While I was still mayor, the City Council approved a major development project known as Campus Bay, a 89.6-acre property planned for up to 2.1 million square feet of R&D/Business/Service, up
to 320,000 square feet of retail use, up to 2,530 residences, and approximately 7.6 acres of open space.

The City’s approval included a substantial community benefits agreement that could refund the Richmond Promise program.

The Richmond Shoreline Alliance (Citizens for East Shore Parks (CESP), Sunflower Alliance, Sustainability Parks Recycling
and Wildlife Legal Defense Fund (SPRAWLDEF), Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice (and others). Attorneys included Stuart Flashman (for some groups) and Norman La Force (Sierra Club/SPRAWLDEF ties in related matters)) pursued CEQA litigation opposing
the projects based on the claim that the EIR did not adequately evaluate the potential effects of sea level rise. The opposition included the same partes who opposed the SunCal project for Point Molate and were supported by the Richmond Progressive Alliance.

The case was filed
December 30, 2020, and the trial court ruled against the Plaintiffs. On appeal, the Appellate Court also ruled against the Plaintiffs. It was appealed to the California Supreme Court, which transferred it
back to the Court of Appeal, which again, in a final action, ruled against the Plaintiffs on November 20, 2025.

The developer,
Shopoff Realty Investments, L.P., is preparing an updated submittal to the Richmond Design Review Board.

For additional history, see:

• https://tombutt.com/campus-bay-litigation-continues/
  
• https://tombutt.com/campus-bay-the-rpa-and-the-city-attorney/
  
• https://tombutt.com/campus-bay-developer-takes-title-to-property/
• https://tombutt.com/campus-bay-a-failed-ethical-dilemma-for-the-city-attorney/
  

Now that litigation has failed, the NIMBY Richmond Progressive Alliance will continue to try to find ways to thwart the project, one of many good reasons to vote
out the RPA in the coming election.

Despite popular perception, Point Molate is not a done deal. It is still being litigated by SunCal, and the City could still end up a big loser in that litigation.

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