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Vol. 20, No. 1
YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Complex coming to DuPont site by Kyle Szymanski Staff Writer
Oakley leaders have approved plans for a massive job-generating light-industrial complex at the former DuPont chemical manufacturing facility site on Bridgehead Road. Missouri-based NorthPoint Development intends to construct a 2 million-square-foot space for light industrial, warehousing, distribution, e-commerce fulfillment and light manufacturing on a portion of the 375.7-acre property at 6000 Bridgehead Road, north of the BNSF rail tracks and just south of Lauritzen Yacht Harbor. The site is the former home of the DuPont Antioch Plant, a chemical manufacturing facility that produced chlorofluorocarbons, fuel-additive anti-knock compounds and titanium dioxide between 1955 and 1998. The site has been under active remediation since about 2003.
Photo by Tony Kukulich
Missouri-based NorthPoint Development intends to construct a 2 million-square-foot space for light industrial, warehousing, distribution, e-commerce fulfillment and light manufacturing on a portion of the 375.7-acre property at 6000 Bridgehead Rd. “This is a large-scale economic driver,” said Oakley Community Development Director Joshua McMurray. “We see this as a catalyst not only for Oakley, but for the region. They are proposing to build almost two million square feet of
Class A industrial space, which Oakley certainly doesn’t have, and it’s hard to find in the region itself. The amount of jobs and benefit to the county as a whole are just great.” Just a handful of estimates
project the development could generate 2,850 full-time and part-time jobs; yield a net city General Fund surplus of approximately $388,400 annually at buildout; and contribute $420,000 per year in revenue to the fire district. “We want to start construction immediately, roll up our sleeves and attract business, tenants and jobs to the community,” said Jed Momot, NorthPoint Development’s chief strategy officer. “There is a ton of labor here, and users love that. We feel strongly about our investment in Oakley, feel strongly about attracting tenants here because of the labor here, and secondly because of the logistics of the improved Highway 4.” The Kansas City-based real estate development, management and leasing firm develops an average of 12 million square feet a year across the United States, with current industrial clients including see Complex page 18
January 3, 2020
Dispensary Opens
Antioch’s CoCo Farms recreational cannibis dispensary opens to the public. Page 5
New Year, New Laws
2020 is ushering in some notable new laws dealing with rent, employment and more. Page 4
Fire board reelects president, vice president Jamboree “ by Tony Kukulich Staff Writer
The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District (ECCFPD) Board has reelected President Brian Oftedal and Vice President Stephen Smith to their officer positions for another one-year term. The unanimous vote was made during the board’s last meeting of the year, held on Dec. 11. “As the fire chief, I have had the privilege to work with President Oftedal and Vice President Smith for the past two years,” said ECCFPD Fire Chief Brian Helmick. “It’s good to see they both have the continued support from the other board members to maintain their positions as president and vice president. I believe with their leadership, the district will continue to advance as we
As the fire chief, I have had the privilege to work with President Oftedal and Vice President Smith for the past two years. It’s good to see they both have the continued support from the other board members to maintain their positions as president and vice president.
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ECCFPD Fire Chief Brian Helmick work to address our revenue and service level challenges.” Measure N, passed in November 2016, shifted the board’s composition from nine appointed members to the current makeup of five elected members. Only five candidates filed papers for the board’s first election that was scheduled for November 2018. All
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five were appointed to the board negating the need for an election. “I am humbled and honored to once again be nominated, to serve as the East Contra Costa Fire Protection Board president,” Oftedal said. “I appreciate the trust and confidence that my fellow elected directors have placed in me. We have made some tre-
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mendous progress over this last year and it is exciting to start seeing some of the fruits of our labor. I am excited to continue working to improve public safety in East Contra Costa.” Securing an additional revenue stream for the perpetually underfunded district will likely be the board’s biggest challenge in the upcoming year. The district operates three stations to provide fire, rescue and emergency medical services for approximately 115,000 residents spread over 249 square miles of East Contra Costa County including Brentwood,Oakley, Discovery Bay, Byron, Bethel Island, Knightsen and Morgan Territory. However, the district’s strategic plan, completed one year ago
Gold Winners
Heritage girls basketball wins West Coast Jamboree gold for second straight year. Page 11
see Board page 18
Calendar................................19 Classifieds.............................14 Cop Logs..................................9 Health & Beauty....................6 Legals ....................................15 Milestones..............................8 Adopt a Pet.............................7 Sports.....................................11
Service Day
Vasco Roadwork
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City of Antioch is offering Day of Service options for Martin Luther King Day.
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County Public Works will be working on Vasco and Camino Diablo roads.