The city of Richmond, CA, like so many U.S. cities, is in desperate need of new residential units. The impending arrival of the 10-acre Bay Walk development will go a long way towards helping fill that need and it's moving one step closer to construction as a cleanup of unsafe chemicals is underway.

Approved to include 193 units, the breakdown will be 95 townhomes and 98 live-work units. However, the residential components are just a part of the development which desires to create a community hub for the Marina Bay neighborhood. The development will also include a Catahoula Coffee shop, public gardens, 2,630-square-foot fitness center, and business incubation center that will act as a co-works for residents and non-residents of the community. 

Delays for the previously-approved project can be attributed to the unsafe levels of arsenic, lead, petroleum hydrocarbons and benzene found on the property after so many years as a shipyard and industrial warehouse site. The cleanup began in late December and is expected to finished soon. Once that's done, the warehouse buildings will be demolished and construction on Bay Walk will begin in the spring. 

The townhomes are expected to be priced between $500,000 and $600,000. Richmond's median home sale price is currently around $420,000.

Sources:

Richmond: Former warehouse to become new housing [East Bay Times]

New Marina Way Development Approved By Richmond City Council [Radio Free Richmond]