Comments on: Alta Bates is expanding. So is Safeway

By: elisabeth jewel

elisabeth jewel — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:58:45 +0000

That’s true. I hope we get a little credit for the 9 neighbor meetings so far at schools and churches and a few living rooms– all in Rockridge. The next meetings will be at City Hall.

By: Chris Kidd

Chris Kidd — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 22:31:28 +0000

That still does nothing to accomodate those who don’t drive.

By: elisabeth jewel

elisabeth jewel — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:52:43 +0000

I am Safeway’s community affairs consultant for the College/Claremont rebuild and am organizing the community meeting at the Claremont.

The reason the meeting is at the Claremont Hotel is to accomodate expected crowds but also because of the availability of high quality audio visual equipment needed to show the new design properly.

We recognize it’s a little harder to get to so we are offering three hours of free parking during the meeting.

By: V Smoothe

V Smoothe — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:57:33 +0000

Wow! I’m away from my computer for one day and look what happens. For the record, I called the Claremont Hotel an annoying location because of accessibility, and my paranoid side suspects that Justin is correct about the low turnout.

By: mark

mark — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:20:45 +0000

If the Claremont was really in Berkeley, Berkeley would have shut it years ago for catering to the rich and their “anti union” position.

Fortunately, they are in Oakland paying Oakland taxes.

By: Born in Oakland

Born in Oakland — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 04:50:32 +0000

I have seen the plans for the Alta Bates Summit project and they are very impressive. At this point, the State requires construction to be completed by January 2013 (dates set before the economy crashed). I once experienced an 4.2 earthquake while standing in the existing parking structure at Merritt Hospital and if that ever happens to me again it had better be in a new and seismically improved structure….scary.

By: Ralph

Ralph — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:28:15 +0000

very exciting to see about Pill Hill. I was over there the over day and would love to see that area become a nice medical campus as they perform safety upgrades

By: We Fight Blight

We Fight Blight — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:35:45 +0000

In the previous meetings regarding Safeway, there has been a persistent yet disingenious effort by some residents to cast the remake of Safeway as being out of scale and out of character to the rest of Rockridge. However, when you look at the surrounding commercial/residential buildings immediately across from Safeway along College and Claremont Avenues there could be nothing further from the truth as those structures are 2-4 stories in height. In addition, the residential structures immediately behind Safeway are predominantly 2 stories in height. If you consider lot coverage, the vast majority of commercial/residenital buildings along College Avenue in Rockridge have substantial lot coverage (75-100%). It would be helpful to have others show up and speak to provide a counter balance to the misinformation campaign propagated by these vocal residents who are opposed to the Safeway expansion.

By: Becks

Becks — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 00:25:29 +0000

I didn’t realize that the Claremont was in Oakland – the city borders in that area are so confusing!

You’re right Chris – the past meetings have been very crowded and they probably did need somewhere larger. I just wish it wasn’t so inconveniently located, but that won’t stop me from attending.

And Justin – I think the two school locations they’ve used for the past meetings are too small for this meeting, though I’m not sure about the third.

By: Justin Horner

Justin Horner — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 23:54:17 +0000

1) The Claremont is in Oakland and pays taxes in Oakland. It is on the border, or splits the border. Yes, the area has some Oaklanders with Berkeley addresses, but the real reason is that the Claremont did not want to have Oakland as an address. They prefer Berkeley, for image’s sake.

2) The location is annoying because there’s no way to conveniently get up there. There are about three schools nearby that could accommodate the crowd. I can’t help but think they’re hoping for low turnout (note: I don’t oppose the expansion).