Posted on Tuesday, 12/16/2008 - 8:46 a.m. PST — by CoolMonkey
Why don't they put in a parking garage at Bart before building anymore housing near bart? That is one MAJOR design flaw there should have been a garage built when they built the station...I know they say they were not sure of the popularity...that is a lame excuse.
Joined: Mar 2008
Current Posts: 166
Pittsburg approves mixed-use development plan near BART station
East County Times
After clearing several hurdles, plans for a 531-unit residential and 14-acre commercial business development near the Pittsburg/Bay Point BART station will proceed.
This week, the Pittsburg City Council approved the application by Alves Ranch LLC to build the project north of West Leland Road and the Vista Del Mar subdivision — about a half-mile west from BART.
The city set the parameters for the project when it approved a developer agreement with Alves Ranch and William Lyon Homes for Vista Del Mar in December 2004.
The "charming mix" of housing types "raises the bar" for area developments and could bring almost 900 jobs to the growing southwest Pittsburg area and substantial tax increment, said Peter Hellmann, a consultant with Alves Ranch LLC and owner of Paramount Homes.
The roughly $250 million project calls for six distinct neighborhoods of either single-family homes, townhomes or apartments. One of the tracts would be a 221,500-square-foot commercial business area. The agreement allows Alves Ranch to build as many as 560 homes if it chooses.
The project did "hit some turbulence," Hellmann said, noting the Planning Commission rejected the plan in September.
The commission approved a revised plan in October with changes that added at least 60 more houses, more emergency vehicle access and dispersed the project's low-income units.
"We're thrilled at the approval. At the end of the day, there were some
legitimate beefs, and the city worked hard with us to get it right," Hellmann said.
The changes will not affect the environmental studies done on the project.
There is no timetable for buildout, though business park construction would likely start first given the poor economy, Hellmann said.
Before council approval, Vice Mayor Sal Evola questioned whether an added street should be maintained by the city or developer — adding he didn't want to "discourage someone from building" given the current economic climate.
The council will hear a second reading on the ordinance at its next meeting on Jan. 19. City planners would then have to approve the final map and design.
Joined: Mar 2008
Current Posts: 166
Pittsburg looks to be more prudent in redevelopment spending
East County Times
Pittsburg's slogan for 2008 is "the year of results." But a decision this week by Pittsburg leaders to delay several projects may make for a less-catchy theme for 2009.
Deeming it a necessary decision given worsening national credit and economic conditions, the City Council — acting as the Redevelopment Agency — approved a revised operating budget that slices spending on future projects by about $12.2 million. The budget also pays back about $25 million in bond proceeds, City Manager Marc Grisham said.
Vice Mayor Nancy Parent likened Monday's decision to putting money in the bank.
"When all the bills come due, we know we'll be able to pay it," she said, adding the city is in "hang in there" mode.
Councilman Ben Johnson added Pittsburg is making the tough money choices many people are facing.
"We all have to tighten our belts," he said. "Everywhere you go, people are being more cautious with their money and making decisions like eating at restaurants less or not taking vacations or trips."
Among the projects put on hold are a six-story Civic Center office building, waterfront hotel, revitalization of the New Mecca block, renovation of the California and Enean theaters, and a loan program for businesses. About $1 million will be taken from an account for pavement reconstruction.
Pittsburg leaders say the goal now is to finish projects already under way, such as a new branch of Contra Costa Superior Court
and connected road and utility work.
The moves put the city in a good position for "a protracted rainy day" caused by the sour economy, freezing of credit markets and loss of $3.6 million in Redevelopment Agency funds to the state, Grisham said. Further, he said the state's legislative analyst has said the state take-away could remain in place for several years or permanently.
The council decision should have "very little impact" on average Pittsburg residents, Mayor Will Casey said, though he's sure there will be some disappointment about the delays because there "was this pleasure with what was happening" in Pittsburg.
Pittsburg will also put about $38 million toward a reserve for handling any unforeseen problems for the next of couple of years.
