Safeway has plans, many plans.....

Picturing the future on Solano Avenue.
Safeway sees leased retail along Solano Avenue, in addition to its own much larger, two-story store covering the entire lot, with an entrance at Curtis Street and Solano Avenue.

Safeway isn't just working on doubling the size of its story on North Shattuck Avenue in Berkeley, they want to substantially increase the size of all their stores in our community.

The locally-based mega-Corporation has plans for a 58,000 square foot project, which will include almost 10,000 square feet of for-lease retail space along Solano Avenue.

This proposed project will entirely encompass the corporation's Albany property from Curtis to Neilson streets, with parking entrances on those two residential streets rather than reducing the company's valuable for-lease real estate along Solano Avenue.

There are also plans in development for its store on College Avenue in North Oakland.

If you're interested in hearing what this grocery chain has in store for us in Albany, there's information available at: http://www.safewayonsolano.com/

A community "Albany Planning & Zoning Study Session" is scheduled for next week, June 24, 2008 at 7:30 pm at the Albany Community Center, 1249 Marin Ave., Albany CA

For more information, call Barbara Ellis at (510) 849-4811

Safeway's latest proposal for North Shattuck

There will be a community forum to view Safeway's proposed plans to rebuild their store on Shattuck Avenue held on Wednesday, June 25, 2008 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Hillside Club, 2286 Cedar St, in North Berkeley.

Come view the plans and renderings and share your comments.
You may view the plans before the meeting by going to
www.safewayonshattuck.com

For more information call or email
Elisabeth Jewel
(510) 849-4811
elisabeth@ajepartners.com
Aroner, Jewel and Ellis Partners
a public relations and political lobbying firm.

From the Safeway website:
Dear Berkeley Safeway Neighbors:
Our team is excited and pleased to finally post to this website the proposed plans for redeveloping your Safeway at 1444 Shattuck Avenue. Over the last year, our team of architects, consultants and store designers worked diligently to incorporate your ideas and suggestions into a plan for a new exciting, upscale, and more dynamic shopping experience for you, your family, and the community.

We believe you will find that the proposed design complements the style and scale of the neighborhood and unique urban setting. We strived to be mindful of enlivening and enhancing the area with outdoor seating, retail shops, and walkable sidewalks to promote increased pedestrian activity and community pride. The unique design includes multiple retail spaces on the street level to enhance the flow and energy of the area and encourage shoppers to visit the store via foot or bike. The proposed Safeway, occupying the second floor, overlooks the street with lots of glass to maintain a visual connection between customer activity inside and the pedestrian enhanced activity outside. Parking has been designed to be mostly hidden from pedestrian view. The interior parking will provide safe, light–filled, and easily accessible parking.

The store design accommodates a roomy, comfortable layout, with a world class produce, bakery, service deli, meat, and seafood, pharmacy and many other goods and services not possible in the current configuration. Delivery trucks will be screened behind roll up doors, mechanical equipment will be moved away from residences, and outside recycling removed.

This is just the beginning! There will be many more meetings and opportunity for community input as the plan evolves and is eventually submitted to the city. We continue to welcome your comments and suggestions. We would be honored if you would utilize this website to provide your thoughts and look forward seeing you at the upcoming community meeting.