June 27, 2014
Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com
Page 5
Concord News
Four firms vie for CNWS development contract PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer
The long and arduous process of developing the shuttered Concord Naval Weapons Station took another step forward earlier this month when Concord officials picked four firms to vie for the position of master developer for the 5,050-
acre area northeast of downtown Concord. Local Reuse Authority Executive Director Michael Wright made the announcement to the city council on June 10. The four firms are Catellus Development Corporation, Five Point CommunitiesLennar, J.F. Shea Company, and SunCal Corporation.
“We are looking for a master developer for the site that shares the community’s vision,” said Wright. “The selection of the master developer … is clearly one of the most crucial steps in successfully transforming the former military base to civilian use.” For years the closed base has been at the heart of many com-
munity and regional planning meetings. Beginning in December, all four firms will be asked to present their proposals at public meetings before the city council. In January 2015, city staff will recommend two finalists, and after a series of negotiations, the council will select one firm sometime in 2015. The successful company will
New freeway ramps planned for Hwy 242 PEGGY SPEAR Clayton Pioneer
It may take four years, but relief is in sight to unclog congestion around Concord’s two downtown interchanges off – and on – Highway 242. The Contra Costa Transit Authority last week unveiled two final plans to construct off-
and on-ramps near the busy Willow Pass corridor, hoping to improve the flow of traffic on city streets and make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists. The project includes adding a northbound on-ramp and a southbound off-ramp from Highway 242 at Clayton Road. Currently, there is an off-ramp at Clayton Road for traffic head-
Tourism initiative touts ‘Diablo Valley’
CARLYN OBRINGER
CONCORD CITY BEAT Late last month, Concord’s new Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID), the City of Concord, and the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce launched the “Diablo Valley – Defying Expectations” initiative. This fresh, new brand and marketing campaign was created by nine Concord hotels to showcase Concord and the surrounding Diablo Valley area as a conference and tourist destination. Funded via a 3 percent assessment per hotel room, the TBID was initiated and formed by the hotels themselves as a way to attract business from conventions, tour groups, association conferences, weddings, and tournaments to Concord and the wider Diablo Valley and to encourage visitors to spend their money at local hotels, restaurants, shops and attractions. “The beauty of the assessment is that it’s not an additional tax burden on Diablo Valley residents and employees at large,” says Matt Hohenstreet, district board member and director of Sales and Marketing at Hilton Concord. “It’s an assessment on out-of-town travelers that provides a new pool of financial resources to hotels in the TBID for advertising, sales and marketing.” A single hotel cannot afford a full-page ad in the San Francisco Business Times, magazines, BART signage, billboards, online banners and other advertising and promotions. With a new source of pooled funding, however, these advertising opportunities suddenly become a possibility. “We are stronger together than we
were individually,” says Hohenstreet. When asked about the name “Diablo Valley,” Hohenstreet says, “We branded the area with a fresh, new perspective for the geographical location where we play. We didn’t want to piggyback on anything that already exists. We wanted to find an inclusive way to unify the area as a destination.” The marketing campaign encompasses the entire Diablo Valley, which includes the communities of Bay Point, Clayton, Martinez, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek, as well as Concord, which is located in the heart of Diablo Valley. There are plans to invite hotels from surrounding cities within Diablo Valley to join the TBID in the future. Although the Diablo Valley initiative is only three weeks old, members of the TBID are already seeing results. According to Hohenstreet, overnight room reservations and requests for proposals from new professional meeting planners are on the rise. An end-of-summer girls’ basketball tournament has also been secured. “It’s a huge win for all nine hotels because any tourist or visitor is a win for the whole district due to basic supply and demand,” says Hohenstreet. For example, when the Crowne Plaza sells out, the Clarion and Hilton see an increase in reservations. “One of the reasons we launched during the Concord Music and Market series at Todos Santos Plaza is because we want our neighbors and coworkers to be advocates for Diablo Valley,” says Hohenstreet. “We want local residents to tell their families, friends and employers how Diablo Valley truly defies expectations and is the place to hold an event!” Carlyn Obringer chairs the City of Concord Planning Commission. Professionally, she focuses on California education issues as an Education Policy Analyst. Carlyn resides in Concord with her husband, Justin, and dog Crystal. Contact her at carlyno@yahoo.com.
ed north toward Highway 4, but there isn’t a corresponding onramp. Vehicles traveling south on Highway 242 exit at Concord Avenue to reach downtown businesses destinations, Todos Santos Plaza and the BART station. Costs for the project will range from $30 million to $43 million. The main difference between the two final plans is where ramp connections to the local streets are located, said Concord Transportation Manager Ray Kuzbari. One plan provides new onand off-ramps to southbound Highway 242 at Franquette Avenue, as well as the new onramp to northbound 242 from Clayton Road. The other plan provides new on- and off-ramps to southbound 242 and new on-ramp to northbound 242 at Willow Pass Road. Both alternatives provide a
new auxiliary lane on southbound 242 between the Concord Avenue and Clayton Road interchanges, to give drivers more room to speed up and slow down when getting on or off the freeway, Kuzbari said. They also include the same local street improvements with enhanced pedestrian and bicycle facilities. “The first alternative will help mitigate the congestion on Concord Avenue,” he said, since that area is particularly busy during rush hours. The plans are still in the early stage, as an EIR won’t be released until next fall or early 2015, said Susan Miller, director of projects for the CCTA. That will look at the plans impact on traffic, as well as the visual aesthetic and air quality, among other things, she said. The public will have time to give input, with a final design picked by 2016. Construction should begin in early 2018.