Kerry Lyman, senior project manager with the Redevelopment Agency, said putting the Civic Center midrise on hold won't affect the utility and road work along Davi, Power and Civic avenues and construction at Railroad and Power avenues. Power Avenue is expected to close around Christmas, Lyman said.
"We're still moving forward with moving utilities and bringing everything up to the point where once there is money available, all they have to do is tap into construction," he said.
Thus far, the project has included widening Davi and putting utilities on that street underground, adding a second left turn lane from Railroad onto Civic, and work on the current parking lot area of City Hall to put utilities underground and create a driveway to the future Civic Center area.
The three-story courthouse is scheduled to start construction in January. A ceremonial groundbreaking is set for Dec. 12, Lyman said.
Tabled plans for the 133,400-square-foot Civic Center building include a new branch for the Pittsburg library twice the size of the existing location, new offices for the Pittsburg Unified School District, classrooms, and business and retail space.
Head librarian Marian Partridge said she's "really disappointed" but understands the city's rationale. It's important to note, she said, that Pittsburg can still help fund the library and keep it open 52 hours a week.
School district officials were in a districtwide administrative meeting and could not be reached for comment.
Paul Burgarino covers Pittsburg and Bay Point. Reach him at 925-779-7164 orpburgarino@bayareanewsgroup.com.
Joined: Aug 2003
Current Posts: 219
Why not take the bus? Tri-Delta Transit has a lot of service at commute times yet, cars are parked illegally on the side streets and get hefty tickets. If You get early enough, somebody else gets the ticket. We must end solo driving or, none of our children will survive global warming, they may soon change the phrase to "GLOBAL HEATING"
Plans will be heard by BART, today, AT 6:30 PM in that school on Range Road, the details are probably here, yes it is, here is a copy "The first community meeting is Wednesday, June 24, at 7 p.m. at Rancho Medanos Junior High School auditorium, 2301 Range Rd. in Pittsburg. Contact the Pittsburg Planning Division at 925-252-4920 if you have any questions and for future community meeting dates." See you there, I will be promoting a Vocational School, part of Los Medanos College, and a Hospital right North of BART -with its own parking lot. Most people, about 80%, that travel to hospitals are not patients and none are contageous (they are taken by ambulance, by law), staff and visitors will be able to use BART to work and remove a lot of cars off the road. Walking and wheelchair patients could use a bridge from the entrance to the Fifth floor to the North, with a bridge.
Vocational schools are being promoted, and funded, under new plans of the Obama Administration including a new Mini-Pell Grant, funded with $2 Billion, obviously not enough, only some will be funded. It is time to admit that those that build the things we buy from other countries do not have, overly expensive, college degrees. The work force in America uses mostly workers trained on the job. We need better trained labor able and willing to improve our production process, all the time, if we expect our safety, in BART and elsewhere, to be as good as we expect.
It is time to expand Vocational Training and Pittsburg/Bay Point BART Transit Village is a good and timely start. Come and tell us what you think, your objections will help improve whatever is build in the future Transit Village. To merely put a bunch of apartments has been tried already. We need something that helps all cities from Antioch to Richmond. It may be only one step in a long journey, like JFK said (Schlessinger was unable to find the Chinese original).
Remember, by the time anything is fully built and in use, we will be wondering why anybody refused to believe in Global Heating, way back in 2009, you know, when Borak Obama was elected President of the United States."
MikeSar
Joined: Dec 2005
Current Posts: 72
Not everyone works 9-5. Pittsburg needs better bus service. I would love to leave my car at home. Pittsburg doesn't even have decent taxi service, pathetic, is about the best you can say about any planning as well as trying to do business in this town. It is always negative no matter what. Even driving to BART is always a negative experience. You have to go to Concord, Walnut Creek, anywhere West to do business and get a decent attitude. The bus that runs from Bay Pont to Concord BART quits running around 6:00 p.m.
Why isn't there public transportation that works for the public?
Yes, I know no one has posted on this topic in a year but nothing has improved in a year. Instead, BART service has SIGNIFICANTLY degraded.