This year, the Concord City Council will make the decision of a generation and finalize plans for the future of the shuttered Concord Naval Weapons Station by selecting a master developer. The choice is important, but the conditions attached are critical.
The Naval Weapons Station has the potential to open a new and exciting chapter in Concord’s economic vitality and community resilience. As it becomes even harder to find affordable homes in the Bay Area, new development at the base provides a unique opportunity to improve the jobs-housing balance while meeting the strong demand for pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods and new, protected open space.
Steve Older is President of the Central Labor Council of Contra Costa County, AFL-CIO. Contributors to this piece include: Sam Tepperman-Gelfant, senior staff attorney, Public Advocates; Gloria Bruce, executive director, East Bay Housing Organizations; Joel Devalcourt, East Bay regional representative, Greenbelt Alliance and Rosanne Nieto, steering committee Concord Neighborhood Alliance.
