are expected to get retail space in the new development.

The café has been open for nearly three decades and the rent is affordable, said Tony Batshon, the son of the café’s namesake.

Batshon said the future of the café is unknown since it is unclear what the rent will be in the new building.

“The issue is how much” will it cost to stay, he said. “Anything that’s overpriced would have to push us out.”

The plan has yet to go through the public approval process. The soonest demolition could take place is in about a year, Mickelsen said.

Aqua Surf Shop intends to stay near Ocean Beach, co-owner Aleks Petrovich said. But he was reluctant to discuss further details since he doesn’t want his competition to know his plans.

The third tenant, Robert’s At The Beach Motel, won’t be given a chance to relocate into the new space.

Owner-manager Andy Patel said he’s not sure where he will move once he has to leave his oceanside motel.

“I want to stay in the hotel business,” Patel said. “I may look in another city or state.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

overall, this looks like a great project. i was never a fan of that ugly motel. it's a shame we couldn't go taller on that lot though. it wouldn't block any views, it's close to transit (the 18, 23, and L-Taraval are right outside), and it's on an "edge", so it wouldn't be a huge monstrosity sticking out of the middle of the neighborhood. the urban design plan of the 1960s once called for buildings at tall as 160' for this site. maybe it's something we should revist?

Yes, that area is full of ugly....

[J Church]

I don't know, I'm surprised the neighbors aren't already apoplectic about 60' by the beach. Is there anything taller out there? The condos where Playland used to be out at the end of the Richmond, by the Cliff House--four stories?

dimond, that's an interesting piece of information.

[coyotetrickster]

Originally Posted by J Church

I don't know, I'm surprised the neighbors aren't already apoplectic about 60' by the beach. Is there anything taller out there? The condos where Playland used to be out at the end of the Richmond, by the Cliff House--four stories?

dimond, that's an interesting piece of information.

A) The plot is two streets east of the Great Highway. There are already several 35/40' foot buildings on the access street parallel to the highway, so there is not a lot of view blockage. Plus, the housing stock in the immediate vicinity is pretty run down (not proof of non-owner occupancy in this city, but anything would beat the craptastic structures there already.

[rocketman_95046]

SJ greater downtown infill continues... 1,904 units under construction...2,925 units in planning/permit phase.

The SJ Redevelopment Agency has a great monthly update.

http://www.sjredevelopment.org/monthlyReports/housing.pdf

I know we all make fun of SJ from time to time. but SJ was ranked as one of the best in the Bay Area to promote infill and prevent sprawl.

[dimondpark]

These people are unbelievable

REFERENDUM
Oakland throws out Oak-to-9th signatures
Christopher Heredia, Chronicle Staff Writer

Thursday, September 7, 2006

A referendum to block Oakland's largest housing development in decades should be invalidated because organizers failed to provide accurate information when they approached potential voters, Oakland City Attorney John Russo said Wednesday.

Russo said the signature gatherers -- among them members of the Oakland Heritage Alliance, the League of Women Voters of Oakland and the Sierra Club -- failed to present to voters with the final ordinance approving the 3,100-unit Oak-to-Ninth project, which was adopted by the City Council on July 18.

They also did not include attachments delineating public access to some 30 acres of open space associated with the 64-acre project along Oakland's estuary. Petition gatherers said they opposed the project as approved by the council for, among other reasons, a lack of open space.

The referendum committee submitted 25,000 signatures Aug. 17 seeking to either have the council overturn its approval of the project or put Oak-to-Ninth before voters.

Russo directed Oakland's city clerk to toss out the referendum once the Alameda County registrar of voters finishes validating signatures later this month.

"Under state law, it was not done properly," Russo said. "I don't know whether it was their intent or by inadvertence. It doesn't matter."

Stuart Flashman, an attorney for the referendum committee, said the group will appeal Russo's decision and is confident the referendum will pass muster in court. Flashman said the group went to great lengths to verify with the city clerk that it had all the documentation needed to go forward with its drive.

Russo said that argument is moot because state law supports the public's right to know the full facts of any law being petitioned.

E-mail Christopher Heredia at [email protected]
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/09/07/BAG8LL0HK714.DTL

[J Church]

False petitioning is a serious problem. A woman came up to me last week asking me to help "stop the city from taking away homes in the Bayview."