Not a movie theater or a skating rink; big building on the hill is Seeno private museum
CONCORD, CA (July 20, 2023) — Construction on a private warehouse and museum to showcase a billionaire land developer’s massive collection of antiquities, art and taxidermy is moving along off Highway 4 near Concord.
Albert Seeno Jr.’s plans call for the museum to include artifacts relating to the African jungle, African mountain game, the Ice Age, dinosaurs, Native Americans, Asia, New Zealand and Europe.
The 78-year-old Seeno has long been a big game hunter. His Clayton mansion is filled with stuffed lions, tigers, bears and horned animals along with descriptions of the exotic locations where they were shot and killed.
The outside of the warehouse and museum building will not reflect the taxidermy that’s inside. Instead, the south, north and west sides of the building will be covered with colorful murals of Africa, a frontier in Utah and a mountain scene.
The museum section of the 90,000 sq. ft. building will not likely be open to the public and is not being built with taxpayer money. There will be enough parking for 135 vehicles, according to county reports, but the project is not expected to create more traffic during peak driving hours in the area. It’s not clear when the project is slated for completion.
The museum’s curator declined to comment on the operation, but drawings submitted to the county include plans for a sprawling museum lobby, a kitchen, a large multi-purpose/dining room and a smaller multi-purpose/dining room. Drawings show the dining rooms set up with banquet-style tables and chairs, but it doesn’t state whether spaces will be available for weddings or other private events.
Concord Naval Weapons Station development
The 6.3-acre lot on Evora Road at Willow Pass Road along Highway 4 is across from the former Concord Naval Weapons Station. The former military depot was poised for development by Concord First Partners, a company in which Seeno’s son, Albert Seeno III, holds a 45% interest. But in January, the Concord City Council voted to cut ties with the developer over its proposed term sheet for the project.
Concord First Partners was seeking approval for a revised deal that would have included nearly 16,500 homes, a 34% hike from the original terms set forth when the developer won the contract nearly two years ago. There was widespread opposition to those plans from environmental groups, residents and community organizations.
It’s not clear if or how the multi-million-dollar museum project would have benefitted Concord First Partners’ development of the former military base. Neither Seeno Jr. nor his daughter, Jackie Seeno, returned calls or emails seeking comment.