Weapons station to new community, in 30 years flat

CONCORD, Calif. (KTVU) - In bits and pieces, for years now, we've reported on the steps being taken toward the conversion of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station into a giant development that will add tens of thousands of new residents to the city.

Concord, population 130,000 is already Contra Costa County's biggest city.

This project will bring in 30,000 more.

The 30-year process of turning more than 5,000 acres of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station into a brand-new community, already a dozen years in the planning, is really getting under way now.

This massive area, just south of Highway 4 is a truly rare, extremely large piece of urban developable property.

"The EIR for that plan will be released in January 2020 with a final decision to be made by the city council in June 2020," said Concord Mayor Carlyn Obringer.

The land is already served by a major highway and a BART station to boot.

"Our goal is to also help that site grow into a job center so that the people of Concord and the people of east county don't have to spend hours on the road commuting," said the Mayor.

By the fall of 2020, the Navy will turn over the first 1,200 acres of clean land to the city.

Then, the city will embark on a two-year effort to build needed infrastructure such as roads, sewers and utilities.

By 2023, serious construction on structures begins.

There will be six million square feet of office and retail space. It will have 12,000 homes.

"We dedicated 25% of the housing as affordable to low and very low income families." said Mayor Obringer.

A 120-acre campus will be available for a college, university or laboratory, a big chunk of land for a youth sports complex as well as plenty of open space, trail and a 2000-acre regional park.

Though there are serious clean up issues still outstanding with other parcels.

But, the city will get those once the Navy renders them safe over the 30 years it will take to build out the project.

"It's gonna be a vibrant community. I understand they're gonna need 3 elementary schools, a new high school. So, it's gonna be good for the city," said Concord resident Ben Hornstein.

"It's what the town wants and the people want, so, progress," said resident Gary Phipps.

The nation's largest autonomous vehicle test site, GoMentum Station is located on another part of the base and sure to bring high tech, artificial intelligence firms to this development making this "Autonomous Vehicle Valley."