Concord, Brookfield moving forward with new Term Sheet

Community input key to success for CNWS developer

CONCORD, CA (Mar. 24, 2024) — The City Council unanimously approved a Term Sheet for development of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station on March 19, after the developer called the proposal “solid and sound.”

Working under the title BCUS Acquisitions, Brookfield is the third master developer for the 2,300-acre site. Since being selected in August 2023, the company has been adapting previous plans as well as talking with community members.

“We’ve gotten a lot of really good insights, and we’ve learned a lot about the community of Concord,” said Brookfield president Josh Roden.

Given concerns about the financial wherewithal of former developer Concord First Partners, Roden assured the council of Brookfield’s resolve.

“We want to be careful so that this development can continue to be developed through economic cycles. One of the ways is ensuring that each phase can stand alone from a financial perspective,” he reported.

The Term Sheet also provides for a schedule of performance milestones and open book accounting that gives the city rights to inspections and audits.

Multi-faceted project

Brookfield intends to develop the site in five phases over 40 years.

Plans include:

• About 12,270 housing units – with a goal of 25% affordable housing.
• A Project Labor Agreement with local trades.
• About 6 million sq. ft. of commercial space.
• Greenways, a city park and a Tournament Sports Complex.
• A veterans hall, library/community center, food bank, schools and a college campus district.
• Two fire stations and three police substations.
• Restoration of Mount Diablo Creek.
• Street improvements.

“The redevelopment of the Naval Weapons Station is an extension of the city fabric. It’s not an island,” said Barry Long of Urban Design Associates.

Getting the community onboard

Councilmember Laura Hoffmeister applauded Brookfield for its community engagement thus far. She cited a noticeable shift in resident support.

“You can really see the tone and tenor of our community this evening in our council chambers. And I think it’s a testament to all of your ongoing outreach. This is a very delightful change,” she said.

Emily Boyd of Brookfield detailed a variety of ways for residents to continue to discuss the project, including virtual meetings, open houses, workshops, and by phone and email.

Along with the renewed interest from the community, Save Mount Diablo encouraged the council to OK the Term Sheet.

“Brookfield has worked as a positive partner that, together with city staff, city leadership, residents and other community stakeholders, has the ability to deliver a world-class Concord Reuse Project,” senior land use manager Juan Pablo Galván Martinez wrote in a letter to the city.

Brookfield associates also touted the project’s nod to nature.

“The open space network is the foundation of the land use plan, and we really love that idea,” Long said.

Questions about BART’s plans

Other than concerns about when and where to build affordable housing, the adjacent BART property provided the main point of contention during the meeting. At issue was a recent letter detailing BART’s qualms about contributing to infrastructure costs.

Guy Bjerke, the city’s director of development and base reuse, said city officials want to work with BART if the transit agency wants to be part of the Specific Plan. “But we do expect them to play some nominal, proportionate share if they do want their property in this document,” he added.

Both Bjerke and Mayor Edi Birsan expressed frustration about the overall lack of communication from BART about its plans for the property.

“Up until this time, BART has been basically stonewalling us on what they’re doing,” Birsan said. “Now is not the time to come and say, ‘Oh, I don’t want to pay this.’ First, tell me what the hell you’re going to do.”

Noting that BART can approve a certain level of development without input from the city, Bjerke said he might have to “take a wild ass guess as to what they’re gonna do” during the city’s environmental review process.

Next stages for the city and Brookfield include development of a Specific Plan and transfer of the property from the U.S. Navy.