The city has taken steps to replace the deteriorating sea wall at the foot of Walnut Street. The wall is part of a 101-year-old barrier that once defined the San Francisco Bay shoreline from the southern end of Oak Street, past Walnut Street and on to Willow Street.

After taking bids from three companies the city has decided to award the contract to repair the wall to Engineered Soil Repairs, Inc. of Walnut Creek. If all goes accoding to plan the city will pay the contractor $214,358.40 to complete the work.

The contractor's bid includes removing and replacing the existing wall at the end of Walnut Street and replacing it with a smooth concrete retaining wall with a concrete parapet with minor decorative features.

The wall has been a bone of contention between the city and Walnut Street residents for at least two years. Residents notified the city about the detiorating condition of the wall in 2010.

"The city immediately took action and stabilized the area," Public Works Director Matt Naclerio stated in a March 2011 Alameda Sun story.

The Sun wrote the story ("Time Takes Toll on Sea Wall," March 10, 2011) after residents complained about the condition of the wall and pointed to the "flimsy barrier that the city put up." Money for the project is coming from the Capital Improvement Program Fund and the Urban Runoff Fund with no impact on the General Fund.