Bay Street Condo Development Sold

General Investment & Development Cos. sold all of the 284 condo units above Bay Street, the Emeryville shopping mecca, to Richard Ross and Socorro Vasquez for $108 million ($380,282 per unit). The property was roughly 66% occupied at time of sale.

Built last year, the four-story multifamily building, known as Windsor at Metropolitan, is a portion of Bay Street Emeryville, a mixed-use retail and residential complex about 4 miles from Oakland. This transaction includes 284 residential units totaling 275,000 square feet, 20% of which is designated as affordable housing. The unit mix is comprised of 114 one-bedroom/one-bath units and 170 two-bedroom/two-bath units, ranging from 715 square feet to 1,424 square feet.

Why they sold is another question.

More...

Faces of Emeryville a Success

Thank you, Emeryville! Despite dark clouds and predictions of rain, the sun shined in on March 15th through the "Faces of Emeryville: An Arts making Community Event!"  More than 150 people - community members, EmeryUSD students and families, City of Emeryville staff, white, beige, brown and black folks, old and young - participated!  Truly, it was a powerful event - one that was all that it was intended to be.  We collected information and shared visions for our community's future, demonstrated the power of arts integration to educate and promote expression, nurtured networks and new partnerships, made art and made friends, communicated across our phenomenal diversity, and captured the wonder of it all - in pictures, film, words and artifacts...and in our hearts!

Are you sorry that you and yours missed it?  You have another opportunity to add you face to our Emeryville photo collection!  "Faces of Emeryville: Take Two!" has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 2 from 1:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Emery Secondary School (located at 1100  47th Street at San Pablo Avenue).   Bring your family, club members, co workers or crew in to sit for a professional portrait photographed by Nita Winter.  Receive a FREE print and be counted among the myriad faces of Emeryville in future community arts projects.  Get to know your neighbors and your local schools.  Please...take a moment to stop by, sit and smile with those with whom you live, love, and learn. Emeryville and its schools look forward to knowing you...

For further information, contact De-Iso Quadir at 510.601.4750 or deiso.quadir at emeryusd.org or Wanda Stewart at 510.601.4907 or wanda.stewart at emeryusd.org. 

City Council Votes to Pursue Street Widenings

Dear Emeryville neighbors,

At Tuesday's meeting, the city council voted 3-2 (Atkin, Fricke voting against) to move forward with a plan to widen streets to accommodate more vehicle traffic. Bukowski, Davis, and Kassis took this action despite the city staff acknowledging that widening streets will cause more traffic, and may negatively affect pedestrian and bicycle access.

In September 2007, the city council held a special meeting to discuss how further development in Emeryville would affect traffic congestion. At this Sunday morning meeting, the traffic engineers recommended widening streets, among other things, to accommodate more traffic. (See below for a link to the report.)

Many of you who attended this Sunday morning meeting asked that the city not commit to widening streets until after alternative transportation options were explored. At that meeting, the city council unanimously and repeatedly supported holding off on street widenings until an outside consultant (Nelson\Nygaard) completed its Alternative Transportation Study of Emeryville. Here is a four-minute excerpt (2 clips) of the September, 2007 meeting:



At last Tuesday's meeting, Ken Bukowski, Nora Davis, and Dick Kassis broke the promise they made to the community last September.

The aforementioned Alternative Transportation Study has not yet been completed. The consultant, Nelson\Nygaard, was sidetracked by the city council's request to review the traffic engineers' street-widening proposals. Nelson\Nygaard's review strongly criticized the traffic engineers' proposals. (See below for a link to Nelson\Nygaard's Feb. 2008 memo.)

Nevertheless, the city council voted to move forward with the traffic engineers' proposals to widen streets, change the timing of signals, add dedicated left and right turn pockets, etc., all with the intention of maximizing the flow of vehicles in Emeryville.

Ruth Atkin aptly stated that improving vehicle access often comes at the expense of pedestrians and bicycles.

