Section of Mare Island is cleared for 'Town Center'
By Rachel Raskin-Zrihen/ Times-Herald, VallejoPosted: 09/25/2011 01:03:35 AM PDT
The section of the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard set aside as the "Town Center" has been "cleared" by the agency overseeing the island's environmental remediation and is now ready for reuse, a spokesman for the island's main developer said Thursday.
But market forces will likely delay any actual progress.
The Town Center is envisioned to one day include mixed-use commercial development -- office, R&D, light industry and retail, developer Lennar Mare Island spokesman Jason Keadjian said.
The new certification allows the 61 acres covered to be developed -- 59 acres for commercial reuse and about two acres for homes, Keadjian said. This latest approval brings the environmental cleanup of Lennar's 650-acre parcel to more than 60 percent completion, he said.
Lennar Mare Island was given a "No Further Action" required letter by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. The letter certified that impacts to soil and groundwater resulting from former military use have been addressed, Keadjian said. The California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region (water board) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency collaborated on the inspection, he said.
Lennar officials managed the investigative and remedial activities at 34 sites associated with the former shipyard's underground storage tanks, fuel-oil pipeline system, electrical transformers and general fill used to build up the area over the years, Keadjian said.
"This milestone is part of the continuing environmental cleanup and redevelopment of the former shipyard," he said. "The cleanup is a cooperative effort between the United States Navy, the city of Vallejo, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and the community."
Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Joanne Schivley, expressed cautious optimism upon learning of the sign-off.
"Now Lennar and the city and not the Navy has control of when we can develop there, which I'm sure will happen when it's economically feasible to do so," she said.
City Councilwoman Marti Brown had a similar reaction.
"It's great news because it means that now all the environmental remediation work is done," Brown said. "And now the next step of development can move forward. Whether the economy is going to let us, is another matter."
Between 2007 and 2009, in anticipation of development in the newly signed-off area, Lennar demolished nine buildings and removed potentially hazardous materials like asbestos and lead-based paint from a dozen others, Keadjian said.
"This area represents almost one million square feet of commercial space for Mare Island and the city of Vallejo, with the potential to support approximately 1,000 jobs," Keadjian said. "LMI is excited to have the environmental work complete and we look forward to realizing the potential of this area as market conditions improve."
Located between Azuar Drive and Railroad Avenue, the Town Center site is considered one of Mare Island's best for long term development opportunities for both new construction and rehabilitation of existing structures, Keadjian said.
But market forces will likely delay any actual progress.
The Town Center is envisioned to one day include mixed-use commercial development -- office, R&D, light industry and retail, developer Lennar Mare Island spokesman Jason Keadjian said.
The new certification allows the 61 acres covered to be developed -- 59 acres for commercial reuse and about two acres for homes, Keadjian said. This latest approval brings the environmental cleanup of Lennar's 650-acre parcel to more than 60 percent completion, he said.
Lennar Mare Island was given a "No Further Action" required letter by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. The letter certified that impacts to soil and groundwater resulting from former military use have been addressed, Keadjian said. The California Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay Region (water board) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency collaborated on the inspection, he said.
Lennar officials managed the investigative and remedial activities at 34 sites associated with the former shipyard's underground storage tanks, fuel-oil pipeline system, electrical transformers and general fill used to build up the area over the years, Keadjian said.
"This milestone is part of the continuing environmental cleanup and redevelopment of the former shipyard," he said. "The cleanup is a cooperative effort between the United States Navy, the city of Vallejo, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and the community."
Councilwoman and mayoral candidate Joanne Schivley, expressed cautious optimism upon learning of the sign-off.
"Now Lennar and the city and not the Navy has control of when we can develop there, which I'm sure will happen when it's economically feasible to do so," she said.
City Councilwoman Marti Brown had a similar reaction.
"It's great news because it means that now all the environmental remediation work is done," Brown said. "And now the next step of development can move forward. Whether the economy is going to let us, is another matter."
Between 2007 and 2009, in anticipation of development in the newly signed-off area, Lennar demolished nine buildings and removed potentially hazardous materials like asbestos and lead-based paint from a dozen others, Keadjian said.
"This area represents almost one million square feet of commercial space for Mare Island and the city of Vallejo, with the potential to support approximately 1,000 jobs," Keadjian said. "LMI is excited to have the environmental work complete and we look forward to realizing the potential of this area as market conditions improve."
Located between Azuar Drive and Railroad Avenue, the Town Center site is considered one of Mare Island's best for long term development opportunities for both new construction and rehabilitation of existing structures, Keadjian said.
