Point Molate Community Workshop #1: Visioning

WORKSHOP SUMMARY

The first community workshop was held on June 23 from 10am - 2pm at Point Molate Building 1. We had a strong turnout of over 120 participants representing many segments of the Richmond community. To hear their stories, questions and visions for Point Molate, be sure to check out the video below.

See the agenda and tour map in the document gallery to your right.

WORKSHOP RECORDING

COMMUNITY INPUT

Comments and feedback from the attendees at Workshop 1 were collected not only during the discussion session, but also in the form of comments on informational boards, conversations with team members, and comment cards submitted to the team members by attendees.

The feedback received at Workshop 1 is organized in the following categories:

1. PROGRAMS AND USES

• Public Art

  • Performing Arts/Music Venue

  • Convention Center or Pavilion for big events

  • Meeting and conference facilities

  • Film Commission

  • Shared facilities for Richmond public school extended programs, such as: maker labs for STEAM programs, Art studios/labs, community gardens and farming

  • Offices

  • High rise hotels

  • Dense housing, inclusive village

  • Live-work lofts to attract small manufacturers/makers, artisans, etc

  • Transitional housing for homeless

  • Restaurants/cafes

  • Grocery store

  • Small businesses

  • Spaces for non-profits

  • Richmond History Museum

  • Graffiti Museum

  • Wine industry

  • Community facilities

  • Youth-focused programs

  • Maritime academy

  • Art studios and galleries

  • Elevated structures resilient to sea level rise

  • Hawker fare style market with local purveyors

  • Generate new jobs

  • Reuse tanks

  • Reuse historic buildings for offices

  • Provide Velodrome

  • Solar Farms

  • Carnival or parade ground

  • Richmond music festival

  • Outdoor community plazas

  • Provide shading and wind protection

  • Educational institute

2. ECOLOGY + HABITAT

   • Habitat protection and restoration

   • Protect native grass

   • Wetland restoration and creation

   • Include all Eucalyptus

   • Protect wildcat egress

   • Replace eucalyptus trees with some natives; slowly over time

3. OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION

• Hiking trails on hill side

  • Camping, glamping

  • Expansion of beach park with more picnic areas and restrooms

  • Kayaking facilities

  • Sports Fields

  • Connect to Crest trail

  • Off-leash dog parks and hiking areas

  • Engage East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD) in planning the Open Space

  • Reuse pier for green space

  • Keep housing areas compact to maximize open space

  • No houses on hills

  • Nature interpretation center

  • World-class park

  • Kid-oriented activities

  • Make shoreline accessible

  • Educational field trips

4. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

   • Restrict development to previously disturbed areas

   • Provide large setbacks from shoreline – ¼ mile

   • Provide wetlands all along water edge to address sea level rise

5. TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

• Bring back the Ferry

• Complete Bay Trail

• Improved bike access

• Improved pedestrian infrastructure

• Consider belt line train transport

• Go off-grid – solar powered vehicles or Tesla Superchargers

• Address ingress/egress issue due to a singular access point causing back up on I-580

• Charge a premium for automobile parking

• Upgrade site sewage treatment system

• Explore infrastructure alternatives for reducing costs

• Explore alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power

6. HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES

   • Tribute to Chinese shrimp camp and whaling station history
   • Protect native American history
   • Preserve shell mounds
   • Showcase history of the site (people and industry) – early California Wine history

7. ECONOMICS

   • Profit drivers can affect equity

   • The huge cost of preserving and rehabilitating historic buildings needs to be understood

8. OTHER FEEDBACK

   • Consider industrial tourism

   • Jet fuel

   • Inspect for seismic stability

   • Provide on a small discreet lodge – no housing!

   • Concerns about gentrification

   • High density housing in Drum Lot 2 and in historic core – should this be resolved?

   • Concerned about water levels on land fill portion of site – will not be cost effective to put housing

   • Supports urban livability – no gated communities

   • Why develop on this site when there is no water, electricity and no access?

   • Create a self-sustained community of 1500 people with a school and its own power plant

   • Take off locks to provide public access

   • Reuse fishing pier

   • Keep the site pristine

   • Let’s have a tree party to honor trees that are still standing

   • Better wayfinding signage

   • Bring more people to Point Molate

   • Start an environmental justice college

   • Partner with the arts community in Richmond

   • Build a sustainable community

   • It was not a judgement, but a settlement agreement between two parties that was settled by a judge

9. FEEDBACK ON VISIONING PROCESS

• Make hardcopies of workshop materials available at libraries and planning department

• Provide information on website regarding slopes

• Provide more bus tours, bike tours

• Provide translation at Community workshops

• Need more diversity represented in the process

• Translate in Chinese as well, in addition to Spanish

PHOTOS

See all the gallery walk display boards and participation photos by clicking on the image to your right.