Breuner Marsh is a 238 acre (96 ha)[1][2][3] is a disputed, largely open space in Richmond, California made of current and former wetlands with little development.
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It was purchased in 2000 by Bay Area Wetlands LLC, a company that planned on selling the land to the highest bidding developer.[3] The East Bay Regional Parks District has considered using expropriation to prevent development of the rare undeveloped San Francisco Bay shoreline and to protect endangered species.[3][4] Bay Wetlands at one point wanted to build "Edgewater Technology Park" but were rebuffed by Parchester residents.[3] Signature Properties[3], a housing construction firm, bought a six month option at one point, but was unable to persuade the city council to rezone the area from light industrial, since the city wanted revenue building commercial development instead of funds-draining housing that would place addition strain on city services.[3] The East Bay Regional Park District purchased a large portion of the historic marsh in 2008 for $8,830,155.[5] The Park District intends to restore tidal wetlands on the property in addition to adding a component of the Bay Trail.[6]
It is located alongside Parchester Village[3] a neighborhood built with the promise of maintaining the marsh development free.[4] However the landowner subsequently sold it off and the new owner Gerry Breuner and during the time he owned the property during the 1970s much of the wetlands were illegally destroyed with the intention of building a civil aviation airport Breuner Field.[3] This was a failure due to community opposition and it became mixed wetlands grasslands with a small model airplane airport of sorts.
Since then various proposals to develop the marsh have been put forward. These include upscale housing, an industrial complex, a mixed use transit village with housing businesses, and a transit center, and expansion of Point Pinole Regional Shoreline with Breuner Marsh being restored. The latter is the preferred option from the Parchester Village Neighborhood Council which has fought development in the past.[3] Development is also being fought by the Sierra Club and the North Richmond Shoreline Open Space Alliance.[3]
The surrounding boundaries are approximately San Pablo Bay to the west, Giant Marsh and Point Pinole Park to the north, a SP railroad embankment and Parchester Village to the east, and Rheem Creek to the south[7]
The city is willing to zone 27 acres (11 ha) for residential but no more.[8]
A lawsuit has been filed and the courts preliminary judgment has been reached.[8] The jury decided that the value of the 217 acres (0.88 km2) was $6.85 million, this is contrary to the districts appraiser whom valued it at $1.5 million and the price paid for at purchasing time from the Breuners of $3 million.[8] The defendants argued that the city would make up to $18 million off the 27 acres (110,000 m2) where development will be allowed.[8] The property owners will be allowed to keep 20 acres (8 ha).[8] The owners are appealing the March 28, 2008 decision.[8]
Threatened wildlife in the area includes the white-tailed kite, a state "Species of Concern" and endangered species such as the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse and the California Clapper Rail.[9]
Breuner Airfield or Breuner Field is a 5 acre (2 ha) private[10] radio controlled aircraft airfield or "flying field" and club that was built in the 1970s[3][7] on the Breuner Marsh site in the Parhcester Village neighborhood of Richmond, California.[11] The runway is about 300 ft (91 m) and is marked with x's to state that it is not suitable for landing by any planes.[12] It is located at 4114 Goodrick Avenue, Richmond, California, 94801.
It is located on reclaimed wetlands of what was formerly Breuner Marsh, a wetlands area. The airfield is located at Goodrick Avenue and is accessible from Richmond Parkway. The site is adjacent to the shoreline of San Pablo Bay and has a sports club, some cottages, and a fishing pier.
The land has been owned by Fred Parr; later by the owner of the former Breuners furniture chain, Gerry Breuner; and currently by Bay Area Wetlands LLC. Breuner originally wanted a private general aviation airport at this location but community and political opposition prohibited it[13] and the model plane airfield was the largest he could build. The site has in recent times been up for debate with regards to use including proposed upscale housing by developers, an office park by the city council, and an expansion of Point Pinole Regional Shoreline as restored wetlands by Gayle McLaughlin and the East Bay Regional Parks District. It is run by the Bay Area Radio Control Society.[7] In the 1980s Gerald Bruener tested experimental aircraft, a gyrocopter, at the site and used it as his primary residence.[14]