On June 10, the Planning Board [1] held a public workshop on the draft Development Plan for the RADIUM Theatre Performing Arts Center [2]. In considering where to site the facility, speakers emphasized a desire to preserve the views of its neighbor, the Alameda Naval Air Museum. The Board concluded by appointing a subcommittee to work with the Historical Advisory Board to refine the Development Plan before returning for full Board approval in the fall.
[3]Background
In December 2023, City Council approved an Exclusive Negotiating Agreement (ENA) with Little Opera House, Inc. [5] to develop a performing arts center between the Alameda Naval Air Museum and Seaplane Lagoon Promenade at Alameda Point [6]. The ENA stipulates an aggressively scheduled 12-month period, during which the City and Little Opera House will craft a lease with purchase option for the center’s development.
In March, Little Opera House applied for Development Plan approval. Conceptual drawings show a performing arts center with an approximately 500-seat main theater, 200-seat studio theater, support and amenity spaces, and an outdoor public plaza. Architect Michael Tingley cited a goal of creating an inspiring community gathering place reflecting the architectural legacy of the former naval base and its aviation history while still being distinctively modern.
[7]The City’s 2014 Town Center and Waterfront Precise Plan [9] (Precise Plan) establishes key views to consider when planning development at Alameda Point. Two of these views relate to the proposed performing art center. The Alameda Naval Air Museum [10] is directly north of the proposed theater site. The Precise Plan suggests maintaining a view corridor of at least 40 feet—and preferably 120 feet—along the centerline of the museum, and retaining an 80-foot-wide view corridor along the face of the large aircraft hangars to the north of the museum.
A challenge is that the footprint of the Art Center is too wide to fit between those two view corridors. Therefore, a critical question in siting the theater is whether to preserve the view from the museum toward the water, highlighted by the Beken sculpture at Seaplane Lagoon Promenade, or the view along the face of the hangar buildings.
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[12]Comment
Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer [13] advocated conserving the view from the Alameda Naval Air Museum, noting that the museum struggles financially and should be protected. She recommended that board members visit the museum to appreciate the second-floor view of Seaplane Lagoon, calling it a view to “take you back in time” to when the base was active.
Christopher, an Alameda resident, also asked for museum views to be preserved and recommended shifting the performing arts center to the west as much as possible to maximize these views. Another commenter, Josh, preferred maintaining both views by shifting the building east into parking spaces and asked board members to also consider the view when arriving by ferry, a similar experience to the historic view seen by arriving seaplanes.
The architect responded that moving the facility east would be infeasible due to various logistical issues. He added that if the Naval Air Museum were to be a focal point of development at Alameda Point, it would require investment because it is in poor condition.
[14]Board discussion
Board Member Theresa Ruiz responded that even though the Naval Air Museum building needs “tender loving care,” she didn’t want to see it diminished by blocking its views. She added that she would prefer to see the performing arts center moved further west to highlight the museum, viewing that as an opportunity to restore the museum facility, formerly a seaplane air terminal, to its past glory.
Board President Hanson Hom agreed, saying there is a connection between the museum and the Beken sculpture that the City should build on by creating a plaza between them. Board Member Asheshh Saheba also agreed with wanting to preserve the museum’s views and lauded public comment about considering the view from the water, challenging the design team to consider the look and feel of Alameda’s skyline.
Board President Hom appointed a subcommittee of three members, including himself and Board Members Saheba and Diana Ariza, to work with staff and the Historical Advisory Board to refine the development plan before returning for full Board approval in the fall.
Contributing writer Karin K. Jensen covers boards and commissions for the Alameda Post [15]. Contact her via [email protected] [16]. Her writing is collected at https://linktr.ee/karinkjensen [17] and https://alamedapost.com/Karin-K-Jensen [18].