Plans for deserted East Bay shopping mall unveiled

Neighbors hoping to see long-abandoned Hilltop Mall in Richmond become something more just got a long-awaited update from the city and the site owner. Wilson Walker reports. (5-24-24)
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[@Wakeen510]

This story literally did not explain or update anything

[@Kreemerz]

I know. Sadly

[@MikeSuth4040]

I can’t see any business wanting to move to Richmond. Let’s be real about the situation.

[@ToothlesstheNightFury510]

The location is desirable that’s all that matters

[@jbdragon3295]

@@ToothlesstheNightFury510 If that was the case, the mall would still be open. The way things currently are, nothing is going to happen here for years to come.

[@michaelrogers9720]

@@ToothlesstheNightFury510but the people aren’t..

[@churblefurbles]

@@ToothlesstheNightFury510 Demographics say no.

[@alexarzamendi9475]

​@@ToothlesstheNightFury510lmao, not with the demographics present

[@hugh261]

How surreal. I used to live in Oakland. I'd never heard of the Hilltop mall closing, or had any sense that it would, when I was there. Now the first time I hear anything about it, is this, trying to bring it back. It just feels dystopian.

[@TOm-hr2mb]

It's basically Eastmont Mall.

[@ciello___8307]

Malls Nationwide are having a tough time due to online shopping. They need to change their business model to mixed use, not just shopping. Its 2024, not 1980.

[@deadpoet415]

Those investors don't know the area very well. The merchants will get robbed, looted, and assaulted along with the customers who will also get their cars bipped in the lot. Malls are more successful in affluent areas. They should just focus on affordable or reasonable housing. It's what the Bay needs.

[@nomenclature9373]

It should have had a BART station decades ago when when the Chevron tank farms were turned into housing developments.

[@claire5399]

The Chevron Tank Farms ? A housing development was built over tanks ? What was in the tanks ?

[@ElAzulVibes]

@@claire5399what is Chevron……….?

[@karencarpenter5845]

​@@ElAzulVibesthe gas ⛽️ company a huge plant in Richmond. You can Google it.

[@AK-ug1md]

This is America does it really matter

[@justsnappy]

*NO retail is coming to RICHMOND! It’s worse than OAKLAND!*

[@michaelrogers9720]

Richmond, Oakland , Vallejo All terrible

[@Red-t3z]

Make it a jail just for retail thieves and illegal immigrants

[@BoseongCowboy]

Richmond, CA, where 9,999 want a new development but 1 opposed it so the 1 wins.

[@philipbanks2462]

I live in East Oakland and drive to hilltop Walmart to shop over nearby San Leandro strictly because there's nobody there! In and out without the hustle and bustle

[@phototristan]

So in other words, no news.

[@2040wagon]

Surprised there are not homeless encampments there. It is actually a nice property, that exact space above the ravenes. However it is still Helltop at times.

[@philipbanks2462]

There are little to no resources for houseless folks up on top of that hill.

[@tommyboy1653]

Put in a police station and maybe swat headquarters.

[@sfrealestatedealmaker6001]

And a prison 😂

[@silentmajority8365]

and remove two colors

[@DaxVJacobson]

When the mall was open I think there was a small police sub station in there. It was near one of the small entrances

[@Kreemerz]

I grew up there. I don't recall ever having a police station in the mall

[@silentmajority8365]

@@DaxVJacobson Honest people don't need to be watched to be sure they obey laws Your need for inclusion at any cost will turn this country into a third world police state

[@propblast82nd]

They have similar problems in Cape Town Africa

[@silentmajority8365]

✋🏿✋🏿✋🏿✋🏿lol

[@spades0114]

Sooo what was the update? Lol

[@sthcalguy3024]

Make it a prison for the local folks.

[@timtim2668]

I was a teenager the last time Richmond Mall was open. I'm a middle age man now lol😂 Finally something is being done with this area. And no Distribution hub. Go to north Richmond for that there's plenty of space out there. This is a great idea! Mix retail and community use!

[@myobmyob2215]

Convert it to a 1 insane asylum or 2 prison

[@DedeSoulchild]

there is a real need for more grocery stores and food stores in that area. especially in near by San pablo

[@Bbmangood]

If the people who run California now we’re live 150 years ago the state would have never got anywhere

[@CalvinMorris-cf8jk]

it would be a wonderful unknown migrant shelter.

