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2002 Phoenix Awards Executive Summary
City of Stockton
Dean DeCarli Waterfront Square

Application The Dean DeCarli Waterfront Square has restored the headwaters of the Stockton Channel to its original glory. In the 19th century, the Stockton Channel was the easternmost deepwater connection to San Francisco Bay. It was from this point cargo ships and riverboat passengers disembarked to the Sierra Foothills during the goldrush of the 1850’s. Later, passengers would come via the Channel to visit the famous Hotel Stockton still located at the Channel’s end. Unfortunately, this use ended with the construction of the Center Street Bridge in the early 1950’s. The bridge separated the headwaters from the rest of the channel, cutting off boat access. In the next few years, timber piles were driven into the channel bed over which a concrete slab was poured, creating a parking lot the size of a city block, with a gas station located in the northeast corner. Over the decades, the parking lot and the timbers underneath began to deteriorate. Contamination from underground storage tanks installed by the gas station began to seep into the soil on the landside of the block, and there was suspicion that it was seeping into the adjoining channel. Contamination of the channel sediment from the creosote piers was also suspected. The lot was condemned once visible sagging was observed and it was fenced off to prevent access. The gas station was also closed and abandoned. This visually blighted area, known as “Weber Block”, became symbolic of the downtown’s downhill decline. The resurrection of the block became possible when the City’s Redevelopment Agency, in concert with the Waterfront Committee, began to concentrate on the Stockton Channel, as the City’s “diamond in the rough.” Stockton’s first visually significant redevelopment project was the construction of the Weber Point Events Center, across the street from Weber Block. Named after Charles Weber, Stockton’s founder, this was the location of his first homestead constructed in the late 1840’s. Located on 10 acres, it is surrounded on three sides by water and establishes a visual and functional anchor for the City’s downtown redevelopment efforts. With the successful completion of the Weber Points Events Center, the Redevelopment Agency began to focus on additional economic catalysts in the downtown. The site for an 17-screen Cineplex was chosen, two blocks east of the Events Center. Plans for the restoration of the landmark Hotel Stockton (immediately south of the Cineplex and east of the Weber Block) are in development. These two projects, in combination with the opening of the City’s new essential services building (Eberhardt/Stewart Building) to the immediate south of the Weber Block, rendered the deteriorated parking lot obsolete. Plans were drawn for a vibrant public waterfront plaza to replace the dilapidated parking lot. Strategically located in the middle of the Weber Point Events Center, Cineplex, Hotel Stockton and Eberhardt/Stewart Building, it was clear that the block would become a link between all of these new facilities and the Central Business District. The site was designed to reveal the headwaters, circulate the channel waters over a cascading waterfall, and beautify the adjoining land with pavers, stadium seating, a shade trellis and landscaping. A comprehensive public awareness and involvement campaign was undertaken during the design process to gather input from concerned citizens. Two public meetings were held to present the preliminary and final designs and both were well attended. Comments and ideas from the public were recorded and implemented into the design where possible. The redevelopment of this block ultimately achieved numerous goals. From a brownfields redevelopment perspective, the construction included various remediation technologies that removed or capped possible contaminants. The Redevelopment Agency used its Polanco Act authority to facilitate the characterization and assessment of likely soil and groundwater contamination. The USEPA partnered with the City in funding the Phase II work as an enhancement of Stockton’s Brownfields Pilot Program that was underway at the time. The State Department of Toxic Control Substances (DTSC) stepped in and with financial assistance from USEPA, approved the conclusions of the Phase II and specified preparation of a Preliminary Endangerment Assessment (PEA) to provide a cleanup solution. This resulted in a combination of soil removal, soil capping, and deed restrictions. Underground storage tanks received final closure from the local Environmental Health Department and contaminated sediment in the Channel bottom was allowed to remain in place. Once completed, the square facilitates a vibrant street life, connecting the City’s CBD with the emerging recreational waterfront district. The design of the plaza provides an ideal setting for food carts, a farmer’s market and an open air ice rink in the winter. In the past year it has been the setting for outdoor jazz concerts, and Christmas and Independence Day celebrations. The cost of planning, demolition and construction was estimated at $5.25 million. Funding came from a variety of sources. The Redevelopment Fund contributed $765,000, the Parkland Public Facility Fees gave $1,750,000, the City received a Brownfields Economic Development Initiative Grant for $500,000, and secured an Economic Development Loan totaling $3,000,000. The Agency selected Turner Construction as their design-build consultant in February of 2000. The construction began with the demolition of the gas station and the lifting of the concrete slab. After removing the supports, the channel was once again restored. A large cascading waterfall was constructed at one end, and a weir at the other end to prevent debris build-up and to help aerate the water. The plaza was opened and renamed the Dean DeCarli Waterfront Square on June 29, 2001.

Dean DeCarli Waterfront Square