Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda for August 11, 2024

The Great Deck Project – DONE!

In all the years that I have been reporting for the Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda , I don’t recall seeing so many public works-type construction projects going on at one time.

There’s the Emma Hood Swim Center project, which is in the active demolition phase right now.

Down on San Antonio Avenue, there is a major street replacement going on.

But the one that has special significance for me is the one in my own backyard… literally.

The Great Deck Project started way back in April with some excavation and a slab pour. Over these many months, the crew at Dan Larsen Builders has been picking up wood, measuring, sawing, drilling, leveling, mitering, hammering, gluing, bracketing, etc. Earlier this week, my HC (human companion) was told that the project is complete and that the only remaining task was to get the final inspection from the City’s building department.

This is a really big deal for me, because there used to be a seven-foot drop from my dog door exit to the ground, which kept me from free access to the backyard. I understand that my HC’s insurance guy was not too happy about the drop either. Well, all that anxiety ended this week. The only other thing that needs to be done is for my HC to get out there and stain the raw wood. It took almost 20 years to get the deck built—let’s see how long the staining takes.

While I was walking on San Antonio Avenue, I saw this giant forest of sunflower plants at the corner of Willow Street. It is quite impressive and worth the walk if you are into sunflowers.

I am sure that just about everyone has seen the big while containers on the street with the PODS lettering on them. Like me, have you ever wondered how those giant boxes get moved around? This week, I finally got the chance to capture the entire process, and now I am sharing the knowledge with all of you. Check out my video that documents the entire process.

With everything going digital, it’s hard to find anything old school. But, this week, I saw the analog version of money collection from parking meters. My HC was overjoyed to see a guy in a work vest taking the coins out of the parking meters along Central Avenue. He was a bit surprised, though, because I have reported about how several of the city meters did not take coins — something that drives my HC bonkers.

Another analog solution that was less than effective was the bird spikes located on top of the Soccer Post sign at South Shore Shopping Center. I was at Loard’s Ice Cream shop licking on a Black Raspberry Marble waffle cone, when I noticed all the pigeons staring at me. I think a technical adjustment is needed.

Many of us continue to monitor the progress of the major renovation to what was perhaps the most rundown, dilapidated house in all of Alameda, 1617 Central Avenue. The work has continued for well over a year now, and I am wondering if the crew has hit a milestone. On my late-night walk, there were cars on the property and lights on. Is it possible that someone is now living there?

To close out this week’s report, I want to acknowledge the perseverance, determination, and physical stamina this guy at the beach exhibited in trying to get out of the water and experience the joy of kite surfing. I did not have time to hang around another 10 minutes to see if he ever got up. It was past my afternoon snack time, and I have priorities.

Go out and enjoy yourself!

Mouf, Roving Reporter
Bear’s-Eye View of Alameda

Mouf and his human companion can be reached via jeffcambraalameda@gmail.com . Their stories are collected at AlamedaPost.com/Jeff-Cambra/ . All photos and videos by Jeff Cambra.

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