Alameda Landing Gateway: Retro Designs Go to Planning Board Tonight

Alameda's Planning Board will hold a public hearing on — and potentially approve — building designs for a Safeway gas station, Chase Bank branch and In-N-Out Burger at Alameda Landing tonight.

The three buildings are proposed for a 2.3-acre parcel bounded by Webster Street and Willie Stargell Avenue, near the exit from the Webster Street Tube. It's across Stargell from the College of Alameda. The parcel is more or less adjacent to the main portion of the Alameda Landing shopping center and will be constructed by the same developer, Catellus Alameda Retail, LLC.

All three buildings have been given a retro look, as requested earlier by the Planning Board.

"The Safeway Fuel Station consists of two structures: the canopy covering the fuel pumps and the convenience store kiosk," city planning staff say in their report to the board. 

"The revised design is a contemporary interpretation of the Art Deco style that resembles the appearance of the nearby Posey Tube portal."

For the bank building, designers chose a different look.

"The proposed design is an updated interpretation of classical brick buildings found in other commercial areas in Alameda," says the staff report.

"The building closely resembles the Classical architecture of the nearby Union Iron Works Power House, which is an Alameda historical monument that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places."

Finally, the fast-food restaurant echoes yet another type of period architecture.

"As requested by the Planning Board, the proposed In-N-Out building has been completely redesigned to deviate from typical corporate fast-food restaurant architecture," says the report.

"The proposed building is now designed in the Mission Revival style. The architecture is characterized by arches and large exterior massing that mimics the appearance of old Spanish missions.

"A key feature of the latest design is the 42-foot tower located at southernmost tip of the site at the intersection of Webster Street and Stargell Avenue.

"While the applicant has indicated that the latest design concept borrows from the Union Station in Los Angeles, which is another landmark building, many of the building’s features can be traced to local Alameda roots.

"Overall, the revised design is a contemporary interpretation of historic Mission style buildings found in other commercial areas in Alameda and would fit into the Webster Street Business District.

"It would also provide Alameda with a one-of-a-kind In-N-Out Burger restaurant not found in other cities."

The plans coming before the board tonight also show a reduction in the number signs — called "monument signs" for their tall brick bases — down to two.

One will read "Welcome to Alameda. Webster Street Business District" and will be visible as drivers leaving the Webster Street Tube. The other, at the far end of the parcel, will real "Alameda Landing."

The Planning Board will meet at 7 p.m in the City Hall council chambers, 2263 Santa Clara Ave. The complete agenda and accompany staff reviews are available on the City of Alameda website here.

Check out the site drawings and tell us what you think of the completed designs in the comments section below.

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