Transportation Research Center, an autonomous vehicle testing facility, will have a new 225-acre facility on an underutilized portion of the airport, according to Mark Hendrickson, the County’s Community and Economic Development Director.
Transportation Research Center has been around for more than 40 years. Hendrickson says the company anticipates on hiring at least 133 people locally within a five year span.
The company could be operational as soon as this summer, according to Hendrickson.
When Hendrickson was asked about the former bowling alley at Castle he told Merced Daily that Blaker Brewing -Tarmac plans to utilize the location. However, exact plans for the former bowling alley is NOT clear at this time.
Hendrickson was also asked about those vacant dilapidated buildings. He told Merced Daily, “We’re actively looking to identify funding streams to demolish those buildings. Each one of those buildings have contaminants inside.” Hendrickson said. This would indicate a health issue for the people near the area.
(This story will be updated)
Castle AFB and McClellan AFB both closed in the 1990’s. The two bases were similar. Mark Hendrickson likes to say there are 1400 jobs at castle, but 1200 is a more realistic figure. McClellan has 14,000 jobs. Castle has 10 percent of the jobs it should have because Mark Hendrickson manages the real estate at Castle and he has that real estate performing at only 10 PERCENT CAPACITY. Daron McDaniel is the County Supervisor for the area that includes Castle and he thinks Hendrickson is doing a good job because he is a worthless incompetant. 80 percent of the old buildings at McClellan are in use and well maintained, paying property tax and providing jobs. If Castle buildings have contaminant, it is no worse than buildings at McClellan except for the fact that Castle bas been abused and neglected for 26 years. Castle has never done a decent job of advertising buildings for sale or lease. It looks like managers at Castle have let the property fall into ruin on purpose to help owners of private real estate and this strongly suggests the possibility of kickbacks. Castle’s new 250 acre auto test facility looks amazing similar to the property that was leased to Google (Waymo) at Castle. It looks like mismanagement at Castle might have run off another tenant. If you do not like me comparing Castle to McClellan, compare Castle to Mather. It is the same thing. The 1793 dorm beds at Castle should have been converted to 800 apartments 26 years ago.
You and the rest of the media completely ignore what Castle is. AN AIRPORT!!! When will you look at this as a 26+ year failure. Look around. They have never tried to make this place have any kind of appeal to anyone. Those broke down buildings and unkept grounds don’t scream come do business here. Its a disgrace. We had a thriving USFS Fire Tanker base. HAD. The car testing is now in the area that it operated and yet they called the area for the car testing underused. Well maybe but I call it under developed. What is the marketing and promotional plan for the AIRPORT side? Why don’t you ask that question. They are cashing big checks for driverless car testing. So what. 133 jobs? That’s a farce. Those so-called jobs are nothing more than interns. They play with the cars and move on. How much does it pay? How many other businesses are attracted? How many local businesses are supported by this? How many local businesses support this? How many have bought homes and raised families from a job in driverless cars? Meanwhile Amazon is building a warehouse/distribution center in Turlock and we missed that along with the one that went to Fresno several years ago. Why? Again. Where is the marketing and promotional plan? The short answer is that there is none. Look around Castle. Do you call this a success after 26+ years. Fencing still runs down Santa Fe from the military days. Who are they keeping out? Who are they keeping in? The place still looks like a military installation and no one looks beyond that. The big bucks that they are getting from this driverless car boondoggle should roll back into this place and clean it up and make it marketable. This community has been waiting for nearly 27 years for this base to produce and what have we gotten? The airport has ALL the infrastructure needed for real aviation operations. Why in God`s name has no one exploited that. Again. You never ask the real questions and as long as you don’t, Castle will look as it does today 26 more years down the road. That’s pathetic……