Perhaps we have cause for some guarded optimism

This is good news. The City also needs to sign a development agreement with Anderson now before our reform Council ends up being known as the Council who killed the waterfront Time is running out. It also needs to sell HMU . I was concerned about Duran's report mentioning leasing or reducing costs. He's new so may not realize this has all been looked at. The city needs to get out of the power business. HMU is bleeding the Genersl Fund and the only offset is charging a small number of Herculeans unconscionable electric rates nobody else has to pay.

I like the sound of "the buyer is hiring the original project architect". Baysiders would like to know what the proposed changes on the ground floor consist of. Surely that should not be a secret?
I would be more excited if they were exploring restoring some of the original design because those drawing did not show a monolithic montrosity but 4 SEPARATE buildings that had different roof lines, window facings, balcony designs etc. , providing interest and variation and more in keeping with the adjoining neighborhood. Also, the original plan had housing on the first level towards R alley. That design was a much better "transition" than a concrete wall and canyon, for the folks on Lewis street.
I would be elated if they were exploring downsizing those ridiculous towers (ala bay street) and maybe reconfiguring the first floor to fit in Apple (yeah I know, keep dreaming)! Maybe they want to fit in PF Changs or something. They will need some kind of anchor store there but its anybodies guess at this point.
Regarding the money pit that is HMU, my bill is already unconscionable. Finishing SN will add a few more suckers (I mean customers!). We would have been better off with wind and solar. We are in the perfect location for it.

The new El Cerrito Safeway is nice enough aesthetically and inside that I wouldn't mind something along those lines in Hercules somewhere.
Do we have a ballpark on affordable houses as the plan stands now?

Kim,
I think something like that is in the works for Sycamore
Crossing. Goodness knows we need a good grocery store !

I have yet to hear what if any reprecusions there are to not having affordable units in this building. Are their legal issues that may come back and bite us? Since Bayside developers "bought out" their obligation with the land to build SN where are their affordable homes going to be? The city just gave up the affordable housing program to the state or county I think that is a bad idea the city should control the affordable housing program. The state or county won't care about neighborhood fit, they won't give priority to local police, fire, teachers, nurses and others who help the city run. If you are throwing up your hands to affordable housing why not just give up on the police, fire and other city run functions? Affordable housing has not been managed well in our city but the obligation of afforable housing and runing our existing programs IS a city function and should be managed by Hercules not outsiders. I think Hercules well regret their decison to dump affordable housing on others.

Toni,
It was my understanding the City did hold onto the housing portion when they decided to go with a successor agency. This
should be clarified.