POLARIS VILLAGE
A new, walkable urban village with welcoming publicly accessible waterfront space designed for the local community and economy that stands as a beacon of community, active space, and ecological restoration along the Bay shoreline.
Chris Desponds, Dini Amattullah, Rashida Chase VISION Polaris Village, formerly Golden Gate Fields, is a 140-acre site located in both Albany and Berkeley, that boasts unparalleled views of the Bay, Bay Shore Trail access, proximity to UC Berkeley, and is designed to be a beacon for cultural and recreational use along the shoreline. We envision a new, walkable urban village with welcoming publicly accessible waterfront space designed for the local community and economy that frames the local landscape and city skyline, promotes ecological restoration, and strengthens people’s connection to the water and the Bay through thoughtful programming and design. Polaris Village seeks to celebrate the history, resilience, and strength of the communities of Albany and Berkeley by reconnecting people who have been historically disconnected from the waterfront, restoring trust by building meaningful, rooted community partnerships that empower local residents, and recognize the impact of past harms and ensure they are not duplicated.
BUSINESS STRATEGY & INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS $97.4 M
Equity
70%
$41.8 M
Debt
30%
Reduced Cost
Increased Income
6%
Future Opportunity
13% Polaris Village 40%
• Type V construction • T-1 Bond for recreational spaces and public infrastructure • Measure O for affordable housing • 0.5 parking per DU in ground-floor parking with stackers
• Rare hotel opportunity • Reduction in cap rates • Capitalizing on regional • Reduction in capital demand for housing costs • Diversified product • Additional grants, offerings speed up bonds, financing lease-up schedule and options create resiliency
1%
40%
LAND USE & GROUND FLOOR
LANDSCAPE/OPEN SPACE
CIRCULATION & PARKING
Recognize
Restore
Reconnect
DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK
140 Acres
PLACEMAKING
People and community are at the heart of the vision of a new, walkable urban village with welcoming publicly accessible waterfront space designed for the local community and economy that stands as a Beacon of Community, active space, and ecological restoration along the Bay shoreline. Polaris Village will foster a deep connection to the water and the Bay while serving as a welcoming space for recreation, cultural activities, and economic growth.
Partnerships with local artists and arts organizations, and the creation of venue and maker space that will host artist residencies, as well dedicated space for Love the Bulb
Landscape strategy operates on three interconnected scales: the neighborhood, the watershed, and the broader bay area region
1,500 dwelling units in support of the Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA)