The spiny tumbleweeds and nuisance geese can still be found at the previous naval airfield in Alameda, however the sprawling grounds today are much different than when the military base transported dozens of men, machines and supplies across the Pacific.
From World War II to the Korean Conflict to Vietnam, the bottom supported the Department of the NavyThe airport's defense mission operated until its closure in 1997. Today, most of the former aircraft hangars and old military buildings are occupied by transportation start-up firms, in addition to distilleries, sports clubs and catering firms which have called the bottom home because the Navy left.
More than a dozen shipping, aerospace and aerospace firms have arrange shop at the previous port base, now called Alameda Point. Although there are some residential buildings on the previous military site, attempts to create more housing have stalled as a result of environmental problems.
Alameda Point appeals to advanced manufacturing firms in transportation due to its proximity to the Bay Area's expert workforce, large spaces in former hangars and the supply of high-capacity electricity from Alameda Power at inexpensive prices, that are about half the worth of PG&E's electricity, in response to Abigail Thorne-Lyman, director the essential reuse. While advocates say the gathering of transportation firms has sparked innovation, some residents worry town isn't moving fast enough to redevelop the bottom for much-needed housing.
Saildrone, named one in every of TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential Companies this yr, is leasing an enormous workspace in Alameda Point together with firms like Rain and Pyka, makers of autonomous aircraft.
“Our company was born here in Alameda. Because it is an island, access to water was critical for us,” said Barak Ben-Gal, chief financial officer of Saildrone, an organization that develops small robotic sailboats whose sensors collect atmospheric and ocean data needed for maritime security and other purposes are used scientific research.
Ben-Gal said the corporate operates from a 100,000 square meter former hangar and a 50,000 square meter old military warehouse. “It would be very difficult to convert that into office space. You need something with high ceilings. “If it was a one-story office, our drones wouldn’t fit in it,” he added.
Navier, a startup that has developed the electrical boat with the longest range on the planetmoved right into a former naval camp about three years ago. Sam Seder, the corporate's operations manager, said the choice was a superb one.
“Alameda is a great partner for us; “We worked closely with the city and the Alameda Chamber of Commerce,” Seder said. “The biggest (advantages) are the infrastructure and the space. There is also a strong sense of innovation here because there are many start-ups.”
The city has been planning to redevelop the previous base for nearly 25 years, but full redevelopment has been hampered by land use restrictions, soil and groundwater contamination (the previous base is a Super Fund site), environmental regulations and contractual constraints.
Since 2001, town has entered into development agreements with two major developers – first with Alameda Point Community Partners, which planned to pour $2 billion into redevelopment, including constructing 1,700 homes on the location over 15 years. But 4 years later, the group withdrew from the project for unknown reasons. Afterwards, SunCal Companies agreed to affix because the master developer, but after three years, town terminated the contract with SunCal.
That has angered residents clamoring for inexpensive housing in one in every of the country's costliest regions. While town says it still plans to construct housing, the timeline is unclear.
Meanwhile, the Navy is working to wash up the contamination and town has plans to further develop parts of the bottom, equivalent to Spirit Alley, where breweries, restaurants and distilleries have arrange shop in old buildings.
The city leases buildings in areas where the properties are still based on Navy-era infrastructure and where the Navy still owns buildings which are ready for occupancy but still require some environmental remediation work.
Thorne-Lyman said town can also be selling buildings and land further east, where it has accomplished latest backbone infrastructure equivalent to latest roads, gas and electricity.
While the present pace of redevelopment has been a boon for transportation firms doing a few of the most groundbreaking work in the sphere, some longtime Alameda residents who’ve been waiting for the previous military facility to be fully developed said they’re running out of resources and patience.
“It is no secret that the only way for the city to build the necessary new infrastructure at Alameda Point is to sell its property,” wrote Alameda Point founder Richard Bangert Alameda Point Environmental Report Blog. “Nevertheless, city leaders are reluctant to abandon the broken strategy of renting buildings to start-up companies. It doesn't matter how promising or green a company is. Leasing will never be worth it for the infrastructure.”
Bangert said town is taking a “lackadaisical approach” to redeveloping Alameda Point and fears town will sooner or later ask Alameda to pass a bond measure to fund latest infrastructure.
“Companies see leasing as a good deal in terms of their operating costs, and if it doesn’t work out, they can pack up and leave,” Bangert said in an interview. “By continually focusing on leasing, the city is effectively taking over private companies, and in my opinion the goal should not be to replace jobs but to replace infrastructure. And that can only be done by selling real estate.”
But Thorne-Lyman said it's necessary for town to make the most of the waterfront property and maintain space at Alameda Point for transportation and other businesses, each now and in the long run.
“We need to make sure we reserve the appropriate land for these companies,” she said. “They are creating really good-paying, middle-skill jobs that don't require a college degree. For us, creating and maintaining these jobs is an important workforce and economic development strategy.”
Thorne-Lyman added that town is currently focused on making higher use of the waterfront piers at Alameda Point. “We believe they are an important asset to the transportation industry,” she said.
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