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IntroductionThe former Naval Air Station Alameda (NAS Alameda) property,

commonly referred to as Alameda Point, located at the most westerly

tip of the island of the City of Alameda, offers a rare opportunity

for the Alameda community: To create a series of compact, vibrant,

transit-oriented neighborhoods that attract residents and businesses

that, over time, are seamlessly integrated into the City.

Over the past 20 years, the residents of Alameda have participated

in scores of planning activities that present a vision for Alameda

Point. While different processes have envisioned different intensities

of uses, all have maintained a remarkably consistent framework for

growth that continues to guide the project.

1.0

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» The Community's Vision for Alameda PointIn 1996, the Alameda community adopted the following Vision Statement for the

redevelopment and reuse of Alameda Point as part of the NAS Alameda Community

Reuse Plan (Reuse Plan):

B etween now and the year 2020, the City of Alameda will integrate the

Naval Air Station property with the City and will realize a substantial part of the Base’s potential. Revenues will have increased and a healthy local economy will have resulted from the implementation of a coordinated, environmentally sound plan of conversion and mixed-use development. While building upon the qualities that make Alameda a desirable place to live, efforts for improving recreational, cultural, educational, housing, and employment opportunities for the entire region will have been successful.

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The key to making Alameda Point successful is creating a diversity of uses while

balancing the need for jobs and housing that minimize their impacts on the

existing community and neighborhoods through well-planned, walkable mixed-use

neighborhoods that are seamlessly connected to the City. Alameda Point will prioritize

a well-planned, integrated system of transit, roadway and bicycle networks that will

be able to accommodate increases in residents, employees, and visitors resulting from

the vibrant, mixed use community. Alameda Point’s new neighborhoods and districts

will have a distinct character that incorporates important historical buildings and

districts and connects seamlessly into the existing community.

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2.0Community Values & Planning themesThe vision for the revitalization and reuse of Alameda Point includes

a set of core values and planning themes that guide planning efforts

here. As expressed in the Reuse Plan, these values were generated

together by the City and community. These values are reiterated

below exactly as they are stated in the Reuse Plan:

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One Island Character: Entering Alameda is an event – a journey across or through

water that establishes the City’s boundaries and identity. The Plan focuses on ways

to unite the entire island of Alameda into a single entity. The Plan stresses the

integration of the Base into the existing City fabric, and access and visibility of the

shoreline to enhance the island character. The end result is “one comminated into its

island environment.

Job Creation and Economic Development: The closure of NAS Alameda represents the

loss of a major portion of the jobs available on the island of Alameda and jobs held by

Alameda residents. All land use decisions and policy direction determined in the Plan

must respond to this economic reality. The long-term reuse of Alameda Point must

move beyond the idea of replacement of jobs lost at the base and focus on creating

economic growth and development for the benefit of the whole community.

Small Town Feeling: Alameda is a quiet, friendly, predominantly residential

community. It is an ideal urban/suburban community created in an era when

commutes were by rail or ferry. The City does not have or want tall buildings,

freeways, highway commercial strips or vast tracts of look-alike housing. The Plan

for Alameda Point strives to match the small town feel of Alameda by segmenting

development of the Base into sub-areas that can each be developed as a series of

distinct neighborhoods. Development in each area is clustered around neighborhood

centers to create the scale and accessibility familiar and desirable in Alameda.

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Respect for History: The City’s rich and diverse urban environment has gained

recognition as a truly unique asset. The Plan emphasizes preserving the character of

NAS Alameda wherever possible and appropriate, while integrating the base into the

culture, fabric and traditions of the City.

De-emphasis of the Automobile: in a City where everyone is affected by traffic either

because access on and off the island is limited or most every street is a residential

street, it is not surprising that increased traffic is seen as a major threat to the quality

of life. The reuse of NAS Alameda could potentially affect the circulation for the

western half of the island. The Plan intends to support transit improvements, ferry

service, transit-oriented design and the creation of enjoyable, walkable pedestrian

environments.

Transit Orientation: The historic land use patterns of the City of Alameda were

clustered around the trolley car and transit stops that served the residential

community for work-related, commercial, and recreational travel. By borrowing from

existing land patterns, providing better opportunities to perform day to day activities

within walking distance of home, and creating transit links that easily convey

employees, residents and visitors, redevelopment at Alameda Point can re-establish

the transit-oriented character that is Alameda’s heritage.

