Tag Archives: Andrew Thomas

The RHNA and the real world

Posted on February 14, 2023 by Robert Sullwold

Everyone knows (as the saying goes) that the City of Alameda was the first Bay Area city (and, out of 109 cities, one of only two so far) to get its 2023-31 Housing Element certified by the State Department of … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Development, Housing | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

The Princes of Alameda

Posted on November 27, 2022 by Robert Sullwold

For years, the Merry‑Go‑Round believed that the savviest political operator ever to occupy an office at City Hall was former City Manager John Russo. But in our estimation Mr. Russo now has got himself a rival for the crown:  City … Continue reading →

Posted in Budget, City Hall, Development, Firefighters, Housing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

We tell it to the judge

Posted on November 13, 2022 by Robert Sullwold

The Court:  “Madam Clerk, call the next case.” The Clerk:  “Yes, Your Honor.  Next on the docket is City of Alameda v. California Department of Housing and Community Development.”

Posted in Housing | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments

“Chicanery” on Grand Street

Posted on October 22, 2022 by Robert Sullwold

For a brief while, it appeared that Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft once again possessed the temerity – some would call it “fortitude” – to veer off the course prescribed by Councilman John Knox White and go her own way.

Posted in City Hall | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

HCD approves Housing Element draft

Posted on August 28, 2022 by Robert Sullwold

Ever since City Planner Andrew Thomas began working on a draft of the 2023‑31 Housing Element for the City of Alameda, he has made clear that his goal is to prepare a document that the state Department of Housing and … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Housing | Tagged , , , , | 19 Comments

The Harbor Bay Club (and Apartments)

Posted on May 8, 2022 by Robert Sullwold

The Harbor Bay Isle residents who have been fighting to preserve the 10-acre site of the Harbor Bay Club for recreational use only may have relaxed last week when the Council majority endorsed a 2023‑2031 Housing Element draft that left … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Development, Housing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Hold your horses

Posted on March 20, 2022 by Robert Sullwold

In the ongoing effort to prepare a Housing Element covering the next eight years, one might well conclude that the time has come to break out the champagne:  City Planner Andrew Thomas and his staff, it appears, have managed to … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Housing | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Encinal Terminals: winners and losers

Posted on January 23, 2022 by Robert Sullwold

Now that Council has approved the agreements for the long-stalled Encinal Terminals development along the northern waterfront, it’s time to sort out the winners from the losers. Generally, we hate the term “win‑win.”  But in this case, we can find … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Development, Housing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Missing the Point

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Robert Sullwold

Ever since City Planner Andrew Thomas released the first draft of his plan for enabling the City to meet the 5,353‑housing‑unit quota assigned to it by the regional planning authorities, there’s been a lot of talk about getting the federal … Continue reading →

Posted in Alameda Point, City Hall, Housing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

HCD speaks

Posted on December 5, 2021 by Robert Sullwold

On the afternoon of November 29, there appeared in the email inbox of City Planner Andrew Thomas, the staffer responsible for drafting the City’s Housing Element for the next eight‑year planning cycle, a letter signed by Paul McDougall of the … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Housing | Tagged , , , , , , | 26 Comments