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“TORPEDOED” read
the headline of the Vallejo Times Herald on the morning of June 26, 1993.
This one word banner summed up the emotions of the citizens in this northern
California city. The Base
Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission had recommended
to Congress and the President that the Mare Island Naval Shipyard be
closed. For over 140 years “the Shipyard” had
provided ships and trained the men to defend the nation. For as long
as anyone could remember, the Shipyard had not only been the largest
employer in Solano County, but was also the largest industrial plant
in all of California. In July 1993, President Clinton accepted the BRAC
Commission’s recommendation and after Congressional ratification
the Shipyard was scheduled to close on April 1, 1995.
As the initial
shock of the notification of closure wore off, the City began the
planning process for the future reuse of this valuable economic
development asset. The City’s initial cautious optimism has evolved
into an overwhelming interest in the progress being experienced at the
former Shipyard. Enthusiasm with what the future will bring and a desire
to be part of the future of this economic success story is now the interest
of Vallejo’s citizens.
The former
Shipyard consisted of approximately 5,252 acres. The developable
portions of the Island amounts to approximately 1,400 acres, leaving
almost 4,000 acres for parks, open space and recreational opportunities.
The Navy has currently transferred over 1,122 acres to the City
and
the City is in active negotiations to transfer the remaining acreage.
The
City has, in turn, transferred all but 98 acres to developers and
the State of California. The City of Vallejo and our development
partners
are forging ahead with development of the Island’s job producing
area. Mare Island is well on it’s way to becoming a vibrant,
balanced, new neighborhood of Vallejo that will offer places to
work, shop, live
and enjoy the significant historic, educational, open space and
recreational opportunities.
Currently,
over 70 companies and organizations call Mare Island home. These
businesses and organizations have produced over 1,700
new jobs.
The top
five employers are:
The
educational component of our reuse plan has not been neglected. Touro
University
operates its main medical school on Mare Island
with an enrollment
of over 450 students in the Fall of 2004. The Vallejo City
Unified School District also has facilities
on
the Island and
we even have a private preschool operating in the former military
child care facility.
The City’s development partners are actively involved
in building the residential components of the development plans.
Our plans call
for almost 1,400 homes to eventually be built on the Island.
Lennar Mare
Island, LLC, our Master Developer, intends to open model homes
in the Spring of 2005 with homes and amenities to follow by
Summer.
Over one-half
million square feet of commercial space is currently available
for lease.
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If you have questions or
are interested in being part of Vallejo and Mare Island’s future,
please do not hesitate to contact:
Economic Development Division
555 Santa Clara Street
Vallejo, California 94590
(707) 649-5452
Fax: (707) 648-4499
Email: econdev@ci.vallejo.ca.us
If you interested in leasing or purchasing industrial or commercial property,
or if you would like to be part of the future residential property owners,
please contact:
Lennar Mare Island, LLC
690 Walnut Avenue, Suite 100
Mare Island
Vallejo, CA 94592
(707) 562-3555
Or visit their website at: www.lennarmareisland.com |
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