Goodwill May Replace Closed Blockbuster Near El Cerrito-Albany Border

A new Goodwill store could be located on San Pablo Avenue next to El Cerrito's southern border if an application before Albany's this week is approved.

The application, submitted by Guy Swaggerty of Goodwill Industries, is to occupy the space formerly held by , which closed earlier this year.

Commissioners are set to discuss, and possibly take action on, the Goodwill application tonight, Tuesday.

The roughly 5,325-square-foot retail store would be open daily: Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Donations would be accepted via a 1,200-square-foot "Donation Reception Center," which is currently proposed along Brighton Avenue. 

Because retail is an accepted use for the space, the store itself would not require extra approval, but the donation area needs a conditional use permit, according to the Planning & Zoning staff report, which is attached as a PDF.

From the report: "According to the Albany Municipal Code, drive-through facilities must be designed to mitigate pollution, congestion, excessive pavement, litter, noise, and unsightliness. Off-street loading facilities must provide sufficient space to discourage on-street loading and to prevent traffic congestion and a shortage of curb space."

Donation drop-off would occur along the eastern side of the building, but there would not be a drive-through aisle separate from the parking spots along the eastern edge of the property.

Goodwill describes 11 parking spots along the eastern edge of the property, and another 18 on the southern edge in its planning application to the city. No changes to the site's parking spaces are proposed.

"Goodwill Trucks will be making deliveries and collections along the same eastern entrance of the building. ... Staff recommends that provisions be made to ensure that no idling occurs in the loading area, including appropriate signage," continues the staff report.

Concerns about the property could include both excessive noise from drop-off activities, as well as what are called "nuisance donations" left outside while the store is closed. 

The staff report indicates that commissioners could require the construction of a "noise wall" if sound becomes a problem, noting that a fence with "considerable landscaping" is already present on the property.

According to the report, Goodwill already has agreed to a number of conditions "to deter non-business hour activity on the site, and to mitigate the impact of deliveries and collections on the site":

(1) Donations will go through the reception center, and will be monitored.

(2) Goodwill won't store trucks or trailers on site. 

(3) Bins, dollies and other equipment will be stored "inside at all times."

(4) A Goodwill employee will visit the location twice during non-business hours to monitor "nuisance drop-offs," and "if necessary clean the storefront." 

(5) All donations will be removed during working hours. 

(6) Goodwill will install video surveillance equipment to discourage after-hours nuisance donations.

(7) Parking of Goodwill trucks won't block traffic, and will be monitored by Goodwill Industries. Deliveries will be made during business hours. 

Staff suggested signage around the business to discourage after-hours drop-offs. 

"If problems with after-hour activity should arise, future options would be to install a low gate around the parking lot, which would be closed after business hours, or to install traffic spikes at the driveway entrances to the property, which would be raised after business hours."

Staff recommends approval for the application, noting that "the site's location and characteristics make it appropriate" for the drop-off center.

Goodwill attempted to open on Solano Avenue earlier this year, but the application was met with a fair amount of . Berkeleyside reported some felt it would "drag down the shopping district’s image."

In May, Berkeleyside reported that "Goodwill could not come to an agreement with the landlord, but will still look for another location in that part of Alameda County."

On July 6, Swaggerty filed an application for the former Blockbuster space with the city of Albany on behalf of Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay.