It cannot be overstated the commitment Site A is making to reduce automobile trips generated by our residents and users. Alameda Point Partners is making a considerable investment in transit infrastructure with a package of multi-modal strategies that complement and build off each other, including the new ferry terminal, bus rapid transit, last mile connection to BART (with shuttle service every 15 minutes in peak periods), bike and car sharing.

GlobeSt.com: How significant is it to get affordable housing included in the development?

Dorfman: The Bay Area is in tremendous need of additional housing at all levels of affordability: market rate, workforce and affordable. One of the mandates for this development is to build 25% of the residential units on Site A for affordable and workforce housing. This is higher than most cities require in the Bay Area. Working with Alameda Point Partners' nonprofit affordable housing partner, Eden Housing, our first phase will include 130 affordable units and provide housing for extremely low, very-low, low and moderate-income households. This will be constructed in two buildings on a central location on the site by Eden. One will be a family building with 70 units, while the second will be a senior building with 60 units. In addition, Trammell Crow Residential is working to build 70 units of teacher and staff housing similar to other apartment communities developed for the Santa Clara Unified School District and San Mateo Community College District. Also, Cypress Equity Investors, one of the buyers of land from Alameda Point Partners, is proposing to build a 200-unit project that offers 'affordability-by-design' to be appealing to moderate-income households. These projects are much in need and will reduce some of the pressures on the existing residents of Alameda.

GlobeSt.com: What type of infrastructure improvements are required to begin construction?

Dorfman: Some 30 acres of the 68-acre Site A parcel were transferred to Alameda Point Partners on March 16, 2018, and demolition was kicked off the following day. Construction will commence in the middle of this month on major infrastructure improvements including new water, sewer, electrical and gas lines, newly paved streets with bike and transit lanes, bulkhead improvements on Seaplane Lagoon as well as 8 acres of new parks. Where once stood old Navy facilities and heavy industrial equipment, there will be a mixed-use development complete with apartments, townhomes, parks and space for restaurants, retail, makers, R&D and office users.

The $500 million first phase of the Site A project is residential focused and consists of 673 housing units. Approximately 100,000 square feet of retail and maker space is also included in this phase, which will be geared toward resident-serving retail, dining and maker spaces, as well as community events and gatherings.

GlobeSt.com: What are the milestones expected for the project?

Dorfman: Completion of the new infrastructure for phase one of Site A is expected within the next two years, with vertical construction commencing by year end. The first residential units are projected to be completed in the second half of 2019. We are scheduled to move forward with the transfer of the second phase next year and would like to accelerate the acquisition of the third phase, but the timing is a function of the Navy's completion of its remediation activities. Besides adding more commercial space and jobs, the third phase is designed to have a hotel.

Alameda Point Partners is comprised of Trammell Crow Residential, a division of Dallas-based Crow Holdings, srmERNST Development Partners, Madison Marquette, Eden Housing and financial partner Cypress Equity Investments.