About the Point

Jonathan Haeber's Brief History of Pt. Molate and the Casino Project

BCDC Pt. Molate - San Pablo Bay Preferred Use

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The Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot covers approximately 423 acres in the Protero Hills in the City of Richmond, California and is about 1.5 miles north of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge in the northwest portion of the city of Richmond. The facility's topography ranges from sea level to steep slopes that rise as high as 500 feet above sea level. Point Molate is surrounded on the north, east and south by Chevron and San Pablo and San Francisco Bay’s to the west. Of the 290 terrestrial acres, approximately 90 acres are developable and generally below a 15 percent slope.

The "Village of Point Molate" was placed on the National Register of historic places in October 1978 (#78000658). Of the 65 standing buildings at Point Molate, at least 47 are within the 71 acre historic area. Of these, 35 are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the 29 residential housing units.

Pt. Molate was home to the indigenous Native Americans tribes the Ohlone and Miwok. Although burial mounds once remained on the property, they have been destroyed by years of industrial activity. In the early 1800's, the land was used by the padres of Mission Delores and later became a Spanish Rancho.

In 1871, Chinese fisherman developed a productive shrimp camp which lasted for more than 40 years. The1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire destroyed the then-burgeoning wine industry in San Francisco. The California Wine Association (CALWA) began construction of Winehaven and it opened the following summer and by 1909, the winery was in full operation. Once identified as the largest winery in the world, the glory of Winehaven came to an end with the advent of prohibition in 1919. In 1937, CALWA dissolved and began selling off its holdings.

Vestiges of the winery and hotel operations that brought tourists to the Site in the early 20th century are visible today, and are part of the Winehaven Historical District (the District).

In 1941, Point Molate was acquired by the U.S. Navy and began its life as a Naval Fuel Depot until September of 1995 when it was officially closed. In September, 1995, the City of Richmond established the City Council as the Local Reuse Authority (LRA).

On October 16, 1995, the LRA establishes a 45-member Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee to help prepare a draft Reuse Plan which was presented to LRA in March of 1997.

Amidst great controversy, on Nov. 24, 2004 the City of Richmond entered into a Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) with Upstream Point Molate LLC to sell the former Naval Fuel Depot Point Molate for $50 million.

In order to expedite cleanup of the remaining lands still in Navy ownership, the City and Upstream have reached agreement with the Navy on an early transfer to the City of remaining contaminated lands with the Navy placing $28,5 million in escrow for the City's use to complete the cleanup.

The final sale of the property to Upstream and approvals for development will not take place until after the combined Environmental Impact Statement/Report is certified as required by the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act. This document was published in July 2009.

Final approval will also be dependant on federal approvals to take Pt. Molate into trust as restored lands on behalf of the Guidiville Pomo Tribe, and on final approval by the Richmond City Council.