The Alameda Point Proposal for LBNL Second Campus

Checking the List Twice for Berkeley Lab

By Irene Dieter

The decision-makers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab are undoubtedly finalizing their selection of the location for the Lab’s second campus.  They are expected to make their decision by the end of November.

Looking over the list of features that all the short-listed applicants offer, I noticed Alameda has some unique advantages.

√ Economic Sense –Setting up shop at Alameda Point would allow the University of California (the operator of the Lab) to save money (the land is free) while preserving the land it already owns in Richmond for other university programs.

√ Vigorous Planning for the Future — The Navy has announced it will transfer 918 acres to the City of Alameda at no cost to aid in economic development of the former Naval Air Station.  The Department of Defense has awarded Alameda $225,000 to prepare an economic development strategy for Alameda Point.  A detailed transportation strategy for Alameda Point has already been prepared.  The Lab would break ground around the same time as the Veterans’ Clinic. 

√ Opportunities for Synergistic Growth — The Lab would benefit from the additional small businesses and manufacturing facilities that come to Alameda Point as a result of specific development incentives the federal government is offering:  

SBA Hub Zone - Alameda Point is a qualified Hub Zone, giving federal contracting preferences to small businesses that obtain HUB Zone certification.

LAMBRA - The Local Agency Military Base Recovery Area provides numerous tax incentives for companies that locate at Alameda Point.

Foreign Trade Zone - Alameda Point is designated a Foreign Trade Zone, wherein no U.S. Customs duty or excise tax is levied on imported/exported merchandise.

√ Partnership Growth Potential — High quality research and development office space is already available at nearby Marina Village for companies that want to provide supplies or services to the Lab or develop and market products invented at the Lab.

√ Proximity to Airport — Closest location to the Oakland Airport where visiting scientists and scholars will often arrive.  

√ The Bottom Line — Electricity costs are substantially lower and greener than in the surrounding areas.  Alameda’s utility portfolio is typically over 80% clean and renewable, derived from geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, landfill gas, and solar facilities.  Alameda is the lowest greenhouse-gas-emitting community in Alameda County and one of the lowest in California.  An ideal fit for the Lab as it compliments the Lab’s goals of inventing the future of energy.

After checking the list twice, the decision to choose Alameda Point for the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab’s second campus should be an easy one for the Lab to make. 

Update on Second Campus Selection Process Presented to Berkeley Lab Community Advisory Group

On Thursday, September 22, 2011, the Community Advisory Group for the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab received an update on the selection process for the Second Campus.  Here is an excerpt from a report published in Richmond Confidential:

"In Simon’s summary, Richmond had three major advantages – the land, the welcome from the city, and enough room to accommodate a possible 3,000-foot structure. Some sites, including both in Berkeley, lack room for the larger building.

"But he noted several drawbacks: the Richmond Field Station is relatively far from the main LBNL campus, there is bad traffic along 580, and UC Berkeley might have to find a new home for the programs currently occupying the site.

"In Simon’s presentation, Alameda’s site had very similar advantages and disadvantages: the city wants the new campus, is offering the land – part of the Alameda Point former Naval Air Station — for free, and has room for the large building. Alameda has proposed its own additional development along the waterfront, but the site, like Richmond’s, is also relatively far from the main LBNL campus."

Conceptual drawing showing Berkeley Lab Second Campus
at Alameda Point next to Enterprise Park.
Seaplane Lagoon is in the background.

Sea Level Rise Not A Big Issue For Alameda Berkeley Lab Site

Proposed Berkeley Lab site at
Alameda Point.  Red area is Phase 1.

According to a September 23 news article in the Alameda Journal, the Lab expressed concern about the potential impact of sea level rise on the proposed Alameda site.  A look at the coastal sea level rise maps prepared by the Pacific Institute suggest that sea level rise at the proposed Lab site at Alameda Point would be minor and easily addressed.  One way to address the issue would be to reorient the layout of the Lab site, something city negotiators have flexibility to do.

You can view and navigate the Pacific Institute sea level rise map by clicking here.

There are other reasons that sea level rise will not likely undermine longterm planning for the Lab in the dock area of Alameda Point:

WETA maintenance and admin building (approved). 

> The Water Emergency Transit Authority (WETA) will soon be constructing a maintenance building and dock directly adjacent to the Lab site.  They've already looked into this matter.

> The US Maritime Administration has a long term contract with Alameda to dock their Ready Reserve ships at the dock next to the Lab site.  This corner of Alameda Point would be on a high priority list to receive funding should there ever be a need for sea level rise geotechnical work.

As for the Enterprise Park area on the southern waterfront adjacent to the proposed Lab site, under the worst case scenario this would become wetlands and marsh.

The Alameda Point site is essentially at the same elevation as the Richmond Field Station, one of the other finalists in the Lab Second Campus selection process.  You can view and navigate the Richmond/East Shore area by going to this Pacific Institute map.

Alameda's Development Team for Berkeley Lab 's Second Campus

The Berkeley Lab has created a video of the Alameda community meeting that was held on July 13, 2011.  The presentation by the development team begins by clicking here.  Allow about five seconds for YouTube player to jump to presentation and begin playing.  

Screenshot of TalkMiner site showing Berkeley Lab's video of Alameda Community Meeting

It's easy to jump to the part of the video that interests you by clicking on the slide image on the TalkMiner site.  Enlarging the YouTube player to full screen provides very good resolution.

Ferry Maintenance Facility Would Be Berkeley Lab Neighbor at Alameda Point

The Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) adopted the environmental report for the Alameda Point maintenance facility at its June 2011 meeting.  Rather than a full environmental impact report, the board adopted a mitigated negative declaration and mitigation monitoring and reporting program.  The complete document and project site is here.

Conceptual drawings for the 

Central Bay Ferry Maintenance Facility at Alameda Point

Scheduled for completion in 2015

Property for Berkeley Lab is adjacent to the right

Signs of Support on Webster Street - Alameda

Webster Street in Alameda - just minutes from proposed site 

for 2nd Campus of Berkeley Lab at Alameda Point.

Barbecue on the Mall - Wednesday, July 13 - Followed by Community Meeting in the Theater

Come out for a barbecue on the Mall at Alameda Point on Wednesday evening, July 13 at 6 PM.  

At 7 PM attend the community meeting across the street 

in the beautifully restored theater.  

Hear from Berkeley Lab representatives, 

and from the city's development team of 

Mission Bay Development Group and Edgemoor Real Estate Services 

who will build out the Lab's Second Campus site at Alameda Point if Alameda is selected in November.

Give the green light for building Berkeley Lab's Second Campus 

at Alameda Point.  

Your attendance at the July 13 meeting is important.  

The Lab wants to see community support.

Show your support for bringing Lawrence Berkeley National Lab second campus to Alameda

Auctions by the Bay Theater - Alameda Point

Attend the Pre-Public Meeting BBQ
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Grass Mall area across the street from Auctions By The Bay Theater
2700 Saratoga Street, Alameda

Attend the Public Meeting with LBNL
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Auctions By The Bay Theater
2700 Saratoga Street, Alameda

Map

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