Projects that make sense— for the market, for the community

We tackle the tough projects, projects that cannot attract financing or buyers: sites that are polluted, sites in tough inner-city neighborhoods, and properties requiring specialized design and restoration. 

We unlock value where others walk away: the social value of contributing to the communities in which we work. The market value of projects that offer reliable net returns on investment.

The days are long gone when outside developers can roll in and ignore community stakeholders. As a local developer, we understand that we too are stakeholders. That perspective informs everything we do.

Our projects are presented below in four groups:
   Industrial projects
   Historic renovation
   Community involvement
   Distributed alternative energy production

For more detail, please click the name of the property below, or select it from the list that appears under “Projects” near the top of the screen.

Industrial projects

The Richmond Cooperative
This 67,000 SF concrete building, which for decades housed machining operations, is located in the blighted inner city "Iron Triangle" neighborhood of Richmond, California. MSH signed an indemnification agreement, insulating the seller from the onsite toxic problem, and rebuilt the facility. Today the building is occupied by 15 small employers.

The Rheem Plant
This 16-acre, 215,000 SF facility was the manufacturing site for 55 gallon steel barrels, used in the nearby Chevron refinery. Located in a low-income neighborhood, this brownfield site had undergone 6 years of remediation at the time we bought it. Unoccupied for 10 years, it was a serious eyesore for the community. Today it is home to small- and medium-size employers that provide jobs for local residents.

1220 47th Avenue
This Oakland, California, concrete tilt-up building was destroyed in a six-alarm fire that also consumed many other nearby structures. We rejected a common "solution"—complete demolition—and instead rebuilt the building, thus preserving its value.

Historic renovation

The Bank of Richmond
The Bank of Richmond was an un-reinforced masonry building, listed as a historic structure and requiring specialized restoration construction skills. After 3 years of careful structural and restoration work, it is now a proud member of the Point Richmond Historic District.

The Paint and Riggers Loft: Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Park:
One of the last surviving Kaiser Shipyard structures, the Paint and Riggers Loft was in desperate need of repair. Because it is located within the National Park boundaries of the Port of Richmond, the City of Richmond asked MSH to prepare a proposal to finance and restore this significant historic building.

Community Involvment

The Whirley Crane Project: Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Park
The last surviving 220-ton Whirley Crane, a towering fixture of the shipyard, was headed for the scrap heap. But the Superintendent of the National Park urged its preservation. MSH Group joined hands with other local businesses, donating construction and management services to complete this landmark project.

Distributed Renewable Energy Production

MSH Group recognizes that our planet must move away from the carbon-based energy systems the have fueled our world. Distributed renewable energy production offers a promising path.  With the help of significant subsidies from the State of California, we installed an 80KW polycrystalline solar power plant on the Richmond Cooperative.