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Concord Naval Weapons Station Update – September 20, 2023

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moon rising over the concord naval weapons station
Moon rising over the CNWS by Peter Maclennan

According to multiple media sources, the Concord City Council unanimously passed a resolution to an exclusive agreement to negotiate with the chosen master developer for the Concord Naval Weapons Station (CNWS) on Tuesday evening. Brookfield Properties was selected as the master developer.

From KTVU.com:

The Concord City Council has unanimously selected Brookfield Properties as master developer for the former Concord Naval Weapons Station project.

Concord enters exclusive negotiation to develop former naval weapons station – KTVU.com

Exclusive Agreement to Negotiate

According to Claycord.com –

The EAN allows for a 120-day initial negotiating period, to allow Brookfield to prepare and propose a term sheet to the city.
The agreement also specifies a 24-month period for the developer to complete a specific plan, environmental impact report, and a disposition and development agreement, all of which must be approved by the city.

Concord City Council Agrees To Exclusively Negotiate With New Naval Weapons Station Developer

This is the third time the City has attempted to strike an agreement with a master developer over the CNWS. The previous two agreements ended when the chosen developer and the City of Concord could not come to agreement on terms in a timely manner.

Selection of Third New Master Developer

Back in August, the City Council chose Brookfield as the master developer after Housing America Partners withdrew from consideration.

KPIX.com – Concord selects developer for former naval weapons station site – CBS San Francisco (cbsnews.com)

The selection was made just after a report was released by the Contra Costa Civil Grand Jury on the City Council’s handling of the CNWS. The report titled: Concord Naval Weapons Station Grand Jury Report A Promise Unfulfilled can be found online here.

The City and Local Reuse Authority response to the Grand Jury Report is available online as well.

Details of the Redevelopment of Concord Naval Weapons Station

The redevelopment of the Concord Naval Weapons Station (NWS Concord) is one of the largest and most ambitious redevelopment projects in the Bay Area. The 2,300-acre Inland Area of the former base is being transformed into a master-planned community with up to 13,000 homes, millions of square feet of commercial space, and hundreds of acres of parks and open space.

The redevelopment project is being led by Brookfield Properties, and it is expected to be completed over the next several decades.

The redevelopment of NWS Concord is expected to have a significant impact on the Concord community. The project is expected to create thousands of new jobs and generate millions of dollars in economic activity. It is also expected to help alleviate the region’s housing shortage and provide much-needed affordable housing options.

Here are some of the key benefits of the redevelopment of NWS Concord:

  • New housing: The project will create up to 13,000 new homes, including a significant amount of affordable housing.
  • Economic development: The project is expected to create thousands of new jobs and generate millions of dollars in economic activity.
  • Parks and open space: The project will include hundreds of acres of parks and open space, providing residents with places to recreate and enjoy the outdoors.
  • Improved transportation: The project will improve transportation infrastructure in the area, making it easier for residents to get around.
  • Sustainable development: The project is being developed with a focus on sustainability, and it will include features such as energy-efficient buildings and green spaces.

The redevelopment of NWS Concord is a major undertaking, but it has the potential to transform the Concord community and create a vibrant new neighborhood.

Having a knowledgeable and experienced real estate broker on your side helps protect your interests and ensure you make the best possible decisions. We are dedicated to keeping on top of the real estate market and keeping you informed of changes. You can rest easily knowing you made a well-informed decision based on experience and insight into the Concord California market.

To reach Peter Maclennan please call 925.385.8798 or email at peter@maclennaninvestments.com.

Regional Park on CNWS Receives Funding

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The Martinez Tribune is reporting that the East Bay Regional Park District is receiving $3 million in state appropriations to begin construction of a staging area for the new Thurgood Marshall Regional Park on the former Concord Naval Weapons Station (CNWS).

“The new staging area, along with a planned visitor center, will help connect the public with the park’s important human history and the natural history and outdoor recreational opportunities of the land,” added Lane. “Establishing public access to Thurgood Marshall Regional Park is a major priority for the Park District.”

Martinez Tribune

The Park’s Name Origin

The Thurgood Marshall Regional Park was named in honor of NAACP civil rights attorney and former U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall. Marshall helped to defend the 50 black sailors accused of mutiny after the Port Chicago Naval Magazine blast in July of 1944.

The Park

The park will encompass over 2,687 acres of land on the former CNWS. It will stretch along the hills from Willow Pass Road, south past Bailey Road.

Map of Thurgood Marshall Regional Park
Thurgood Marshall Regional Park from (www.ebparks.org)

Concord Seeking New Developer for Naval Weapons Station

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Moon rising over concord naval weapons station photo by peter maclennan
Moon rising over Concord Naval Weapons Station by Peter Maclennan

The San Francisco Business Times is reporting that the City of Concord is on the hunt for a new developer for 2,300 acres of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station (CNWS).

The city has put an accelerated timeline on the RFQ process. With the RFQ slated to be released on April 16th and responses due by potential developers by June 16th.

