The city's development of the former U.S. Navy base now known as Alameda Point is expected to cause an additional 53,000 vehicles to pass through Chinatown and the Fruitvale District in Oakland. This will cause more pollution, lost business revenue and possibly even lives, say opponents of the project.
"You can see the traffic right now,'' says Oakland Councilmen Henry Chang. "Wait until 53,000 cars are put on the street. This place will be completely filled with cars.''
The Navy gave the land to the city of Alameda in 1997. The development area, which takes up approximately one-third of the city, includes a 770-acre mixed-use development at the west end and a 170-acre project at the opposite side.
A Draft Environmental Impact Report on the larger project was issued last November but Oakland officials say that the report is inadequate, as it doesn't take into account ways to mitigate the impact that traffic would have in the city. They say that the project should be scaled back and that Alameda must recognize the negative effect that the project will have on Oakland.
Councilman Danny Wan says that city officials are ready to meet with officials in the island city to try to draft a compromise. However, if Alameda's plans remain the same, the city will oppose the Draft Environmental Impact Report and if necessary, take its neighbor city to court.
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