[caption id="attachment_101365" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Artist rendering of a single-family detached home, the Magnolia neighborhood's Resident 2 Spanish architecture[/caption]
ROHNERT PARK -- The first significant housing development in Rohnert Park in 24 years is under way.
Site preparation has begun and construction on the first three of 12 new neighborhoods within the 260-acre Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc.’s portion of the 300-acre University District Specific Plan, is scheduled to begin in 2015 with a grand opening for these three neighborhoods set for later next year.
Some 399 new, single-family detached homes within the three neighborhoods will be built on a portion of a Brookfield University District mixed-use master planned community located west of Petaluma Hill Road, south of Keiser Avenue and North of the Rohnert Park Expressway adjacent to Sonoma State University.
Brookfield’s portion includes 1,236 residential detached homes and 218 attached residential units. The plan also includes a mixed–use commercial center, open space and public parks. Site preparation and grading began in July with DeSilva Gates Construction, according to Kevin Pohlson, Vice President for Land and Planning with Brookfield Residential’s Northern California office in Danville, the general contractor for the project. He said underground utilities installation work is scheduled to begin this month.
“We worked very closely with the City of Rohnert Park, the City Council and staff to reach consensus on a very positive master plan with new homes that will enhance the local economy,” Mr. Pohlson said. “This project is sure to employee hundreds, if not thousands, of workers before it is completed.”
[caption id="attachment_101367" align="alignright" width="320"] Map of the University District development[/caption]
The General Plan, Specific Plan amendment and resolutions for the overall University District were adopted by the Rohnert Park City Council on April 8. They include provision for up to 26 rural estate residential homes, 382 low-density residential units, 869 medium-density residential, 218 affordable high-density residential and 150 mixed-use housing units.
“We are currently reviewing housing and landscaping plans for the first three neighborhoods and will be taking those to the Rohnert Park Planning Commission on October 23,” said Marilyn Ponton, AICP, development services director for the City of Rohnert Park.
Overall, some 1,454 residential units will be built on land owned by the University District LLC and Vast Oak Properties in an area called the University District.
Owners of the remaining three properties within the University District have the right to build 191 residential homes.
The Brookfield development will also feature a 100,000-square-foot University District Commercial Center with new shops, restaurants and possibly a boutique hotel, as well as 60 acres of open space and 13 acres of improved on-site public parks.
The commercial center will be linked to the Green Music Center by a combination of pedestrian, bike and vehicle connections. Three miles of foot and bicycle trails will link the master planned community with the University and the nearby high school and middle school.
“Part of this project involves excavating a temporary basin on the south side of the project to catch runoff and sediment from Copeland Creek that bisects the 269-acre SSU property flowing between the Green Music Center and the main campus,” Mr. Pohlson said.
Brookfield Residential is working with the city, SSU and the Sonoma County Water Agency on an upstream long-term plan to help manage sediment accumulation and minimize its impact on flooding.
Single-family homes constructed in the first phase will include those located in the Mulberry, Magnolia and Cypress neighborhoods.
The Mulberry community at University District will include three architectural exteriors in sizes ranging from 2,429 to 2,838 square feet in models with up to five bedrooms.
The Magnolia neighborhood will come in Spanish, bungalow, traditional and cottage styles ranging from 1,777 to 2,284 square feet in units including up to four bedrooms.
The Cypress section will feature Spanish, Italian Country and Craftsman architectural styles from 1,977 to 2,373 square feet in units up to five bedrooms.
Asking prices for these units will not be determined until just prior to the grand opening.
This project was initially approved by the Rohnert Park City Council when Canadian developer Brookfield Residential first proposed the plan in 2006. However, significant changes in the surrounding area and within the regional economy emerged, especially after the recession when signs of resurgence in new home construction activity were in view.
Construction plans were placed on hold during the recession, and the 10-to 15-year total project timeline may continue to be affected by economic conditions.
While the total number of University District housing units (1,645) did not change from 2006 projections, the number of units in all but one category were modified by the Rohnert Park City Council with increases in low and medium density residential housing and a decrease in high density residential units. Only the 26 rural estate residential unit total remains the same as proposed in 2006.
Another significant difference was a reduction in the building area for the commercial center from a maximum of 175,000 square feet to 100,000 square feet.
“Brookfield Residential has been building in Northern California since the early 1990s, including projects in San Jose, Dublin, Hayward, Dixon, Oakley and Lathrop as well as several projects in Southern California. This is not our largest housing project. Over the years our firm has built a number of 10,000-unit communities in the U.S. and Canada,” Mr. Pohlson said.
Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc., (BRP: NYSE/TSX) based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, announced its financial results for the second quarter ending June 30, 2014 on August 6, 2014. The firm reported total revenue of $321 million for the first six months of 2014 and net income of $67 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, compared to $29 million, or $0.24 per diluted share for the six months ending June 30, 2013.
For more information about Brookfield Residential Properties, Inc. and the new development near Sonoma State University, go to the following website: www.liveuniversitydistrict.com, or call 925-743-8000.
