SAWW Encourages Sailors to Attend Meeting in Alameda Tomorrow

Tomorrow, Alameda’s City Council will consider giving the developer of Alameda Marina an extension for the terms of its lease with several businesses. Advocates (such as ourselves) of a working waterfront, complete with sailmakers, riggers and a boatyard, are encouraged to attend the meeting to voice their support.

After delays, construction at the new Alameda Marina is about to proceed on a tight schedule, according to harbormaster Paul Houtz. Several businesses on the property have been given notice to move — in some cases to temporary facilities. Other businesses face an uncertain future. Members of Save Alameda’s Working Waterfront, or SAWW, see this as an opportunity for the council to facilitate the current tenants’ direct move into their new permanent spaces, rather than being asked to move out of their old spaces first.

“It is also an opportunity to press the council to require the developer to intensify its effort to find and establish a business relationship with a boatyard operator so that we are assured that the developer remains focused on building the boatyard,” read a November 3 email from SAWW. “[We] request that as many sailors as possible, once again, attend this upcoming council meeting to pressure the developer to build a boatyard in Alameda Marina and to preserve the current businesses at that location. It also goes without saying; the developer should be required to keep tenant lease rates realistic in order to allow maritime businesses to flourish at the Alameda Marina.”

The meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m. at council chambers on the third floor of Alameda City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue in Alameda.