Locations?

I'm looking for a cool, urban/industrial place in San Francisco, like a
visually arresting abandoned building or something for a project I'm doing.
Can people run some suggestions by me? If there's a motorcycle theme I can
incorporate, even better, but not essential.

 

Oakland.

HTH,

cds

 

Better still, Emeryville. Alternatively, follow the nearest set of
railroad tracks until you find something suitably picturesque.

Al Moore

 

I thought of Oakland, but didn't think of Emeryville, but I don't have a
lot of time to scout or hunt for "spooky" places, so I was hoping for a
quick, "there's this cool old tunnel on (X) street," kind of answer. I'm
going to do this probably either late-ish Saturday night or on Sunday
afternoon, and have a few not-so-"spooky" but just as "dangerous" (in some
people's minds, like a "biker bar") places in mind that will probably work
fine for what I want to do.

 

Point Molate U. S. Naval Fuel Depot. It marks the western limit of Richmond,
CA.

Take I580 W, exit Western Dr. (last offramp before the Richmond-San Rafael
bridge).

It's a rather pretty ride, and the abandoned Navy facilities, if they
haven't been demolished/cleaned up, are quite startling. One brick
building looks like an 18th century fortress, complete with parapets
with what appear to be marksman's slits.

A couple miles past the depot the road deteriorated spectacularly,
ending in the Point Molate Marina, a little enclave with a small
restaurant that served good omelettes a few years ago.

Haven't been back since, I should go again. There was some effort
in progress to redevelop the place, interesting to see what's done.

If you choose to look I suggest a daylight visit (or a full moon!).


bob prohaska

 

Go out to Alameda.. the Naval Air Station.. near where they have the
aircraft carrier musuem.

Lots of ships, docks.. cranes... should be perfect for what you're after.

 

Hey, this sounds like a possibility. Thanks!

 

Hm. I was actually even out in that area a few weeks ago, but I don't think
we went by that particular place. Is it anywhere near Point Richmond? It
sounds cool, and like it might be just what I'm looking for. I have to video
this and would definitely do this one in the day (a "biker bar" I'd rather
do at night).

 

You can't "go by" it. The road is a _very_ dead end

It's north of Point Richmond and west, smack against San Pablo Bay.
Last WB exit before the bridge tool plaza, by about 300 feet.

I'm not sure about the access situation; last I looked, couple years
ago, there was a considerable hazardous waste cleanup (mostly oil,
solvents and of course asbestos) in progress. "Look but don't touch".
That will doubtless be followed by redevelopment.

Scouting would be best in daylight, but a full moon would make a more
ominous impression. The brick "fort" really impressed me, even in daylight.
There was a little enclave of officer's quarters that astonished in a
different way.

bob

 

Undoubtedly, and the housing tracts will have names like "Golden Fields"
or "Bay Vista" instead of "Petrochem Desert". ; )

Cool. I gotta find this place.

 

And you've got places like the Richmond Marina Bay where they should
be named "LiquifactionVille"

 

Yeah, it must be newcomers to California who buy houses in places like
that. Yikes.

 

http://www.nationaltrust.org/magazine/archives/arch_story/072503.htm

Turns out to have a wholly different history than I imagined....

The "castle" was a winery built in 1907, it closed
during Prohibition. The land was taken over by the Navy during the
Second World War as a fueling station (an oil refinery is right next
door). The buildings I thought were officer's quarters were part of
the winery's housing complex. The "fort" fooled me completely, I
thought it was real . The marina at road's end is Point San Pablo.

I really ought to take a look at what's happened there. It had
considerable charm.

bob prohaska

 

Nope, I know a couple of nativs who've bought a house here in marina
bay. I don't understand why anyone would buy around here, but
apparently they do.

It's great for renting: heck, redtag the building after the big one
(liquifaction tends to make buildings uninhabitable, not directly
collapsing them), its not MY money, and it is a fair bit cheaper than
other places in the area.

Having truely craptactular public schools is also great for DINKs like
me, drops the cost of rent considerably.

 

http://www.nationaltrust.org/magazine/archives/arch_story/072503.htm

"Despite its charms, few people find the winding road to Point Molate to
see Winehaven, its piers, the charred remains of a whaling station, and East
Brother Light Station, an 1870s National-Register-listed lighthouse that is
now a B&B. Beneath Point Molate are remains of four Chinese shrimp camps
from the 1870s and prehistoric Indian middens."

Now I know where my next foray will take me. This place sounds really
interesting.

 

Nice view, plan to sell in a few years, playing the odds... I guess I can
see why.

I've lived in neighborhoods like that, except it was the crack houses on
either end of the street that brought the rent down...

 

I took a look early Sunday afternoon. It's a little more sad.
The "Castle" is now fenced off much tighter than before, with
barbed-wire-topped chainlink that looks new. There're gates, and
maybe the proper blandishments would open them, but none were
required last visit. The security guard gave me a cordial wave,
perhaps I should have stopped....

The little houses look a bit more forlorn, with plywood substituting
for glass in a few. The glass was intact on the last visit. I'd rent
one in a minute, nonetheless. [provided a garage could be found!]

Beyond the Depot the road is almost purposefully wretched, asphalt
patched with canteloupe-sized cowpies of paving material. It makes
Pinehurst seem easy. The marina is still there, with a wonderful
collection of idle apparatus, mostly of a heavy construction nature.
The parking area is composed of fine dust, which coats everything.

Didn't check for the cafe...my bad!

bob prohaska

 

Drat. Well, maybe if I put on some makeup and bat my eyelashes he'll let
me through just like the last cop who pulled me over let me off of a
ticket...

Glass? Who needs glass?! Tape a little waxed paper over the windows and
you're good to go.

I'm just going to park the bike and sneak in wherever I can find a good
place. After all that roughing it, I'm going to need a good cafe! I'll let
you know if it's still there.

 

That might work. Most likely access is controlled by contractors doing
the HAZMAT cleanup. Week days are apt to be better.

Just be sure to park on the windward side of the lot!

bob prohaska