Current and Completed Projects    

Southport Land’s Current Projects

Sharkey Building, 630 Court Street Project—Martinez, CA    

In June 2012, after more than a year of negotiations with the City of Martinez, Southport Land and Commercial Company acquired the historic, City-owned “Sharkey Building.”  This brick building, located at the corner of Main and Court Streets across the street from the 1901 Contra Costa County courthouse, was constructed in 1926 by State Senator William R. Sharkey to accommodate the expansion of his newspaper publishing activities.  During his tenure as a legislator, Mr. Sharkey was known for his efforts to establish and expand park lands, as well as his water conservation proposals.  The Contra Costa Gazette used the building until 1973.  In 2007 the Sharkey Building was placed on the California Register of Historic Places.

Because of prior neglect, the building’s second story wooden window frames and casings needed immediate conservation after Southport Land’s acquisition of the building.  Restoration of that part of the structure was completed in 2013.

In 2015 Southport Land began an extensive earthquake retrofitting project on the Sharkey Building.  The project began with the brick walls undergoing seismic testing, which took place from the inside, so as to not hurt the exterior façades.  The results of the testing were then used to calculate the extent of seismic reinforcement necessary to strengthen the walls to resist an earthquake.  Over 800 holes were then drilled into the walls (from the inside, without affecting the exterior) into which threaded rods were epoxied.  Those rods were used to hold steel columns against the bricks.

Six earthquake frames were also designed to resist a specific type of seismic wave generated by some earthquakes.  During the process of removing drywall to expose the bricks, it was discovered that the brick walls were not originally constructed as had been anticipated by the engineers, which has resulted in all six frames having to be redesigned, thereby delaying the project and increasing its cost.

After the retrofitting has been completed, the interior will be remodled.  A restaurant or retail use is contemplated for the downstairs and offices upstairs.

Please see our 610 and 630 Court Street Recent Progress page for more details about this project.
        

“The Press Building” at 610 Court Street Project—Martinez, CA

610 Court Street Building, looking south, before
renovations began.  For a "before" and "after"
comparison, click here.

Southport Land and Commercial Company purchased the former County office building at 610 Court Street in June, 2012.  The World War II-era building was built primarily to house printing presses for the local newspaper, and is one of the few examples of Streamline Moderne architecture in Martinez.  Prior renovations of “The Press Building” had altered some of the architectural features of the building, and it was Southport Land’s goal to renovate the street facing façades to reemphasize some of the building’s streamline elements.

Southport Land has partitioned the downstairs into three distinct commercial suites, each with its own mirror finish stainless steel entrance.  The upstairs was divided into four office suites, serviced by a central lobby. 

An elevator was later purchased for the building and its pit and shaft were constructed.  As a part of the elevator construction, a 20-inch tall I‑beam supporting the second story had to be partially removed to make room for the shaft.  Installation of the elevator is now complete.

As of mid‑2016, Southport Land had completed all of the work on the upstairs suites, as well as all of the exterior renovations (except for some paint).

In November, 2021 the City of Martinez gave final approval to convert the building into commercial condominiums.

Please see our 610 and 630 Court Street Recent Progress page for more details about this project.
       

Southport Land’s Completed Projects

Façade Restoration, Lepori Building—Pittsburg, CA    

A façade restoration of the historic Lepori Building in Downtown Pittsburg, California was completed in the Spring of 2012.  Among other things, the project involved using epoxy compounds to repair the stucco lettering that had deteriorated.  A photo essay of how the letters were restored is contained below.

Before restoration only an outline of the letter "G" was visable. Over the years, the stucco letter had deteriorated until it was mostly missing.		During the restoration process, stainless steel flathead screws were placed in holes drilled into the stucco within the outline of the missing letter. A stainless steel wire was then run between the screws. Next, an epoxy-based material was molded into the shape of the missing letter.

The letter "G" after restoration, but
before being painted.


Upper portion of Lepori Building façade before restoration.
Several of the original stucco letters were broken or missing.

 

Upper portion of Lepori Building façade after restoration.  In order to be
historically accurate, the letters were restored in their exact positions
as originally installed, despite some mis-alignments.

 

We have in our archive several historic images of the Lepori Building.

In 2022 Southport Land sold the Lepori Building.

Acquisition of Historic Alpha Building—Grass Valley, CA    

An early postcard image of the Alpha Building.

In April, 2012 Southport Land completed its acquisition of the historic Alpha Building on West Main Street in Grass Valley, California.  Located two buildings east of the Holbrooke Hotel, a state landmark, the Alpha Building itself has a rich history.  (For a narrative of the building's history, click this link: History of Grass Valley’s Alpha Building.)  Today the building consists of 18 commercial spaces plus a warehouse that is leased for storage.  One of the commercial spaces is a restaurant, another is a salon, one is a yoga studio, and the remainder are offices and light retail spaces of various sizes.

For leasing information or to learn the history of the building, please visit our Grass Valley Office Leasing page.

Solar Project—Lodi, CA    

A 30 kilowatt solar panel system was installed in the spring of 2011 on the roof of Southport Land and Commercial Company’s Lodi building. This was the second building owned by Southport Land to receive solar panels.  (In 2020 Southport’s Lodi building was purchased by the tenant.)

Mixed-use Development—Pittsburg, CA    

Southport Land and Commercial Company began preliminary steps to develop a parcel of vacant land on Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg, California, when, in 2018, the City of Pittsburg stepped in and acquired the property under its power of eminent domain.  The property had been purchased by the Company in 1867 and was the Company’s longest-held asset.

In conjunction with the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District extension (called eBART) into eastern Contra Costa County, the City of Pittsburg adopted the Railroad Avenue Specific Plan for the area within a half-mile radius of the new eBART Station.  That plan placed an emphasis on creating a walkable, mixed-use neighborhood.  The eBART extension (now in operation) included a commuter railway extension eastward from the existing Pittsburg/Bay Point BART station and a new transit station at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Highway 4.  The extension and the City’s Specific Plan had provided the property owners in the area with the opportunity to develope a maximum of 1,800 new housing units and approximately 990,000 square feet of office and retail space in the area surrounding the station.  The Company had contemplated a mixed-used development project for its property, which was located just three blocks from the new transit station.