The completion of Shinsei Gardens Apartments, a sustainable affordable housing development, is a significant milestone in the City of Alameda's and its redevelopment agency's efforts to transition former military base property to civilian reuse. The Navy's exodus from Alameda left acres of abandoned structures and aging infrastructure, as well as contaminated soil and groundwater.

Shinsei Gardens was conceived by a Vietnam veteran who was determined that the reuse of Navy land include accessible, affordable housing for veterans and their families. On October 26, 2009, thirteen years after the base closure, the City celebrated the grand opening of Shinsei Gardens, showcasing affordability, universal design, and green technology.