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It's been a while since Alameda residents last heard an update about the state of Alameda Point. The Alameda Sun contacted officials with the city, the Alameda Point Collaborative (APC), and the PM Realty Group, which manages leases at the base, to see what's new at the base.

Deputy City Manager Jennifer Ott said that the city "is primarily focusing its efforts" on five major goals.

The city continues to work hard on attracting Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's second campus to the Point. In July, the city submitted its proposal for the second lab campus to the lab's selection committee. In early September, the city gave the committee a tour of the former naval air station. The committee will respond some time this month with suggestions on how Alameda can improve its case for getting the lab. The committee will make its final choice for where the lab will go in November.

Even though the base closed 16 years ago, the city continues to be in negotiations with the Navy to fully transfer ownership of the Point property. The city is also working with the Navy on clean-up efforts for the base. According to Ott, "75 percent of Alameda Point is either ready for transfer or undergoing active remediation."

Outside of its dealings with the Navy, the city is actively working with the Statelands Commission to execute a Tidelands Trust Exchange for the base. The city has been working on ways to effectively manage the 60 commercial leases and 66 residential leases it has at the Point.

Luckily for the city, it has a great deal of help managing Point leases. The PM Realty Group is continuing to make great leasing deals at the old base. According to PM General Manager Stacey McCarthy, "PM Realty Group has closed five deals in the past 45 days; another two are currently out for signature. Six additional leases are in advanced-lease negotiations and/or have letters of intent issued, and we continue to do brisk business as a film and special events location for hire."

PM is working on creating marketing brochures for three Point buildings that the city and PM have set aside for special leasing. It is also working on marketing materials that will hopefully attract America's Cup businesses to the old base. Much of PM's recent Point efforts are showcased at the company's new website: www.ThePointAtAlameda.com.

Though PM works on attracting more leasers to the Point, APC works on helping the leasers currently on the old base. APC Executive Director George Biggs says that, "We continue to maintain our current housing and services. We have 500 residents, including 300 children. While our direct funding has not been heavily impacted yet, the cutbacks in other areas — general assistance, school programs, mental health services, are greatly impacting our residents. We find we are having to do much more with the same amount of resources."

Despite its setbacks, APC continues to work with the city on economic development efforts at the Point. The city and APC are actively working to make the Ploughshares Nursery and the Changing Gears bicycle shop large successes. The businesses directly benefit those in the Point housing community.

To continue to be kept informed about the redevelopment efforts at Alameda Point, the public can attend Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority (ARRA) meetings at 7 p.m. on the first Monday of every month. The meetings are held in city council chambers. Also of interest is the Alameda Point Restoration Advisory Board (RAB), which meets the First Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at 950 W. Mall Square on Alameda Point. The next meeting is Oct. 6.