Red Rock Island

Red Rock Island is an uninhabited, 5.8 acre (2.3 ha) island in the San Francisco Bay located just south of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge.cite episode
title = Bay Area Private Island Sold for $10M
url = http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11945375
series = Morning Edition
serieslink = Morning Edition
network = National Public Radio
airdate = 2007-07-13 ]

This unique property is the only privately owned island in San Francisco Bay. The boundaries of three counties – San Francisco, Marin and Contra Costa – converge on this high rock. [ [http://atlas.resources.ca.gov/imaps/atlas/app.asp California Department of Fish and Game - IMAPS Viewer ] ] The San Francisco County portion is an incorporated part of the city of San Francisco since it is a consolidated city-county; the Contra Costa portion (most of the island) is incorporated inside the city limits of Richmond.Fact|date=July 2007

The mountain of bright red earth and rock is convert|500|ft|m across from east to west, convert|750|ft|m from north and south, and rises out of the Bay to a height of convert|172|ft|m. Its area total is almost convert|6|acre|m2. It is surrounded by some of the deepest water in the North Bay - convert|60|ft|m deep.

History

The island was once mined for manganese. It was privately purchased in the 1920s. After a series of owners, David Glickman, at the time a San Francisco attorney and part-time real estate buyer, purchased the island in 1964 for $49,500.

In the 1980s, a plan was floated (but never implemented) to remove the top half of the island (which would be sold for highway roadbed construction). The island would then be developed with a 10-story hotel and casino, and a yacht harbor on the lee (north) side. Water and power would be provided from lines connected to the San Rafael Bridge. [http://www.theculturedtraveler.com/Archives/DEC2002/San_Francisco11.htm]

In June 2007, Glickman, now a gem dealer in Thailand, announced that Red Rock Island was for sale for USD10 million dollars. He had previously attempted to sell the island in 2001, including to the California Department of Fish and Game. [cite web
last = Mick
first = Elmore
title = Man in Thailand selling last private island in San Francisco Bay
publisher = Associated Press
date = 2007-06-19
url = http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/06/19/state/n104750D63.DTL
accessdate = 2007-06-19 ] No conservation groups or agencies have so far expressed interest in buying the island, though some have considered it.

The island is currently listed with a realtor with an asking price of $22 million. [http://www.stevenhigbee.com/home.asp]

Notes

See also

* Islands of San Francisco Bay

External links

* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11945375 NPR Interview with owner David Glickman on the sale of Red Rock Island] (13 July 2007)
* [http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13818680 Second NPR Interview] (21 August 2007)
* [http://www.redrockisland.homestead.com Red Rock Island Home Page]