F U L L P O T E N T I A L
E N V I S I O N I N G F O R
POINT MOLAT E
By Jeannie Howard
In a region where land is at a premium, few plots in the
Bay Area go unused. Whether for commercial or residential
development or left in a natural state for outdoor recreational
use, something is done with a property. This has not been the
case for Point Molate in Richmond. Since the military sold the
land to the city after the Navy closed the fuel depot, the more
than 400-acre parcel has sat in limbo for nearly 25 years just
waiting for a new purpose.
From being the home of Wine Haven, a destination winery
prior to prohibition, to having processing facilities for industries
such of fishing, whaling, and petroleum, Point Molate was
a hub of activity in the early 20th century. Today, the Point
Molate Beach Park is the only portion of the property that is
used, which is a small portion of the nearly 290 terrestrial, or
land, acres of the property. According to Lina Velasco, Planning
and Building Services Director for the City of Richmond, the
city’s goal is to bring back vibrancy to the beautiful location.
“A majority of the property is closed and no one is really
benefiting from it,” Velasco shared.
“The city has been envisioning the redevelopment of this site
since 1995 when the Navy closed the fuel depot,” said Velasco.
16 MARKETPLACECONTRACOSTA.COM FEBRUARY 2020
“We want a development project that is compatible with the
setting, respects its location, and minimizes the potential for
adverse impact on the biological resources that are on the site.”
Serving as a framework for all development plans, the Point
Molate Reuse Plan, developed by a 45-member community
board known as the Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee,
outlines relatively broad plans for the site, which include
housing, recreation, and the rehabilitation and repurposing
of the historic Wine Haven buildings. Since the city council
adopted the Reuse Plan in 1997, coming to an agreement on a
concrete development plan for the land has not been easy.
For those familiar with this land know the endless
controversy that has surrounded the redevelopment of the land
for years. “Controversy remains on this site cause there’s a desire
by some members of the public to maintain the entire site as
open space,” Velasco said, sharing her belief. The discourse on
how to use the land coupled with several years of economic
down turn have delayed development beyond original
expectations.
With all of the bumps in the road along the way, the city