In Episode 106 of the Land to Lots™ Podcast, Carter continues his conversation with Chris Meany of Wilson Meany, on the history, structure, infrastructure, financing, and entitlement complexity behind Treasure Island.

Chris shares the unique history of Treasure Island, from its origins as a man-made island and planned municipal airport to its role as the site of the Golden Gate International Exposition and later as a naval station. Carter and Chris then discuss the complicated public-private structure behind the redevelopment, including the BRAC process, public trust issues, infrastructure financing, tax increment, sea level rise planning, and the broader challenges of building housing in California.

In Part 2 of this conversation, you’ll learn:

• The history of Treasure Island, including its origins as a man-made island, planned airport, World’s Fair site, and naval station.
• How the BRAC process shaped the transfer and redevelopment of the former military base.
• Why public trust land issues created a unique ownership and entitlement structure for the project.
• How the Treasure Island team approached seismic safety, ground improvement, sea level rise, and long-term infrastructure resilience.
• Why the project’s CFD was structured to help fund future sea level rise adaptation.
• How tax increment and infrastructure financing districts became essential to funding the project after redevelopment agencies were eliminated in California.
• The importance of certainty, flexibility, and transparency when negotiating complex public-private development agreements.
• How CEQA, mission creep, and rising construction costs continue to impact housing production in California.