The City has some stringent demands for any potential developer:

In the new RFQ, the city stipulates that bidders have to honor Concord’s 40% local hire policy; pay prevailing wages on all construction to avoid driving down area wage standards; and utilize a training and employment program for military veterans. Respondents also must explain how they intend to maximize business opportunities for local companies.

SF Business Times

The requirements of local hire and prevailing wage (union wages) will likely increase the costs to any potential developer.

As well, “The city expects the selected developer to rehabilitate a number of community facilities and build two new ones on land set aside for a veteran’s facility,” likely adding additional costs to the project.

The East Bay Times reports that the transfer won’t take place until the Navy has completed their cleanup.

The U.S. Navy, meanwhile, will be responsible for cleaning up toxic chemicals that may have built up at the site over its years as a weapons station. The Environmental Protection Agency is currently assessing the site’s soil for PFAS, a highly toxic fluorinated chemical.

Hopefully, this process is smoother and without the ugliness of the previous process.

“No Deal” on Concord Naval Weapons Station

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At a video meeting on Tuesday March 24, 2020 the Concord City Council voted against extending the exclusive negotiating agreement with Lennar to be the Master Developer of the Concord Naval Weapons Station (CNWS).

According the the SF Business Times:

The city and the Contra Costa Building Trades Council have been at loggerheads with Lennar for several months over how much union labor the developer would use on the $5 billion project.

SF Business Times

It is unclear what the path forward will be after this vote.

By refusing to extend an exclusive negotiating agreement with Lennar that expires next week and rejecting demands the developer made in January, the council effectively sent the project back to the drawing board.

EastBayTimes.com

The City is going to review the impact of COVID-19 on the city’s finances and also on the Bay Area economy.

Help Decide the New Regional Park Name

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As part of the Concord Naval Weapons Station redevelopment, a new park is being formed. The City of Concord and East Bay Regional Park District is seeking input on the new name for the park. It is currently being called the Concord Hills Regional Park.

Concord Residents can take the survey here that will help the Park District determine the permanent name for the park. Voting is open until March 9, 2020.

About the Concord Hills Regional Park

The new park, will encompass approximately 2,540 acres when completed. It will include future amenities such as a visitor center, staging areas, public access points, and miles of recreational trails for hiking, biking, and nature viewing.

In July of 2019 a ceremony for the transfer of 2,216 acres from the Navy to the Park Service occurred. Currently, the park is in land bank status and not available to the public.

The East Bay Regional Park District has made a brochure on the draft plan for the park available.

The full EIR plan is also available from the East Bay Regional Park District.

Update – Concord Naval Weapons Station News 1/9/2020

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We wrote earlier this week that the stalled negotiations between Lennar and the Building Trades Council were going before the Concord City Council regarding the amount of union labor to be used on the Concord Naval Weapons Station.

According to the East Bay Times, the City Council approved a motion to have the two sides return to the negotiating table. The issue remains unresolved and it remains to be seen whether Lennar will stay involved in the project or will decide to withdraw.

According to the East Bay Times article:

Lennar has already stopped work on it, having halted in October the $37,000 per month it was paying city staff for the redevelopment planning.

In an earlier article, the East Bay Times had reported that the City of Concord is having to pay out of pocket the staffing costs that were associated with the development of this project.

Because Lennar in October refused to continue paying for city staff to work on the project’s draft specific plan and environmental impact report until the project labor agreement issue is settled, the city staff who was working on the project have been redirected to work on other city things, where possible. But the city has to pay the $37,000 per month to sustain them while Lennar has halted funds.

Additionally, the city has to bear the cost to respond to three requests that the Building Trades Council made under the public records act for information about the project’s financial feasibility model and other documents and communications. So far, the city has spent about $50,000 to search, review and produce documents for the public records act requests.

If you were on the City Council, how would you have responded? Enter your comments below.

Having a knowledgeable and experienced real estate broker on your side helps protect your interests and ensure you make the best possible decisions. We are dedicated to keeping on top of the real estate market and keeping you informed of changes. You can rest easily knowing you made a well-informed decision based on experience and insight into the Concord California market.

To reach Peter Maclennan please call 925.385.8798 or email at peter@maclennaninvestments.com.

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Concord Naval Weapons Station News – 01/06/2020

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Concord Naval Weapons Station News

The Concord Naval Weapons Station (CNWS) is back in the news and on the agenda for the Concord City Council.

The main issue is the negotiation of a labor agreement between the developer, Lennar Concord, and the Contra Costa Building Trades Council.

The Problem

According to SFGate.com:

With the lead developer for the Concord Naval Weapon Station re-use project at an impasse with a labor consortium over construction labor agreements, the Concord City Council will soon have to decide whether that developer is living up to terms to have those agreements in place.

SFGate.com

Developer’s Perspective

According to a report written by City of Concord staff:

Lennar believes that it cannot afford the level of union labor sought by the Building Trades Council for the first phase of the project, while the labor representatives insist that previous city councils committed to including all the trades in a project labor agreement and that Concord would benefit economically from an agreement that commits the developer to hire locally and to provide training for veterans.

