Concord Naval Weapons Station Redevelopment Report

For those who attend the Local 12 meeting, Local 12 Business Representative Edgar Flores has been keeping the members updated on the talks between the Contra Costa Building Trades Council, the Concord City Council, and the Navy. The Concord City Council recently approved a major financial agreement with the U.S. Navy that advances the long-planned redevelopment of the former Concord Naval Weapons Station (CNWS). The unanimous vote marks one of the most significant milestones in the project’s more than 20-year redevelopment effort and allows the City of Concord and master developer Brookfield Properties to move into the next phase of planning and entitlements.

The redevelopment site includes approximately 2,225 to 2,422 acres of former military land in Concord, California. The broader former naval installation covers roughly 12,800 acres, though the active redevelopment area focuses on the inland section slated for civilian reuse.

Current plans call for one of the largest transit-oriented redevelopment projects in Northern California. The project is expected to include:

• More than 12,000 residential units, with approximately 25% designated as affordable housing
• Over 800 acres of parks and open space
• Approximately 6 million square feet of commercial, retail, office, and research space
• Transit-oriented development centered around the nearby BART station
• Civic amenities, infrastructure improvements, and community facilities

The project is expected to be developed in multiple phases over approximately 30 years, with initial construction potentially beginning around 2030 following environmental review, planning approvals, and infrastructure work.

A key component of the redevelopment effort is the Project Labor Agreement (PLA), also referred to as a Community Workforce Agreement. The agreement was negotiated between Brookfield and the Contra Costa County Building & Construction Trades Council. The PLA covers horizontal infrastructure work and vertical construction, including residential, commercial, hotel, industrial, and civic development associated with the reuse project.

The Project Labor Agreement is designed to remain in effect for the duration of the redevelopment project, meaning it could extend through the full multi-phase buildout period of approximately 30 to 35 years. The agreement was established to ensure the use of organized labor, workforce standards, apprenticeship opportunities, and labor stability throughout the life of the project.

The approval of the Navy term sheet resolves a major obstacle that had delayed redevelopment for years. Previous development attempts stalled due to disputes involving labor requirements, financing terms, and negotiations between the city, developers, and the Navy. City officials and stakeholders have described the latest agreement as the first time all major parties — including the city, Navy, labor groups, and master developer — have aligned on a unified path forward.

Local 12 Representative Edgar attended the Concord City Council meeting on Tuesday May 26^., when it was unanimously passed by all five City Council members who are pro-labor, this is why it is important to go out and vote in every election from your local City Council all the way to Presidential elections, whoever is in office can determine and affect the hours for our members, that is why we fight for Project Labor Agreement (PLA’s) to ensure that we keep and grow our Union Market share for our crafts.

Those who reside in Contra Costa County have heard about redeveloping this area for over two decades, and have finally come to fruition. It will take some years of demolition and hazardous cleanup before we start seeing any construction start.

Below are some pictures of the Contra Costa Building Trades Council Delegates speaking in front of the Concord Mayor and City Council Members.