Above the yellow line is commercial property, and below it is parkland dubbed Enterprise Park.
A Public Records Act request shows that there are alternative opportunities for building a surf pool facility at Alameda Point. A surf pool is a type of shallow swimming pool with equipment that produces artificial ocean-like waves so users can practice surfing.
The City of Alameda has been moving toward leasing public park land to one developer for a commercial surf pool facility, while two other surf pool developers have also expressed interest in buying commercial property from the city for the same use.
If the private facility is built in the park and does not work out, the city would be left with a specialized pool that would cost the city to either manage or remove it.
If, on the other hand, a company buys commercial property from the city, the developer would take on all the risk that goes with owning property. In addition, the city could use the revenue from the sale to replace some of Alameda Point’s outdated infrastructure, which, according to a recent staff report, has ballooned to an estimated cost of $840 million. The sold property would also produce annual property tax. Continue reading
