Emeryville's Last Large Piece of Fallow Land; Sherwin Williams Site To Be Developed

The blog, E'Ville Eye, documents the start-up for Park Avenue neighborhood's Sherwin Williams project, the last large piece of undeveloped land in Emeryville.  With plans for some 460 residential rental units plus copious office and retail square footage, this project promises to be a development of major consequence in our town for generations to come.  Please click the link at the bottom.

LATEST SHERWIN SITE PLANS DRAW OPTIMISM … SKEPTICISM

As the Sherwin Williams project wraps up its due-diligence period and transitions to its next stage of procuring entitlements, the reality of the impact of the development of the remediated paint factory is beginning to settle in. Developers Thompson Dorfman Partners and Oakland-based SRM Ernst have kicked off a series of community meetings soliciting input from neighboring Park Avenue residents & businesses in an attempt to reach out and alleviate concerns. ”We want to create a unique place, a town center … not just another residential complex” said Thompson Dorfman principal Bruce Dorfman during a recent community meeting at the Emeryville Warehouse Lofts. SRM lists Phase I of the Pixar campus amongst its achievements and TD was responsible for notable Emeryville developments including the Bay Street residential, The Courtyards at 65th and Terraces at Emerystation. They’ve previously collaborated on the San Jose Water Site across from the HP Pavilion.

The footprint of this development represents a sizable chunk of the 1.2 square miles of our city and the largest piece of undeveloped land available. There seems to be a “make or break” attitude about the project for the Park Avenue District and concerns that if not watched closely could damage the historic neighborhood (perhaps the last link to Emeryville’s past with its abundant brick & historic warehouses). One thing that all neighbors seem to agree on is that they don’t want an extension of the Bay Street Shopping Mall. While Bay Street contributes heavily to the City’s tax-base … it comes at the cost of a heavy traffic burden and the “homogenized retail” contributes little to the character of the city (in fact has perpetuated the “Gentrification” label that our city seems to wear).

For the rest of the article click HERE.