[@aidenalamo6262]

Affordable housing and social service entities are nice in old malls because you can have a public library, utility companies, a couple of restaurants, such as a subway and a vegan restaurant. Walmart being there is always a plus, for groceries and necessities.

[@user-wy5uu8gm4z]

It takes the right developer for that and most are of a different mind. As long as you rely on private industry to drive city planning the needs of business will always go first

[@melovetorun]

Ghetto Walmart was the final nail in the coffin.

[@momlikesmemore]

I went to the Ranch 99 mall in Richmond for the first time. It seemed to be pretty busy during the lunch hour.

[@erykahhoney588]

It’s always been that way.

[@aerohk]

A little of housing? No, mostly housing. There is a major shortage of housing.

[@silentmajority8365]

They why allow millions to enter America???

[@beyondfossil]

Is the central mall area blocked off only? There's still a big Walmart and 24 Hour Fitness so I wouldn't call this a "deserted" mall.

[@badt2238]

Make an indoor paintball park

[@paulreynolds2569]

If it doesn't become a distribtion hub, it may have to remain a ghost mall....👻

[@jaycho6747]

A lot of good times there in the 90's and early 2000's

[@mrcpaddler]

Make it Supportive Housing for people-in-need, people-at-risk, as well as migrants. Provide social and healthcare services at the center of the building. Large building with plenty of parking too. One section of the parking lot can be converted to a park. Federal and state funding also can be obtained.

[@user-wy5uu8gm4z]

yes

[@TOm-hr2mb]

No, make it a prison

[@tweettweet6403]

Decades. No it hasn't been sitting vacant that long. We can tell you not from Richmond.

[@CaesarZheng]

fix the crimes first plz

[@brianp5205]

People complaining about what other's do with their private property.

[@jonw999999]

Welcome to California

[@Jnthncrrll]

OH YOU SHUT UP, BRIAN THE TRUMPSTER FREAK!!!!!

[@mattr8090]

Turn into Pixar Land amusement park! Just a thought lol

[@Pantheroso]

Who put these two in charged they came to this country and our gov gave them money from our paychecks to have a dream home and new cars and we Americans work hard can’t even afford a home or a new car and these are facts and my opinion

[@ericb5480]

How about a sideshow arena and shoplifting game park. Taco vendors, etc

[@eugeneberotte739]

It’s been that way for decades?? Stop lying

[@tommyboy1653]

10 years or less .

[@mcg1119]

Sears, Macy's, and JCPenney were still there in 2018.

[@Jnthncrrll]

OH YOU SHUT UP, EUGENE THE TRUMPSTER FREAK AND CBS NEWS BAY AREA REPORTER WILSON WALKER IS NOT LYING, YOU ARE!!!!!

[@Awesome_Aasim]

Mall parking lots are prime real estate for redevelopment. Maybe if there were houses instead of empty parking lots the mall would not have closed down. The one thing a mall needs to survive is foot traffic, and the best way to do that is to move the people who would shop at the mall close to the mall.

[@Sevenfold120]

Not that hard to develop that into a dense tod development. Add in a large park as well. The wall mart needs to stay if plenty of residential are going up. It would serve as an anchor and shopping center for residents.

[@cognitivedissonancechristi516]

The interior can be restructured into housing for homeless male and female veterans with the largest spaces turned into grocery store where the goods are 10% of the wholesale price that includes transportation to the facility. It should include a cafeteria and doctor office with different specialties along with an entertainment room. Have it paid for by the military budget. Along with this ought to be an indoor gym and barber shop and beauty salon. There ought to be transportation available that transport entertains to and from their specified locations.

[@DaxVJacobson]

That Walmart does more business than all the crap they plan to build around it.

[@melovetorun]

That Walmart is ghetto and tacky.

[@sew_gal7340]

It isnt possible for that to become apartments because ca law dictates that every room needs to have at least 1 window to the outside. How are u gonna make apartments in that giant mall?There will be dead space towards the center of the building.

[@sideshow7792]

They'll tear it down obviously.

