Controversy Delays Concord Naval Weapons Station Project
Plans to turn the former Concord Naval Weapons Station into residential and commercial space are on hold until next year due to lobbying allegations.
The delay gives the city time to launch an independent investigation after Catellus Development accused Lennar Urban and its associates of improperly lobbying the City Council to be the master developer on the first phase of the $6B project.
In September, Catellus claimed Lennar violated the negotiating agreement both companies had signed. Lennar has denied the claims.
When Concord's city attorney died earlier this month, the city tabled the project. It is now hiring a new city attorney who will be responsible for bringing in the independent investigator.
The Concord Reuse Project Area Plan would redevelop about 2,300 acres of the former military base to include up to 12,272 housing units and 6.1M SF of commercial space.
Concord also wants to use the Coast Guard's vacant military housing next to the weapons station for a mix of affordable and market-rate housing, but that site needs detailed environmental review and also has been put on hold. [IBA]
