A lawsuit filed by two Alameda residents over a “historic parking lot” is threatening the Alameda Food Bank’s plans to construct a permanent home base from which it would serve thousands of food-insecure clients.
The lawsuit contends the city planning commission’s unanimous approval of the project violated the California Environmental Quality Act, known as CEQA, and the Brown Act, which governs local government meetings.
“We’re really concerned that it could halt construction immediately,” said Teale Harden, executive director of the Alameda Food Bank. “A lengthy litigation – with the food bank’s resources going towards that as opposed to feeding people – is a major concern for us.”
The lawsuit’s plaintiffs, Alameda business owner Tod Hickman and resident Shelby Sheehan, contend the construction of a 10,000-square-foot warehouse on a currently city-owned parking lot in the historic district will bring “irreversible damage” to historic resources and the surrounding community.
The food bank currently operates out of Building 92, a former Naval Air Station hangar owned by the city of Alameda. The proposed new location is at 677 West Ranger Ave.
But time is running out at Building 92, Harden said.
“We’re not able to complete our new facility, but the city still wants to sell Building 92,” Harden said. “It puts the food bank in a precarious position.”
For Harden, a permanent site represents the food bank’s mission to provide “dignity and respect” to its clients.
But for Hickman and Sheehan, the project represents “severe irreversible degradation” of Alameda’s historic district, according to their lawsuit against the city. They accuse the city of producing documents that “paint an inaccurate and incomplete picture” of the project that “deliberately misinforms the public.”
“Our CEQA suits really have nothing to do with the food bank,” Hickman said. “The city attorney has lied to the public, telling them this project has undergone extensive environmental review. Instead, the city filed a notice of exemption.”
Hickman said the food bank would be better suited at a site down the road, which he suggested is being preserved by the city for its “favorite developer.”
Both Hickman and Sheehan have contentious histories with the city of Alameda. Hickman has sued the city of Alameda twice over CEQA-related issues. And Sheehan has filed numerous lawsuits against the city; the most recent being an alleged Brown Act violation that proved to be unfounded.
Harden said she believes Alameda Food Bank followed all of the necessary guidelines to receive building approval, adding that her organization worked closely with the city to adhere to regulations.
The public backlash to the CEQA suit reached a head Tuesday night when hundreds of community members flocked to the Alameda City Council meeting to express their frustration. The turnout forced the city to open an overflow room. That turnout, Harden said, showed how much the Alameda community values the food bank.
“That work and their commitment was shown in another light by their willingness to come out and support the food bank and raise awareness around this issue,” Harden said.