Vallejo Residents Say They're Ignored by Mare Island Development Planners

As Mare Island's development is being planned, Vallejo residents are complaining that the public is being shut out of any recreational activities on the island. John Ramos reports. (4-24-22)

[@tomr9661]

Beware, San Diego got burned on a similar deal, City officials turned the property over to a good O' buddy local developer and the taxpayers got stuck with all the infrastructure and long-term maintenance cost, while the developer reaped prime property. Start asking questions. How were they chosen? What about the competitors? Who pays for what? Take a hard look at all contracts. Seek outside advice.

[@jeremylawson6648]

i’m from sd & been in vallejo 7/8 years & you’re absolutely right

[@deejaye2647]

A big development company that was picked by the government? What could go wrong?

[@johndavis9321]

Lol everything

[@docguch]

Better than the backward denying other people housing you NIMBYs want.

[@deejaye2647]

Does this surprise anyone?

[@thelifeofshyree2611]

They need to bring , hospitals , malls something to create more jobs in Vallejo

[@docguch]

First not idiot comment I have seen on this forum.

[@donnacsuti4980]

Huge mistake to sign it over to a greedy developer with them having all the power. City, county both should have more power and ability to veto plans maybe should be put on the ballot to fix this terrible problem

[@docguch]

The greedy developer isn't the problem, it is you NIMBYs.

[@sonnystaton]

It's only been 30 years since the closure was announced, you can't expect progress to happen overnight. SMH.

[@docguch]

NTC SAN DIEGO has become a thriving redeveloped community when I saw the place in 2009 and closed the same time as Mare Island.

[@philiphorner31]

There will be as little as possible done for the public.

[@donnacsuti4980]

I'm glad I saw the old buildings were open 2 yrs ago and I got to see the museum. That building needs to be preserved and some of the other buildings. Look what was done on Yerba Buena Island historic buildings mostly destroyed and the habitat taking off the top of the island and building out of proportion tall buildings on top of the island right next to the bridge structure. What do they think will happen if we have a big earthquake the building may fall onto the bridge and all those people on this small island trapped hardly any grocery stores etc it's crazy. Should have been made parkland.

[@docguch]

Nothing wrong with tall buildings. More housing is needed.

[@georgegong6813]

I read where you're coming from though they're supposed to have a ferry system soon. I saw the future embarkation station being built now.

[@ronaldmcdonald3965]

I enjoyed the Museum in 2018 after selling our last house in Napa. Prior to the wineries, many of the people who lived in Napa worked at Mare Island. Two of my neighbors were missing fingers. I speculate you need to be pretty tough to be a ship yard worker.

[@GenevieveEKelly]

Generations of Napans worked at Mare Island for decades. There’s a lot of history there. It was a very vital part of Napa and Vallejo. Greedy developers will tear it up and line their pocket$ - deeply. Count on it.

[@georgegong6813]

Agree only recently found out the museum is closed down permanent. Sad to see history not being saved for future generations not to learn from.

[@ronaldmcdonald3965]

@@georgegong6813 Agreed, future generations could learn a lot.

[@georgegong6813]

@@ronaldmcdonald3965 There should be an equal balance too in what's developed. Nothing wrong with generating income though it can be done in many ways. No different then diversifying one's portfolio.

[@akilahjones9404]

Yeah agreed and I didn’t even realize the nature walk was shut down. There’s no reason for that it’s a reserve area for wildlife.

[@georgegong6813]

I was aware there were issues surrounding the Preserve sadly though till recently for me the Mare Island Museum which I only thought was perhaps closed temporarily, now permanent as well!? Wow just wow! I was under the impression some of the area was going to remain historical preserve.

[@tommyboy1653]

How does the developer close a museum,do they own the entire island,if so who got the money,Vallejo is broke. The bomb storage building is never going to fall in an earthquake, it's 2ft thick concrete made to withstand a bomb dropped on it,probably the safest place in an earthquake. And why would the development have control of anything but the actual construction site,I don't think they bought the entire island ,that would be crazy,and who will pay for cleanup ,of anything toxic.

[@evelynmahoney3569]

Go Myrna!

[@demetriharlan5887]

Next stop ladies and gentlemen, condos and houses.

[@docguch]

Bay Area needs more houses and condos. Housing supply exceeding the housing demand is the only way to make housing affordable.

[@nestlesucks]

Is that supposed to be a bad thing?

[@milesmayhem5440]

Bring back the golf course!

[@heatherporterfield7343]

Vallejo got burned ever since President Clinton shut Mare Island down in 1994.😕

[@docguch]

Bill Clinton didn't burn Vallejo, it is the Buck Kamphausen Cronies and Jump Start Vallejo that burned Vallejo and kept Vallejo backwards.

