Tech billionaires who have spent years secretly amassing land in a scrubby prairie on the edge of San Francisco Bay begin gathering signatures for a ballot initiative in Solano County that would pave the way for building a new city from the ground up. He said he intended to do so.
The group, called California Forever, envisions communities with tens of thousands of new homes, new parks, bike lanes, plazas and even solar power plants. They are planning a model city. It will be walkable, socio-economically integrated and powered by clean energy.
But to get there, supporters will need to convince Solano County voters. This is a tough hurdle considering the project began with a secret land purchase and controversy erupted last year amid unsubstantiated public speculation that the buyer was a foreign agent with espionage intentions. there is a possibility. Federal, state and local approvals are also required.
In theory, the new city's population could be in the hundreds of thousands, supporters said. But that is a long way off. If the ballot measure is approved, it will require other government approvals. This issue may be challenged in court through litigation. Backers say the earliest construction could begin is 2026.
“We are excited to share with you the details of our plan to build a better Solano,” California Forever Chief Executive Officer Jan Sramek said in a statement. “This could be a new economic engine for Solano County and proves that California can still accomplish great things if we work together.”
The public campaign is a far cry from the project's origins several years ago, when a mysterious LLC called Flannery Associates began buying up thousands of acres of farmland. Purchases totaling more than $800 million have turned some real estate sellers into millionaires, many whose families have owned the land for more than a century.
However, Flannery Associates did not reveal the reason. buy landFor decades it was devoted to grazing, but more recently it has been dotted with wind turbines that slowly rotate as the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta flows into San Francisco Bay.
Because much of the land is near Travis Air Force Base, some residents and elected officials believe that Flannery Associates is a potential source of foreign investment attempting to spy on the base, which is one of the nation's busiest military installations. I began to speculate that it might be the teller of a house.
U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-Walnut Grove), who represents the area, said last year that he and other officials had been unable for years to determine who was behind the rapid land grabbing. criticized for not cooperating with
“Flannery Associates uses secrecy, bullying and gang tactics to force generations of farmers to sell,” he said.
But then supporters It was revealed Not as spies, but as giants of the technology industry, including Reid Hoffman. Marc Andreessen; and Patrick and John Collison, who founded the payments company Stripe.
Now, California Forever is launching a plan to convince those who have expressed skepticism. And there are many people. Officials have pledged $400 million in down payment assistance for Solano County residents to buy homes in new communities. They also released renderings depicting an idyllic town square, tranquil wetlands, and inviting cafes.
If the measure gathers enough signatures, it could be passed by Solano County voters in November.
