A lawsuit filed by two Alameda residents over a “historic parking lot” threatens the Alameda Food Bank’s plans to construct a everlasting base from which it plans to serve hundreds of food-insecure clients.
The Lawsuit alleges The City Planning Commission's unanimous approval of the project violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Brown Act, which regulates local government meetings.
“We are really concerned that construction could come to an immediate halt,” said Teale Harden, executive director of the Alameda Food Bank. “A lengthy legal battle — where food bank funds are used for this instead of feeding people — is a huge concern for us.”
The plaintiffs within the lawsuit, Alameda business owner Tod Hickman and native resident Shelby Sheehan, claim that constructing a ten,000-square-foot warehouse on a currently city-owned car parking zone within the historic district will cause “irreversible harm” to historic values and the encircling community.
The food bank currently operates Building 92a former Naval Air Station hangar owned by the City of Alameda. The proposed recent location is 677 West Ranger Ave.
But time is running out for Building 92, Harden said.
“We can't complete our new facility, but the city still wants to sell Building 92,” Harden said. “This puts the food bank in a precarious position.”
For Harden, a everlasting location is symbolic of the food bank's mission to offer its clients with “dignity and respect.”
For Hickman and Sheehan, nonetheless, the project represents a “severe, irreversible deterioration” of Alameda’s historic district, in accordance with their lawsuit against the town. blame the town To produce documents that “paint an inaccurate and incomplete picture” of the project and “deliberately misinform the public”.
“Our CEQA lawsuits really have nothing to do with the food bank,” Hickman said. “The city attorney lied to the public by telling them this project had undergone a comprehensive environmental review. Instead, the city applied for an exemption.”
Hickman said the food bank could be higher off at a location further down the road, and indicated the town would hold that site open for its “favorite developer.”
Both Hickman and Sheehan have a contentious past with the City of Alameda. Hickman has sued the City of Alameda twice over CEQA-related matters. And Sheehan has filed quite a few lawsuits against the town; essentially the most recent is an alleged violation of the Brown Act, which proved to be unfounded.
Harden said she is confident the Alameda Food Bank followed all obligatory guidelines to acquire the constructing permit, adding that her organization worked closely with the town to comply with regulations.
The public backlash against the CEQA lawsuit reached its peak on Tuesday evening when Hundreds of community members flocked to the Alameda City Council meeting to voice their frustration. The large turnout forced the town to open an extra room. That turnout, Harden said, shows how much the Alameda community values the food bank.
“This work and their dedication was shown in a different light when they were willing to come out and support the food bank and raise awareness about this issue,” Harden said.
Originally published:
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