Richmond city officials say they are moving to address a longstanding encampment on private land adjacent to the Wildcat Creek corridor, which straddles Richmond and San Pablo, by combining legal abatement with outreach and housing offers.
The City of Richmond’s Community Development Department has been tasked with coordinating the response with San Pablo for the encampment behind homes located in the 2900 block of Howard Street, along the Wildcat Creek corridor and near the parking lot formerly occupied by Doctors Medical Center. Because the encampment is located on land involving two private property owners, the city has issued citations to the property owners and is preparing to seek a court abatement warrant, a process city staff say could take up to three weeks. Officials also confirmed that housing or shelter services are being offered to individuals on the site.
Residents on Howard Street say the issue has persisted for more than two years, beginning with a few individuals and escalating into what they describe as a “whole community” of tents, garbage, generators, loud music, burning debris and rodent infestations. One resident found a person living in their shed with drug paraphernalia, and say their children are too scared even to go into their own backyard.
Residents say repeated attempts to contact city officials and law enforcement have produced little meaningful response.
City staff said because the encampment is on private land, the usual “72-hour notice and removal” procedure for public property cannot apply. Instead, the city must notify the property owners, issue citations, and then secure a court abatement warrant before entering and clearing the site. Meanwhile, outreach efforts continue through the city’s C.O.R.E. (Coordinated Outreach Referral Engagement) team and partner agencies.
