We asked people in Richmond: What should replace the Hilltop Mall?
on January 8, 2024
“People of Richmond” is a regular series in which reporters pose a question to people in the community. Answers are presented verbatim, though sometimes edited for brevity.
Q: What would you like to see at the Hilltop Mall site?
“Having been part of when that mall first opened, and knowing that a lot of people don’t go to malls anymore because it is too hard to compete with online shopping, having more community outreach programs like services for the surrounding area would be really vital. Having a food bank or having a preschool program, senior care would be great.” (Stephen Egawa, preschool teacher, pictured above)
“I would like to see the hilltop area have townhouses because families are saying, ‘Yeah, apartments are great, but they don’t fit the need of our housing size.’”
(Dulce Galicia, North Richmond municipal advisory council member)
“I would like to see a place for gatherings, maybe like a park, maybe a place where in the afternoon there’s some music playing where, you know, families and anyone within Richmond… could come together.”
(Maria Lemus)
“It’s the perfect opportunity to create a multi-income village to support the several charter schools in the area.” (Richard Mitchell, retired Richmond planning director)
“A great place for a hospital. There’s a lot of health care disparities in this area. A different system might open up health care delivery to people here.” (Joanne Leibe, general surgeon)
“There’s not a lot going on there. The stores I remember going to, they are all gone. Finding out what the community wants, would be good. Having spaces that welcome people to spend their time there, a space to comfortably sit with friends. For me, growing up, malls were geared toward younger people, so finding ways to get their attention a little more would be important.” (Emma Sparks, bookstore worker)
“It would be nice to have somewhere we can all go enjoy on weekends, because that’s what we used to do. I’ve lived out in Richmond since I was 9. I remember on weekends I would go to Hilltop Mall where you would see everybody. So that was nice.” (Chris Divine Pagatpatan)
7 Comments
Richmond Confidential welcomes comments from our readers, but we ask users to keep all discussion civil and on-topic. Comments post automatically without review from our staff, but we reserve the right to delete material that is libelous, a personal attack, or spam. We request that commenters consistently use the same login name. Comments from the same user posted under multiple aliases may be deleted. Richmond Confidential assumes no liability for comments posted to the site and no endorsement is implied; commenters are solely responsible for their own content.
Richmond Confidential
Richmond Confidential is an online news service produced by the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism for, and about, the people of Richmond, California. Our goal is to produce professional and engaging journalism that is useful for the citizens of the city.
Please send news tips to richconstaff@gmail.com.
All these ideas are great, but I definitely lean towards the park idea or anything that helps bring the community together. How about Discovery center for the children. I can also imagine a Zen center to the likes of the Japanese gardens in SF. An area to look out into the Bay if there are views up there for that.
We need medical options in this area so please reach out to Sutter as well as UCSF for possible options.
It would be nice to have a nice restaurant in RICHMOND that would also provide meeting space such as an embassy suite.
We need a nice place where once would be able to have functions such as a wedding, repast, as well as conference space.
We need a nice grocery store; Maybe Walmart neighborhood market would come since Walmart is there. Other options of course would be Raley’s.
I’d love to see a family friendly recreation such as a skating rink indoor type.
Hilltop needs more Jobs and Housing. Maybe a Day Care Center added. Hilltop needs to stay in the Financial Business World of New High Tech Jobs. Make Walmart a Super Walmart Center with an open grocery store and clothes a place to shop under one roof.
Thank you
We need a really nice restaurant in Richmond. Like the Veranda in concord,CA. I have lived in Richmond all my life. Seeing hilltop mall go downhill like that hurts my heart. A strip mall would be nice with high end stores.
You should have considered talking to the Neighborhood Councils here in the Hilltop area of Richmond. Missed opportunity. For years now we have met the developer every month and have met with the City Planning Department monthly as well. The developer is scheduled to meet with the City Planning Department tomorrow. The City Council must vote to pass the project or will NOT happen! See Hilltop Horizon Site Specific Plan on City Website for more information on Hilltop.
Thank you, Arto. We talked to thee Hilltop Dist Neighborhood Council in a previous story: https://richmondconfidential.org/2023/11/15/richmond-what-is-going-on-with-hilltop-mall/
I think a full-service hospital is tremendously good idea. Near a major highway, close to the exit. Isolated enough for a helipad. Has the infrastructure of a nearby hotel, food, and slight entertainment etc. Let’s try to make this happen. It will increase the community with real career jobs and tax revenue.