Eastbaytimes.com

Lennar may decide to resign as the master developer if the expected costs exceed any potential profit. Which could cause delays:

Creating a new development plan, which would likely have to happen if there is a new developer, would cost “significant” additional time and more tax dollars, according to report prepared by Guy Bjerke, the city’s director of community reuse planning. It also could complicate the transfer of the land from the Navy for the redevelopment.

EastBayTimes.com

Labor’s Perspective

Aram Hodess, retired business manager for Business Manager at Plumbers and Steamfitters 159 who has been working with the Building Trades Council on negotiations, said Lennar is going back on its promises to hire union labor for as much of the project as it previously said.

“If an enormous project like this is built non-union, it will result in lowering of wages in Contra Costa of organized workers,” Hodess said. “It couldn’t help but do that.”

EastBayTimes.com

Ramifications

It appears have already caused delays with the Navy’s transfer of the property to the City of Concord:

The Navy is awaiting a resolution of the project labor agreement issue, and progress on a draft specific plan on the former weapons station land, to resume negotiations with the city of Concord for formal transfer of the land to the city.

SFGate.com

The City Council will be tasked to try to resolve the impasse:

At its Tuesday Jan. 7 meeting, the City Council is scheduled to address this impasse between the Contra Costa County Building and Construction Trades Council and Lennar Concord, LLC, the chosen lead developer of the Concord Community Reuse Project.

Patch.com

News Sources:

We would love to hear your comments below. What do you think the City Council should do?

Is Concord Naval Weapons Station a Prospective CSU Campus Site?

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According to a recent CBS report, the former Concord Naval Weapons Station is currently under consideration to be the newest campus location for California State University. Concord was announced on Tuesday as one of five potential CSU locations by California Assemblymember Timothy Grayson (D-Concord) and state Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda).

Concord has been granted $2 million by the state of California to conduct a feasibility study for the proposed location. The city has already established 120 acres in the northeast corner of the base for public higher education, making the CSU campus an ideal geographical fit for the location. Locations competing with Concord for the CSU bid include San Mateo, Stockton, Chula Vista and Palm Desert.

Want to stay in the loop? Follow our Concord Real Estate blog for updates on the Concord Naval Weapons Station and other local real estate news.

Concord Real Estate News – August 22, 2018

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concord real estate news for 08/21/2018

News Related to Concord Real Estate

Developers Sue the U.S. Navy over Naval Weapons Station

Well this is interesting. According to the SF Business Times, the U.S. Navy, current owner of the Concord Naval Weapons Station, is being sued by multiple developers on the grounds that they violated the Environmental Protection Act.

A group of developers and property owners filed a lawsuit to challenge the U.S. Navy’s environmental clearance to transfer nearly 5,000 acres of land at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station.

San Francisco Business Times

Homeowners with Lots of Equity

The Sacramento Bee reports that California homeowners have lots of equity in their homes because of the recent growth in prices. 

Boosted by soaring home prices, California homeowners are now sitting on the richest vein of home equity in the nation, hundreds of thousands of dollars per home in most cases, an analysis shows.

The Sacramento Bee

Home Remodeling is up 30% in 5 Years

According to a HousingWire.com article remodeling has surged 30% in the last 5 years. 

Home remodeling continues to increase in frequency as more Baby Boomers are electing to age in place and even Gen Xers opt to improve their current homes rather than trading up to newer ones.

HousingWire.com

Having a knowledgeable and experienced real estate broker on your side helps protect your interests and ensure you make the best possible decisions. We are dedicated to keeping on top of the real estate market and keeping you informed of changes. You can rest easily knowing you made a well-informed decision based on experience and insight into the Concord California market.

To reach Peter Maclennan please call 925.385.8798 or email at peter@maclennaninvestments.com.

homes for sale in concord ca
Concord CA Real Estate Map Search

Trouble on The Naval Weapons Station’s CAC?

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Proposed Phase 1 of Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse

Trouble on The Naval Weapons Station’s CAC?

The East Bay Times is reporting that a former City Council Member and chairman of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) resigned from the committee this week.

Former councilman Dan Helix abruptly resigned last week from the committee advising the city on plans for the first phase of development of the Concord Naval Weapons Station.

According to the article, Mr. Helix is concerned that the members of the CAC was not properly educated and informed by the staff as to the process and the zoning uses.

“I hope out of this that someone will say we need to slow down, we need to schedule more small group study sessions, we need to make sure everyone is understanding, then we can
forge ahead,” Helix said.

Local politics are never without their excitement.

It looks like the developer is still trying to push a road through Dana Estates at Beechwood Dr. (see page 58 of the plan as indicated by a black arrow). The designation says “Pedestrian & Other Possible Connections” (emphasis added). The Concord Reuse Project Website has agendas and other items available online.

Dana Estates Residents should reach out to the Concord City Council with your thoughts on the CNWS project.

City Council citycouncil@cityofconcord.org

 

 

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