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Mixed-Use Development: The values outlined above all support the development of

a diverse mixed-use community that allows a great deal of flexibility for the long-

term revitalization of the Base. A mixed-use approach allows for the development

of transit-friendly neighborhoods with a strong pedestrian character to foster the

development of the desired small town feeling.

Neighborhood Centers: One of the major tools to create a sense of community is

to encourage development that is clustered and focused around neighborhood

centers. The mixed-use centers are to be established in neighborhoods with either a

residential or business/workplace focus and act to establish a destination that users

go to, to accomplish multiple tasks. By encouraging short trips to conveniently

located centers, community mixing and pedestrian traffic establish a healthy, vibrant,

urban fabric.

Sustainable Development & Design: In the course of redevelopment and reuse of

NAS Alameda there will be many decisions on how to accomplish the themes and

objectives of the Plan. By framing those decisions in the context of environmentally

sound development, energy conservation, and sustainable design the principles

of using resources wisely may be integrated into the long-term development of

Alameda Point. Sustainability is a series of principles from transit-oriented design,

preservation of open space to resource conservation that render concern for the

human and natural environment fixtures in the urban fabric.

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3.0Guiding Design PrinciplesGuided by the community’s vision, values and planning themes,

the following eight design principles are the common threads that

guide the long-term build-out of Alameda Point:

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1. Distinct districts within a cohesive mixed-use development

Establish and extend the small

town feeling that characterizes

the City by creating a series of

districts with a distinct “look

and feel” and unique character.

These diverse districts are

integrated into a cohesive

mixed-use development by a

comprehensive open space

network and interconnected

transit, street, and bicycle

system.

2. Comprehensive open space network

Create a comprehensive open

space framework that knits

neighborhoods together.

Establish an interconnected

system of open spaces (parks,

parklets, plazas, waterfront

amenities, and preservation

areas) throughout Alameda

Point that conserves and

restores the natural ecosystem

while providing associated

recreational, health and social

benefits.

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3. Water-orientation and waterfront access

Protect and enhance the water-

oriented, island character

of Alameda Point through

preservation, enhancement, and

celebration of the expansive

bay views. Optimize access to

the waterfront both visually and

physically in all development

and open space planning efforts.

Expand access to the water by

incorporating water features,

trails, trail amenities, waterfront

visitor opportunities, and

waterfront view corridors in new

development. Utilize the grid

pattern of streets to optimize

views to the water and minimize

privatization of waterfront

properties.

4. Walkability and bikability

Create a human-scale

transportation network geared

towards pedestrian and bicycle

use. Restrict through traffic

circulation to specific major

access routes. This translates

into high quality pedestrian

environments that encourage

walking, socializing and

interacting while providing a

safe, healthy and dynamic

street network.

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5. Small town and historic character

Reflect the architectural and

historic heritage of Alameda in

revitalization efforts and new

development. Neighborhood

designs should draw from the

small town island legacy of

Alameda to create a place that

is connected to its history. This

means using simple building

forms, pedestrian scaled street

environments and architectural

traditions found throughout

Alameda to create a built

environment that is comfortable,

memorable and inviting. Also,

reuse and preserve, to the extent

feasible, buildings and features

that reflect the architectural and

military history of the base.

6. Housing varietyProvide a wide range of housing

options, both economically

and aesthetically, that help

create a diverse and vibrant

community. For many reasons, a

healthy neighborhood includes

a wide variety of dwelling types

--houses, bungalows, courtyard

arrangements, townhouses and

apartments – to ensure that an

authentic community and social

network is established due to

the presence of a diversity of

ages, incomes and professional

backgrounds.

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7. Effective transportation and parking policies

Design multi-modal streets built

for cars, buses, pedestrians and

bikes coupled with a parking

approach that supports the

emergence of a transit-oriented

development. Streets reflect

the traditional grid of the City

and are seamlessly integrated

into the adjacent street system.

Establish “Gateways” that create

a sense of place and identity for

the emerging neighborhoods

and optimize the use of transit in

all development.

8. Smart design Encourage and utilize incentives

and standards to reinforce the

use of resource efficient and

sustainable technologies in

infrastructure and buildings.

This translates into preserving

and celebrating the natural and

cultural amenities of the site

and responding to the need to

conserve water and energy while

providing a comprehensive open

space system that benefits both

wildlife and humans.