Pacific Refinery

The 219-acre former Pacific Refinery in Hercules, California—located north of Berkeley along San Pablo Bay—stands as one of the most successful brownfield redevelopments in the United States. Once a 55,000-barrel-per-day oil and asphalt refinery, the site was acquired by a development team led by the Principals of RES in joint venture with Catellus Development Corporation. The team managed every aspect of the project, including due diligence, regulatory coordination, permitting, decommissioning, demolition, remediation, community engagement, and site redevelopment. Over $40 million was invested in cleanup, demolition, and site preparation, transforming a heavily industrial site into a thriving residential community. Today, the property—known as Victoria-by-the-Bay—features more than 800 homes, an elementary school, and a neighborhood commercial center, exemplifying successful large-scale brownfield revitalization and community renewal.