Elephant Rumblings: Howard Terminal hopes bolstered by new commission report
MLB news roundup
Happy Wednesday, Athletics Nation!
Back in March, hopes for a new ballpark at Howard Terminal took a hit when the Seaport Planning Advisory Committee (SPAC) recommended that the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) reject removing Howard Terminal’s designation for port activities. Were the BCDC to follow this recommendation in a binding vote to be held in June, the ballpark project would be dead.
Thankfully, BCDC staff rejected the SPAC recommendation in a report released earlier this week that recommends “Removing the Port Priority Use designation from 56 acres at Howard Terminal at the Port of Oakland.” This means the authors of the report believe that Port of Oakland operations would not be adversely affected if the new ballpark and surrounding developments go forward.
If the commission’s June 30 vote follows this recommendation it will effectively remove a big hurdle that has threatened to block the A’s new stadium plan. Casey Pratt at ABC 7 News Bay Area has been diligently covering the issue on Twitter.
This means the June vote that could have killed the A’s Howard Terminal plan is expected to go well. And it’s a reversal on the Seaport Advisory Committee recommending AGAINST the plan in March — which sent some people into a panic. #BindingVoteSZN pic.twitter.com/7j87lVm2C0
— Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) May 3, 2022
One event that could potentially move the needle on this issue between now and June 30 is a BCDC public hearing scheduled for June 2nd.
The @sfbcdc has a key public meeting on June 2 to go over this preliminary staff recommendation. Then they do a public binding vote on June 30. If they approve, it clears a major hurdle for A’s at Howard Terminal. #BindingVoteSZN pic.twitter.com/sUMcr6RzbP
— Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) May 3, 2022
Athletics President Dave Kaval and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf both celebrated the news:
Massive deal. Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) staff recommends allowing @Athletics waterfront ballpark to move forward. https://t.co/Qn0mb4MAy6 pic.twitter.com/FsR6rsDfzK
— Dave Kaval (@DaveKaval) May 2, 2022
Statement from @LibbySchaaf. “Today’s report is great news for Oakland and our region.” #BindingVoteSZN pic.twitter.com/QfDvk9kekC
— Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) May 3, 2022
This isn’t the only hurdle left to clear before the Howard Terminal project becomes a done deal. As Sarah Ravani and Michael Cabanatuan reported in the San Francisco Chronicle, the A’s still need to finish negotiating a development agreement with the city that will require ratification by the Oakland City Council. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors will also need to approve an infrastructure financing district. The A’s and City of Oakland also need to prove in court that the certified environmental review of the project was duly thorough. But the BCDC staff report marks a momentum shift back toward realizing our waterfront ballpark dreams.
A’s Coverage:
- Hall: Game #24: A’s blow save, lose in extra innings
- Hall: A’s roster moves: Lou Trivino reinstated, no players remain on COVID IL
- Kawahara: A’s reinstate Lou Trivino from COVID IL, return Nick Allen to Triple-A ($)
- Buchanan: This Week in Minor League Baseball: Shea Langeliers goes off; Alex Faedo hits Triple A ($)
MLB News & Interest:
- Franco: Reds Place Joey Votto On Injured List, Activate Tyler Stephenson
- Rosenthal: Inside how the Phillies helped Alec Bohm turn a nightmare viral moment into a standing ovation ($)
- Buchanan: Meet Chris and Stefan Caray, the identical twin broadcasters looking to extend a legacy while building one of their own ($)
- The Athletic: Astros’ Dusty Baker wins 2,000th career game as manager ($)
- Franco: Dexter Fowler Granted Release From Minor League Deal With Blue Jays
- McDonald: NL Notes: Eflin, Lauer, DeJong
- Today in Baseball History
Best of Twitter:
Casey has also been chronicling a little brewhaha between fans and a local craft brewery.
My favorite brewery @AltamontBW thought it would be cute to put “Viva Las Vegas” on the bottom of their A’s themed Green Collar Pale Ale. And now A’s fans are appropriately pissed. Swing and a miss by a brewery that usually churns out nothing but hits. https://t.co/1cq0hNmG1N
— Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) May 2, 2022
A disgruntled A’s fan working at Altamont Beer Works stamped cans thusly, putting some A’s fans up in arms. Love that t-shirt!
Your move @AltamontBW. https://t.co/LDx3g5Sbr7
— Casey Pratt (@CaseyPrattABC7) May 3, 2022
Thankfully, an apology was issued and tensions subsided.
Y’all we’re sorry, we love you, we love the A’s, we love the city of Oakland. We want the team to stay here!
— Altamont Beer Works (@AltamontBW) May 3, 2022
From here on out, the Green Collar date code will read, iViva Oakland!
Selleck’s latest notes.
Paul Blackburn is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA over his first four starts…the three wins are tied for fourth in the American League and his 1.35 ERA is fifth lowest among pitchers with 20 or more innings…the A's game note highlights for May 3: pic.twitter.com/mXJv6y6U2y
— Mike Selleck (@MikeSelleck) May 4, 2022
The Ports pull off the opposite of what the A’s did last Friday.
Trailing 8-3 after six and a half innings the @StocktonPorts come from behind for the 9-8 walk-off win in ten innings over the San Jose Giants. Kevin Richards homered twice including the game tying home run in the 9th inning. Robert Puason with the walk-off RBI double.
— Paul (@ThatsAnError) May 3, 2022
Shea ... when you coming up?
No. 2 @Athletics prospect Shea Langeliers has lifted off again.
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 4, 2022
Baseball's No. 57 prospect went yard in his last 4 games for the @AviatorsLV: pic.twitter.com/ZhX8yuNQXx
Aviators hosting a new MiLB postseason format.
.@AviatorsLV to host inaugural Triple-A Triple Championship Weekend, a new postseason format featuring three winner-take-all games!
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 3, 2022
: https://t.co/s2qftN2lxk pic.twitter.com/MQ6i43C4bP
Consider supporting Canine Companions for Independence!
Our Nonprofit Partner of the Game is Canine Companions for Independence!@ccicanine provides expertly trained service dogs to adults, children and veterans with disabilities free of charge, all over the country, including throughout Oakland & the Bay Area: https://t.co/HWXa9girOv pic.twitter.com/zIDN1TSarE
— Oakland A's (@Athletics) May 4, 2022