Concord plans a blast on July 4
be responsible for conducting more detailed planning/design and engineering studies, Wright said, providing all of the infrastructure for the site, including roads, sewer, water, power, as well the financing and successful phasing of the project over many years. After the site is improved, the master developer will likely partner with other companies to build the residential, retail, commercial and com-
munity facilities called for in the plan. While the city is selecting a master developer, the Navy, which still owns the property, is completing approval processes so it can begin to transfer the land to the ciy in late 2015 or early 2016. For more information about the project, visit www.concordreuseproject.org or contact the Reuse Project office at 925-671-3001.
Concord Concert Schedules July 15 Chris Cain Jazz-Tinged Virtuoso
July 29 Annie Sampson Concord’s Blues and Soul Diva
FREE Thursday Night Music in the Market
For more Concord concert info go to cityofconcord.org
CONCORD PAVILION
July 3 The TuneRiders Hits of 60’s and 70’s Legendary Vocal Groups July 10 Puro Bandido Kings of Latin Rock July 17 The RaveUps A Live Tribute to the 1960’s Yardbirds July 24 Foreverland Michael Jackson Tribute Band
Buy tickets at ticketmaster.com Or the Pavilion Box Office, 2000 Kirker Pass Rd., Concord, (925) (925) 676-8742
July 31 PUSH with Dan Ashley
July 2, 7 p.m. Kiss and Def Leppard
Aug. 7 The Rubinoos Seminal Power Pop Quartet from the 1970s
July 10, 8 p.m. Steely Dan July 29, 6:45 p.m. Journey and Steve Miller Band
Aug. 14 James Garner’s Johnny Cash Tribute
July 31, 7:30 p.m. Chicago and REO Speedwagon Aug. 13, 7:30 p.m. Aerosmith and Slash Aug. 17, 7 p.m. Monumentour, Fall Out Boy, Paramore
Sept. 4 The Purple Ones 10-piece Tribute to Prince
Sept 7, 7 p.m. Marc Anthony
Sept. 11 Lafayette Studio Big Band; Count Basie-style 9/11 Memorial Show
tions. It’s diving into the spirit of Independence Day with a full day of activities, kicked off by the annual pancake breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at Todos Santos Plaza. From there, the Concord Police Association will sponsor its Stars & Stripes 5K Run at 8 p.m., followed by a parade at 10 a.m. Music will wrap up the morning’s events with DVC Rock, Rhythm & Blues, teacher Steve Sage’s campus Showcase of Bands. At 4 p.m. the festivities move over to the nearby Mt. Diablo High School for the Home Town Picnic. A kids’ carnival, food booths, vendor exhibits, and live entertainment highlight the fun. Then, at 9 p.m., there will be a fireworks display. Mt. Diablo High is located at 2450 Grant Street. For more information, visit the website at www.concordJuly4th.com.
Guitar
July 22 Jeffrey Marshall with the Delta Dogs and The Breedloves
Aug. 21 Zepparella All Female Led Zeppelin Tribute
It will be a rollicking Fourth of July in Concord, complete with a pancake breakfast, a 5K run, parade and the inaugural Home Town Picnic & Festival. And don’t forget the fireworks. The city is without its popular Singing Flag for the first time in 25 years. The three-day event at Dave Brubeck Park, sponsored by Calvary Temple in Concord, was made up of about 65 members of the church choir singing patriotic songs on a red, white and blue set that looked like a flag. It was a big draw on the Fourth of July – especially the fireworks afterward. When Calvary announced earlier this year that it would be putting its resources elsewhere, the Todos Santos Business Association quickly rallied to launch the Hometown Festival & Picnic, complete with fireworks. But the city hasn’t lost some of its other Fourth of July tradi-
Blues
Sept. 19, 6:30 p.m. Carnivores Tour: Linkin Park, 30 Seconds to Mars and AFI Sept. 25, TBA Zac Brown Band
FREE Tuesday Night Blues Series
Oct 1, 7 p.m. Kings of Leon, Young the Giant and Kongos
July 1 Frank Bey and Anthony Paule July 8 Frankie G & the Conviction Contra Costa’s Blues Guitar Hero
Oct. 17, 7 p.m. Luke Bryan, Lee Brice and Cole Swindell
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