Please email the city council and ask the three in the majority (Ken Bukowski, Nora Davis, and Dick Kassis) to rescind their vote:

citycouncil@emeryville.org

Best,

John Fricke

LINKS:

The Big 4 Traffic Study (Sept., 2007)
http://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/gov/pdf/agenda/study/091607.pdf

Nelson\Nygaard Memo (critique of Big 4 traffic study) (Feb., 2008):
http://www.johnfricke.com/NelsonNygaardReport-Revised04feb2008.pdf

City of Emeryville Staff Report (recommending street widenings) (Mar., 2008):
http://www.johnfricke.com/TrafficStudyStaffReport18mar2008.pdf

My previous email messages regarding traffic congestion:
http://www.johnfricke.com/12-22-05.html
http://www.johnfricke.com/02-22-06_2.html
http://www.johnfricke.com/05-26-07.html
http://www.johnfricke.com/09-11-07.html
http://www.johnfricke.com/01-31-08.html

My position papers on sustainable development and progressive parking policies:
http://www.johnfricke.com/development.html
http://www.johnfricke.com/parking.html

My art piece, It Won't Pencil, a critique of Emeryville's current development path, and its inevitable outcome:
http://picasaweb.google.com/JohnFricke01/ItWontPencil
http://www.johnfricke.com/ItWontPencil-text.pdf

"Faces of Emeryville: An Arts making Community Event"

Dear Neighbors:

Emery Unified School District - in partnership with the City of Emeryville, the Chamber of Commerce, the Emery Education Fund and Art IS Education - urges you to join us in making art and community while capturing Emeryville residents in photographs on Saturday, March 15th, 10 am - 5 pm at Emery Secondary School!  We're documenting community...and we'd like both your face and your voice included!

All of Emeryville - residents, school families, churches, City employees, business groups and clubs are invited to join in an interactive "arts making community" party.  Receive a free, professionally photographed portrait of you and yours.  Add your voice to conversations (and art) on Emeryville living, community and school partnerships, and the future of our schools.

10 am - 12 noon @ Anna Yates School - "Relocation to Renovation" - Tour the school, learn about our renovation plans, participate in focused art groups to make design decisions...from playgrounds to paint colors and more!

10 am - 12 noon @ Emery Secondary School - "Mapping Emeryville" - Discover Emeryville's culture, uncover our patterns of living through map making fun.

12 noon - 1 pm @ Emery Secondary School - FREE LUNCH FOR ALL!

1 pm - 3 pm @ Emery Secondary School - "Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Future" - Through storytelling and doll making, learn about Emeryville history, envision our schools as community centers.

3 pm - 5 pm @ Emery Secondary School - "Partners for Community Life" - Build strong ties across our diversity through Community-based theater and movement, learn about getting involved in new community initiatives.

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS WILL BE TAKEN AT EMERY SECONDARY SCHOOL AT 1100 47th STREET.

For information visit our website at www.emeryusd.org or contact Wanda Stewart at wanda.stewart@emeryusd.org or 510.601.4907.

February 2008 Emeryville Crime Statistics

Greeting Emeryville residents, here’s the monthly crime statistics for the month of February.  I’ve included the criminal stats for the entire city. 

This newsletter is being promoted to continue a united working relationship between the Emeryville Police Department and the residents/merchants of Emeryville.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------Volume #

COMMENTS:

  459A (Auto Burgs) There were 26 auto burglaries this month compared to January’s total of 27, showing a decrease of 1. District 4 was the hardest hit area.

459C (Commercial Burgs) There were 8 commercial burglaries this month compared to January’s total of 14, showing a decrease of 6. District 2 was the hardest hit area. In district 2 at Dream Builders, 5900 Hollis St Ste #R5 two burglaries occurred. POE: Unknown, no signs of forced entry. LOSS: Power tools and $15,000 cash. In district 3 at Avenue 64, 6399 Christie Ave., POE: Door – Pried. LOSS: Power tools. In district 4 at Bay Super Shell, 1800 Powell St., POE: Storage room – key used. LOSS: 15 cartons of cigarettes. In district 5 at the Four Points by Sheraton, 1603 Powell St., POE: Room door possibly left ajar. LOSS: Guest’s wallet. In district 6 at Icon at Park, 1401 Park Ave., POE: Door. LOSS: Two TV monitors. In district 7 at Longs Drugs, 4349 San Pablo Ave., a suspect used a screwdriver to pry open two registers and remove the cash. LOSS: $200. In district 8 at Construction site at 3801 San Pablo Ave., POE: Office door- window smash and door pried. LOSS: NONE

459R (Residential Burgs) There were 3 residential burglaries this month compared to January’s total of 3, showing no change. In district 1 at 1258 59^th St #5, POE: Front door – forced open. LOSS: Cell phone and $300 cash. The suspect returned the items a few hours later. In district 3 at Avenue 64, 6399 Christie Ave #230. POE: Front door – Unlocked. LOSS: Purse. In district 4 at 1 Captain Dr. #159, POE: Door – No sign of force. LOSS: Keys, vehicle 2005 Honda Accord (recovered by SFPD), laptop (recovered) $80 cash, credit cards, and GPS unit. A suspect was arrested by OPD.

