ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION
Redevelopment of 820 W MacArthur from a contaminated site into a sustainable community
providing housing to moderate income individuals
WHO WE ARE
We are Riaz Capital, a real estate developer-operator led by a talented team focused on addressing the changing housing needs of the Bay Area. Our mission is to build premium-quality apartments that anyone earning a median income can afford and would love to call home Our buildings are planet-friendly with a low carbon footprint and high bike, walk, and transit scores, and we invest in the communities where our buildings are located. Operating in the Bay Area since 1977, Riaz Capital’s roots go back two generations. We possess core competencies in design, development, construction management, asset management, finance, and capital markets. Today, the company has ~$500 million in real estate assets under management (over 1,500 units) and has roughly 1,700 residences in the development or construction process. We aim to provide premium quality, affordable, housing to ~5,000 residents by 2027.
PROGRAM GOALS
To remove the potential on-site contamination for residential redevelopment
Create housing for moderate income earners
To create jobs for the community
To create 50 full-time jobs during 16 months of construction
To lower the carbon footprint with an all-electric design
PROJECT SUMMARY
The ACDEH proposed a draft corrective action plan in 2020 which was modified in 2023. The modified plan proposed to:
- Excavate soil contaminated with lead and petroleum products to a depth of 7 feet across the site
- Excavate to a depth of 12 to 14 feet in the vicinity of the former gasoline tanks to remove petroleum products
- Remove encountered groundwater during excavations
- Transport all impacted soil and groundwater for off-site disposal at licensed facilities
- Backfill excavations with clean, imported fill
BEFORE
AFTER
BEFORE
AFTER
SITE HISTORY
The site operated as a gas station and a car repair/tire shop from 1967 till 2018 and has been vacant since. Environmental investigations were carried out between 2018 and 2023 to determine the impact on the soil, soil gasses and the groundwater. The investigation findings were:
- Presence of lead in shallow soil on-site
- Presence of petroleum products in soil on-site
- Presence of petroleum products and solvents in soil gas both on-site and on adjacent sites.
- Excavate to a depth of 12 to 14 feet in the vicinity of the former gasoline tanks to remove petroleum products
- No significant contamination in groundwater The proposed remedial action will reduce potential contribution to those off-site impacts from the site.
PROJECT TIMELINE
- Public comment period: August 24 – September 6, 2023
- Review comments
- Issue formal Response to Comments document to all who provided comments
- ACDEH issues Environmental Clearance letter
- Work notice distributed one week prior to cleanup work starting
- Environmental cleanup begins mid to late September 2023
Work Hours
Monday - Friday
7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Work is conducted during approved construction hours
ALAMEDA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
The Almeda County Department of Environmental Health works to enhance the health and quality of life by ensuring food and recreational safety, reducing exposure to toxic waste and pests, and protecting the quality of the water and air.
The ACDEH is overseeing the subsurface investigations and cleanup work at the 820 MacArthur 2 site to support its redevelopment.
| Agency | Role/Responsibility | Contacts |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda County Department of Environmental Health (ACDEH) | Oversees subsurface investigations and cleanup work to support redevelopment |
|
| City of Oakland | Planning Department entitled redevelopment; Building Department will issue permits and oversee construction |
|
| Bay Area Air Quality Management District | Responds to air quality complaints during contruction work |
| Agency | Role/Responsibility | Contacts |
|---|---|---|
| Riaz Capital on behalf of 820 MacArthur 2, LLC | Property owner and oversees development construction |
|
| Terraphase Engineering | Technical consultant performing the subsurface investigations and overseeing the voluntary cleanup work |
|
| Eleven Engineering | Construction contractor performing the voluntary cleanup and redevelopment construction |
|
| Craig Communications | Community outreach consultant and main point of contact for questions |
|
SITE MAP
CONTACT INFORMATION
Chris Batson
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
978-549-0432
cbatson@riazinc.com