Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot is a decommissioned United States Navy fueling station on the western shore of
Richmond, California on
San Francisco Bay. It has undergone years of litigation and debate as to its redevelopment with proposals ranging from a billion dollar casino project, parkland, housing, and other mixed uses.
History
For centuries the
Ohlone people
The Ohlone, formerly known as Costanoans (from Spanish meaning 'coast dweller'), are a Native American people of the Northern California coast. When Spanish explorers and missionaries arrived in the late 18th century, the Ohlone inhabited the ...
fished at this location, later in the late 1800s it was the site of a Chinese shrimp camp.
The depot opened in 1941 on the site of a former winery and shrimp camp and was closed during the Clinton-era base closures and realignments in 1995
[Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot](_blank)
KCRT, access date 19-02-2009 and operationally on September 30, 1998.
Global Security, access date 19-02-2009 Part of the former naval base, the housing village
Winehaven is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Other portions are under redevelopment plans by the city. A portion of the beach has been turned into
Point Molate Beach Park.
Redevelopment
Casino proposal
In 2004, the
Guideville Band of Pomo Indians
The Guideville Band of Pomo Indians is a Native American tribe of the Pomo Indians of northern California.[Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...](_blank)
-style
casino
A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are also known for hosting live entertai ...
development at Point Molate.
[Point Molate Casino EIR, Volume I, 2009](_blank)
/ref> The project was called illegal by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and was opposed by both US Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein
Dianne Goldman Berman Feinstein ( ; born Dianne Emiel Goldman; June 22, 1933) is an American politician who serves as the senior United States senator from California, a seat she has held since 1992. A member of the Democratic Party, she wa ...
in addition to Contra Costa County officials and various environmental organizations. In 2010 the electorate of the city of Richmond voted on measure U, an advisory measure, and rejected the casino proposal.
In 2010 the tribe and Upstream sued the city for $US 750 million in damages, challenging the city council rejecting the proposed casino based on measure U. Eight years later judge Yvonne Gonzales Rogers rejected the suit and further ruled the profits be split in half between the developer and the city.
Also in 2018 a last ditch effort to operate a floating casino out of the Point Molate pier was struck down by the council.
Housing development
On April 23, 2019, the Richmond City Council approved a resolution for the City and Winehaven Legacy LLC, a subsidiary of developer SunCal, to enter into an Exclusive Right to Negotiate Agreement (ERN) regarding the terms and conditions for the disposition and development of 270 acres within the Point Molate property. During the ERN period, the city and the developer will develop a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) that will define the project, address all key terms and describe the transfer and sale of the property. The mixed-use project components described in the ERN are contemplated in general to include: Commercial retail space; Office space; Community lawn and kayaking center, and a long-term plan for the pier; Shoreline park, open space areas and trail; Preservation and adaptive reuse of the Winehaven Historic District buildings; Residential space (estimated to be approximately 1,200 residential units; the actual number may differ and will be determined through the entitlement process; Preservation/adaptive reuse of Winehaven Historic District; improved public waterfront access; beach park, open space, and Bay Trail enhancement with pedestrian/bike-friendly design; and meet the city's public art, local hire and living wage requirements. The eventual DDA would commit the developer to provide at least 67 affordable units on-site. Any additional affordability requirements would be satisfied by on-site units or in-lieu fees under the city's Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.
If the property is actually sold to the developer, the profits will be shared with the Guideville tribe and Upstream, the company that was to build the casino project voted down by the city. Plans by other developers not chosen by the council included 670 to 2,200 apartments by Orton Development, while a joint proposal by Cal-Coast Companies and Mar Ventures proposed similar housing options, in addition to a 150-room hotel and converting the former naval quarters at the village of Winehaven food hall/brewery, similar to the San Francisco Ferry Building
The San Francisco Ferry Building is a terminal for ferries that travel across the San Francisco Bay, a food hall and an office building. It is located on The Embarcadero in San Francisco, California and is served by Golden Gate Ferry and San ...
or Emeryville Public Market. Lastly, Samuelson Schafer proposed a mix of housing including apartments, condominiums, row houses, a retirement community
A retirement community is a residential community or housing complex designed for older adults who are generally able to care for themselves; however, assistance from home care agencies is allowed in some communities, and activities and socializ ...
, beach and retail. Also under the agreement 70% of the site must be maintained as parkland.Fate of Point Molate’s Winehaven castle — once the world’s largest winery — awaits another chapter
''East Bay Times
The ''East Bay Times'' is a daily broadsheet newspaper based in Walnut Creek, California, United States, owned by the Bay Area News Group (BANG), a subsidiary of Media News Group, that serves Contra Costa County, California, Contra Costa and Al ...
''
Notes
{{Richmond, California
Buildings and structures in Richmond, California
Closed installations of the United States Navy
Military facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area
1941 establishments in California
1998 disestablishments in California
Unbuilt casinos