What's next for legendary 140-acre Golden Gate Fields horse racing track?

TODAY BUT VISIONS OF WHAT COULD REPLACE THE RACE TRACK WERE SWIRLING IN PEOPLE'S HEADS, FROM THOSE WHO WILL MISS THE HORSE RACES TO THOSE WHO ARE CELEBRATING ITS SHUTDOWN, TRACK OWNERS ANNOUNCED OVER THE WEEKEND THAT THEY WILL BE CLOSING. >> IT WILL BE COMING UP WITH A PLAN OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, IF THEY WANT TO SELL. ALBANY HAS SOME SAY IN IT. IF THE USE OF GOLDEN GATE FIELD IS GOING TO CHANGE. THEN THE ZONING WOULD HAVE TO CHANGE. REPORTER: RIGHT NOW THE PARCEL OF LAND WITH THE GOLDEN GATE VIEW IS ZONED FOR WATERFRONT RECREATION. >> THE BIGGEST THING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS THE ZONING CHANGE. THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO GO TO THE VOTERS HERE. AND IT WILL BE A BIG COMMUNITY DISCUSSION. >> I THINK IT IS REALLY A GIFT FROM THE GODS. BECAUSE IT GIVES THE WHOLE REGION THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAN FOR DEVELOPMENT. REPORTER: THE QUESTION IS, COULD IT FOLLOW IN THE TRACKS OF BAYMEADOWS THAT CLOSED IN 2008 AND TRANSITIONED INTO A NEW HOUSING AND RETAIL COMMUNITY IN SAN MATEO? >> IT WAS WITHIN THREE YEARS THAT YOU SAW A WHOLE NEW COMMUNITY. YOU COULD CREATE RECREATIONAL AREA WITHIN THAT GOLDEN GATE FIELD AREA. THERE'S SO MUCH YOU COULD DO. IT'S REALLY A BLANK CANVAS THAT CAN BE MADE INTO SOMETHING PRETTY SPECTACULAR. REPORTER: ANIMAL-RIGHTS ACTIVISTS PITCHED IN. >> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS PLACE THERE IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE, IT COULD BE TURNED INTO A PARK, MAYBE IT CAN BE TURNED INTO AN ANIMAL SANCTUARY. REPORTER: BERKELEY'S MAYOR RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING PRIORITY RIGHT NOW MUST BE ON ENSURING THAT WORKERS ARE MADE WHOLE AND SUPPORTED AND THAT THEY HORSES ARE GIVEN PROPER CARE AND RELOCATION DURING THE CLOSURE. IN TERMS OF TAX REVENUE, PROPERTY TAXES WILL CONTINUE TO BE PAID TO BOTH THE CITY OF ALBANY AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT, ONCE THE TRACK CLOSES. THE ONLY THING THAT IS CERTAIN IS THAT CHANGE IS COMING AND A NEW CHAPTER WILL BE UNFOLDING FOR THE PRIME BAYFRONT REAL ESTATE. LESLIE

Channel: ABC7 News Bay Area

Views: 2,893

Keywords: news, abc, abc7news, golden gate fields closing, golden gate fields future, horse race, city of albany, race track closure, whats next for golden gate fields, The Stronach Group, golden gate fields closure, golden gate fields Berkeley, golden gate fields albany, horse deaths golden gate fields, Albany Mayor Aaron Tiedemann golden gate fields

Id: jg9WYTdwkco

Length: 2min 12sec (132 seconds)

Published: Tue Jul 18 2023