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Winehaven
Historic District
The Project will reuse and redevelop the Winehaven Historic
District (the District). The restored District will
house a thriving entertainment and resort destination with
music, restaurants, small shops, gaming, public plazas, and
hotel and convention facilities. Revenue from this five-star
project will provide the funds necessary for the restoration
and continued preservation of the Winehaven building, cottages,
and ancillary structures. With the exception of Building
6, a dilapidated structure in the center of the proposed redevelopment,
all buildings within the District will be restored to applicable
historic preservation guidelines. Historical exhibits to commemorate
the rich history of Native peoples, and the history of Richmond
and its critical role in WWII will be integrated into the
resort, along with revolving exhibits that feature local arts
and culture.
Hotels
The resort will include approximately 1,100 hotel rooms and
suites; approximately 800 rooms in the main hotel area and
another 300 in the Point Hotel. Existing historic cottages
will be rehabilitated for use as luxury guest suites. Up to
50 of the hotel suites will be available as tribal housing,
so Guidiville members can participate fully in governmental,
business, and cultural opportunities on site.
Entertainment and Conference
Center
A 48,000-square-foot entertainment center will be
constructed as part of the resort complex. The 2,500-seat
theater will provide an important regional venue for musical
and theatrical performances, as well as cultural, academic,
community, and business events. In addition, a 122,000-square-foot
conference facility (the Conference Center) will be constructed
as part of the main parking structure. The Conference Center
will fill a regional void for mid-size business, educational,
and community events where attendees can access dining, entertainment,
and open space without getting into their vehicles. Conference
and restaurant facilities will also be available for community
events, weddings, and local celebrations. Ferry and connections
to BART and AC Transit will allow seamless visitor access
to San Francisco and other points around the Bay.
Retail Village
A 300,000-square-foot retail pedestrian village is proposed
connecting the Point Hotel to the main resort complex. Approximately
30 to 75 retail shops will be housed in this development.
The retail village will be constructed with extensive
daylighting and Bay views, and will include restaurants and
cafes, retail shopping, and public plazas with both luxury
and convenience shopping to attract regional tourism and serve
local residents.
Tribal Facilities
The proposed Guidiville Tribal Government facilities will
be constructed as part of the site’s park and administrative
offices, east of the main resort facilities. Nearby dance
grounds and roundhouse will be used by Tribal members throughout
the year, as well as by visitors during intertribal gatherings.
Parkland and Recreation
Approximately 145 acres of hillside land will be maintained
as open space. Pursuant to Section 2.6 of the LDA and Section
5.7 of the MSA (Exhibit E of LDA), Guidiville will establish
permanent conservation easements and public access easements
approved by BIA and the City, and the Tribe will set aside
and fund the maintenance and preservation of the hillside
open space. The existing LDA requires that the Tribe
adopt guidelines and standards for the operation and maintenance
of the hillside open space substantially similar to the guidelines
and standards of the State of California Department of Parks
and Recreation Park Management Plan. Open space areas will
be maintained primarily in their natural state but will include
pedestrian trails, picnic areas (both open and reserved),
restroom facilities, and park amenities consistent with those
found in regional parks in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.
A 35-acre shoreline park will provide public access
to the Bay along the entire shoreline of the project site.
The shoreline park will include large vegetated areas for
walking and enjoying the shoreline, public art and cultural
exhibits, picnic areas (both open and reserved), park recreation
facilities (play areas, equipment rental, etc.) and restrooms
facilities. In accordance with conditions of the LDA, an approximate
50-foot wide shoreline strip of land within the shoreline
park will be leased to Guidiville by the City, rather than
placed in trust. The park will include a newly constructed
segment of the San Francisco Bay Trail, funded by Guidiville,
pursuant to the Bay Trail Plan design policies
and guidelines as published by the Association of Bay Area
Governments (ABAG 1999) and in consultation with members of
the Trails for Richmond Action Committee (TRAC) as specified
in Exhibit H of the LDA.
The existing LDA requires that the Tribe adopt guidelines
and standards for the operation and maintenance of the shoreline
park substantially similar to the guidelines and standards
of the Bay Trail Plan (ABAG 1999).
Transit and Parking
With discussions already in progress with numerous
ferry services, AC Transit, BART, and the City of Richmond,
the Project will be an integral hub in the Bay Area’s
mass transit systems. With proposed direct ferry service from
San Francisco, Vallejo, and Marin County to the Site’s
proposed ferry terminal, approximately 5,000 visitors per
day can be accommodated on existing ferry lines by "back-loading"
commuter ferries on most routes without a significant increase
in ferry miles traveled. Discussions with BART are
underway for direct shuttles to and from the Richmond BART
station, and with AC Transit on increased service throughout
Richmond paid for by the Project, including a new circular
service to pick up employees throughout the City, so most
can access the Site without use of private cars. It
is anticipated that employees and site visitors will use mass
transit extensively to access the Site.
Approximately 5,000 parking spaces will be provided in a
partially subterranean parking structure located across (east)
Western/Winehaven Drive from the casino-hotel complex. An
additional 2,500 parking spaces will be provided in a seven-level
garage, all of which will be below grade, hidden from view,
and integrated into the Point Hotel. The main parking structure
will have eight levels, four of which will be below ground
level. Access points to this parking structure will be provided
from Western/Winehaven Drive, with pedestrian access through
a foot bridge (and/or tunnel) structure to the hotels, casino,
and remainder of the site west of Western/Winehaven Drive.
Both valet and employee parking will be contained within the
parking structure. The seven-level parking structure that
will be integrated into the Point Hotel will service the hotels,
retail, restaurant, park, and ferry facilities near the shoreline.
Parking for police and emergency vehicles will be provided
throughout the Site.
Residences
Fifty units of tribal housing are incorporated into the main
hotel complex and in one of the project alternatives being
evaluated in the EIR/EIS, an additional 340 housing units
are proposed for the former Drum Lot (after remediation is
completed) on the southern end of the Site. Approximately
one third of those units will be set aside in a Tribe-subsidized
affordable housing program for tribal members, with remaining
units sold as market-rate housing. While City affordable housing
goals will likely be met through Tribal housing alone, the
project will also contribute in-lieu fees to the City in accordance
with the City’s inclusionary housing program. Housing
on the Site will be served with a free on-site shuttle system
to BART, the Winehaven entertainment district, and ferry pier,
allowing for a unique combination of beautiful surroundings,
proximity to vibrant entertainment, and seamless access to
mass transit.
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