[@sergio.andante100]

Shopping 👎🏼👎🏼 Affordable housing 👍🏼👍🏼

[@bobm21]

An empty mall in a high crime demographic, what a surprise!

[@darrellpowell3794]

VIVICA AND ALL GENRES AND ALL TRENRES

[@joanndavis4843]

I hope this old mall gets put to some good use. I can think of what that hugh empty parking lot can do now. With all these news stories of conflict between people living on wheels of all kinds and the neighborhoods than complain about it, why not provide these unused lots to them? Cities can pay for security, enforce rules for adhering to orderly conduct, and let them stay for a few days. With enough vacant lots, van lifers can then move on to the next lot if needed, or just be on their way to their next destination. The neighbors will stop complaining to the city about their streets, and the van dwellers will get a good, safe night's sleep where they're at. Seems workable, realistic and something city taxpayer's money will show is being put to good use.

[@bobbysumler7114]

The parking lot reminds me when I got carjacked , coming out of Macy's. They did let me keep my shopping bag.

[@Vance-w7n]

B l a x x ?

[@Chewpa562]

Let me guess “affordable housing”

[@stickynorth]

Mixed use, Mixed income and yes HIGH DENSITY!

[@darrellpowell3794]

I CAN'T FOR MY RECCCCHDBQJRBDCGFS FROM ALL OVER AROUND THE WORLD TO GET TO THE EAST BAY HILLTOP WHERE THE COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT IS AT AND ALL GENRES AND ALL TRENRES

[@jimfesta8981]

We over built a large number of those shopping malls and that turned out to be a mistake.

[@papayuki3590]

i bet the city wants it as it is and they will drag their feet to get anyone that wants it to give up

[@demetriharlan5887]

I had 3 jobs there back in the 90s, use to live across the street. I pulled a lot of baddies at that mall.

[@xxxx2935]

. ( JEREMIAH ) 51 : 8..9.. "Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed : howl for her ; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed : forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country : for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies." ( KAL HALAL YAHAWAH BAHASHAM YAHAWASHI )........

[@Aieshoo]

There is no room for affordable housing.

[@pnutt2532]

Council ??? Get them to fix the roads !!!!! Before you start talking about this dang mall

[@lehsu]

More housing is needed. Not a mall.

[@consciousrosin]

Remember the Americans? I member!

[@Opalsdad]

RETAIL!?!?!!!!! wtf that doesn’t work! Hello you’re shutting a mall down!! Hello anyone… we get everything online and delivered… such a waste and joke!!!

[@darrellpowell3794]

NOT TO NEA AND ALL GGRFS AND ALL GENRES AND ALL TRENRES

[@milo4u2c35]

California snail speed bureaucracy at work, environmental hurdles, what the name of the place will be, is it gonna hurt anyone’s feelings, but I digress, a place like Santana Row in San Jose would be nice, but don’t expect anything done in the next 20 years

[@joechen353]

Let's bring Jan Sramek , having said that you TWO don't know what you two talking about

[@silentmajority8365]

Nothing will change until you seg regate

[@user-wy5uu8gm4z]

You're gross

[@mingfung7777]

Build a jail

[@mactastic144]

NIMBYs will say no.

[@lossiiburns]

They will close Walmart 😂

[@ThePurelutz]

it needs a homeless shelter as the new development :P

[@tj-ng5jl]

no one wants to shop in the hood

[@Howboutdatone]

All talk 😂

[@pbj0815]

Shipping is not needed. In a year or less they’ll close over theft.

[@Mart9]

My childhood mall. Always a place in my heart. Now, since it’s closed we need it to be transformed

[@dfirth224]

Move the homeless in.

[@Vance-w7n]

Inmates and Insane too.

[@Wyndu777]

City of Richmond CONSTANTLY screws things up with their SORRY local politics.

[@Vance-w7n]

Dumb voters

[@Pallidus_Rider]

The only thing that makes sense to me, and to meet the states goal for green energy, is to make the parking lots a solar energy plant and use the buildings for energy storage? 🤔

[@sgtpepperz25]

You need people with expendable dollars, in that state you pay all your dollars to taxes and the land owners high rent.