[@philiphorner31]

When does government care about the taxpayer? They're just sheep to be shorn.

[@michaelburke7742]

The government doesn't care about tax payers. And they only pretend to care about where the money goes.

[@docguch]

You NIMBYs are a bunch of anti-housing sheep.

[@georgegong6813]

This is indeed sad to see. I moved to Vallejo in '93 & all I've heard were glorified ideas about development. Nothing more. I understand much has to do with the pressure to bring in more money to generate the economy. Then too there should be a nice balance of both.

[@SheriL1]

This brings to mind what Richmond did with the land surrounding the Marina. They placed a proposition on the ballet in favor or nay to building condos. It was voted down. The majority wanted to reserve the nature walk and natural habitat. We couldn't see not having the freedom to come and go. It was beautiful back there. We knew they would fence it off to non residents. They ignored the vote and built anyway. If I remember correctly, they sold in the high 800's - a million+. So much for our votes😟.

[@docguch]

Housing is so expensive due to high demand and low supply. To make housing affordable, the supply needs to exceed the demand.

[@philmccracken179]

Mare island is a wonderful place

[@johnsader8811]

Use to eat at the sardine can, wonder if it's still there?

[@milesmayhem5440]

It is.

[@ralphw7454]

I was just there today

[@garycallihan4206]

I do remember....1991.

[@heatherporterfield7343]

Yes

[@dynaryda8857]

@@garycallihan4206 it’s still there man chill out

[@robyngillum8577]

They took away my fishing spot too, but I’ll be back ✂️

[@joe-vl3nd]

Money Greed Power What's New..Good luck Residents Next story

[@docguch]

It is the NIMBYs that have financially gained from the housing shortage that are greedy.

[@GenevieveEKelly]

Now Developers are going to eat up and tear apart Vallejo. Can’t stand them. They are going to do the same thing in Glen Ellen when they soon annihilate $$$ the Sonoma Developmental Center over there!

[@docguch]

It is you NIMBYs that are keeping Vallejo backwards.

[@kristinansonbarnes9418]

a turning point

[@ralphw7454]

Thank You Nimitz Group!

[@zach4384]

What exactly did they do?

[@docguch]

@@zach4384 Counter you NIMBYs.

[@joeyzasa7383]

About time. Vallejo needs to get out of that ghetto look already and catch up to modern times.

[@joshuabenjaminscott2365]

Why? There doesn't need to be more cookie cutter development. That's what Vallejo is. That's why Vallejo had crime because there were barely any jobs to support the population.

[@joeyzasa7383]

@@joshuabenjaminscott2365 development is a good thing. Doesn't need to be cookie cutter but we need more restaurants here and coffee shops, ect. More places to dine and hang out equates to tourism dollars and that area is ripe for development. Business revenue also is beneficial to city services like more Police Officers to make it safe again. 12 murders already by April? Are you kidding me? We don't need a mini Oakland do we?

[@joshuabenjaminscott2365]

@@joeyzasa7383 there are many restaurants in Vallejo CA do you live in Vallejo. There are already many Starbucks. It doesn't need to be bland like concord.

[@joeyzasa7383]

@@joshuabenjaminscott2365 Of course I live here. I bet you could not name me ONE bar or brew pub where you can shoot some pool or a jazz spot? Or a Dave & Busters like Concord. There is not enough restaurants here for a city of over 100,000. Anyone waiting at the Olive Garden or Applebee's off of Admiral Callaghan on a Friday/Saturday night can tell you that. As far as coffee shops I am not referring to the 6 or so Starbucks here but maybe a Peet's Coffee?? Or a stand alone coffee shop? If you develop that area at Mare Island with those things in mind it will be an unmitigated success and you know it. You don't have to have gentrification of a city to ruin it's quirky appeal but you do need development for a city to survive and thrive. And I am not representing any developer either I just have common sense.

[@docguch]

@@joshuabenjaminscott2365 There are plenty of jobs in the Bay Area and most law abiding Vallejo residents cross two bridges, one bridge and BART Tube, or Ferry to get to work. Vallejo has the opportunity to meet the Bay Area housing demand with the construction jobs.

[@docguch]

How about stop being deny other people housing NIMBYs.

[@mdnasirnasir5125]

🇧🇩

[@HoldupW8]

Mare island has created thousands of jobs stop crying

[@docguch]

Definitely the modular building of apartments. More housing and economic development is needed for Vallejo.

[@johnnykwon8173]

Hey, here’s a idea: repopulate them with mares. Have one stallion in the geographic center. See what happens as a experiment on social dynamics.

[@docguch]

Bay Area needs more housing.