484P (Petty Thefts) There were 22 petty thefts this month compared to January’s total of 22, showing no change. District 9 was the hardest hit area.

487P (Grand Thefts) There were 17 grand thefts this month compared to January’s total of 16, showing an increase of 1. District 5 was the hardest hit area.

851R (Recovered Vehicles) There were 8 vehicles recovered this month compared to February’s total of 7, showing an increase of 1. Other law enforcement agencies reported these vehicles stolen.

851V (Stolen Vehicles) There were 17 stolen vehicles this month compared to January’s total of 14, showing an increase of 3. Thefts were citywide. Honda Accords & Civics, Toyota Camry’s and other Toyota model vehicles were popular.  15 vehicles were recovered, 8 of which were recovered intact, 3 vehicles suffered damages only, 3 vehicles were damaged and stripped, and one vehicle was minor stripped. 

211P (Robberies) There were 3 robberies this month compared to January’s total of 12, showing a decrease of 9. District 5 was the hardest hit area. In district 5 at Abercrombie & Fitch, 5680 Bay Street a female shoplifted a stack of shirts. Upon the manager making contact with the female, the female grabbed the manager by the throat, forced the manager to the ground, and fled the area. Suspect: Female, Black, mid to late 20’s, 6’0”, 300 lbs, wearing a black v-neck shirt and blue jeans. At the Shoe Pavilion, 5777 Christie Ave., two female juveniles set off the alarm as they exited the store. A store employee attempted to make contact with the juveniles, however a male juvenile held back the employee and struggled with the employee as the females fled on foot. The male juvenile fled the scene on foot shortly thereafter. LOSS: Shoes and a handbag.  In district 7 at Kilohana Grill, 4115 San Pablo Ave., an armed robbery occurred. Suspect: Black male, 24-25 years old, 5’10”, 175 lbs, wearing a red and white hoodie and red pants. LOSS: $150.00. In the 1300 block of Stanford Ave., an attempted robbery occurred. A male subject punched a female in the head and face and searched through the female’s pockets. There was no loss. Suspect: Black male with long dreadlocks, wearing a red striped shirt.

215P (Car Jackings) There were 0 car jackings this month compared to January’s total of 0, showing no change.

242P (Simple Assaults) There were 3 simple assaults this month compared to January’s total of 4, showing a decrease of 1. In district 5 at Coach, 5641 Bay Street, an irate male customer struck an employee in the face with a key chain. EPD arrested the subject shortly thereafter.  In district 9 at Pak N Save, 3889 San Pablo Ave., a shoplifter struggled with Loss Prevention while being detained. EPD arrested the subject shortly thereafter. At Home Depot, 3838 Hollis Street, a female transient spat on a security guard.

245P (Aggravated Assaults) There were 0 aggravated assaults this month compared to January’s total of 3, showing a decrease of 3.

261P (Sexual Assaults) There were 0 rapes this month compared to January’s total of 1, showing a decrease of 1.

187P (Homicides) There were 0 homicides this month compared to January’s total of 0, showing no change.

Arrests:                      Juveniles:       4          Adults:      58

Total: 62

Year to date:              137

Sgt. R. Davis

Emeryville Police Department

Pedestrian/Bike Bridge Community Meeting this Saturday, 9:30am

Dear Emeryville neighbors,

Please attend an upcoming community meeting to provide your input on (1) the design of the future bridge across the railroad tracks, and (2) the park on the east side of the bridge:

Saturday, March 8th, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Middle School Building
1275 61st Street (@ Doyle Street)
(light breakfast will be provided)
Here's a preview (2.4 MB):
http://www.johnfricke.com/MtgSlideShow.pdf

(The above slides were shown at last week's meeting of the project design committee.  Based on input from the committee, some of the slides will be revised for Saturday's meeting.)
More information about this project is available at
http://www.ci.emeryville.ca.us/econdev/sbpedbikebridge.html

Best,
John

p.s.  Upcoming workshop on preventing predatory lending and foreclosure, Sat., March 22nd:
http://www.johnfricke.com/WorkshopFlyer.pdf

John Fricke
1057 43rd Street
Emeryville, CA  94608
510/601-8846
www.JohnFricke.com