Archive for July, 2008
by John M. Zukoski on July 31, 2008 | 
5 Comments | Topics: Polls
Dublin offers current and prospective residents a vast assortment of housing options – condos, executive homes, and everything in between.
The type of housing that Dublin offers has an impact on many aspects of our community, including:
- Identity of the City
- Jobs (desirable housing options will attract skilled workers and therefore more companies/employers)
- Demographics
- Sustainability
- Stores and Restaurants
- Aesthetics
Given the importance of having desirable housing options, it’s critical to determine Dublin’s optimal mix of housing.
This week’s question is – what type of new housing would you most like to see built in Dublin?
by John M. Zukoski on July 30, 2008 | No Comments | Topics: Development
Here are a few more quick bits of information for Around Dublin readers:
- Proposed Change to Medium Density Definition – you may have noticed that in recent years, developers tend to pack homes in as densely as zoning requirements will allow. For example, if a parcel of land has Medium density zoning (which allows a builder to construct 6.1-14 homes/acre of land), the developer will more than likely build at the very top of the range (14 homes/acre of land). A recent illustration of this has been with Sorrento East where the project originally called for about 10 units/acre (middle of range) and has now increased to about 12.6 units/acre. Based on this observation, the Dublin City Council is looking to gain more control over the process by segmenting the definition of Medium density into two new density ranges – Medium-Low (6.1-10 units/acre) and Medium-Mid (10.1-14 units/acre). The Dublin City Council and Planning Commission have tentatively set a date in August to have a joint workshop to discuss this potential change.
- National Night Out – this event began as a concept for generating greater crime prevention involvement among residents. Initially, residents would leave their porch lights on to demonstrate their anti-crime stance. Today, residents across America organize block parties, cookouts, parades, contests, neighborhood walks, festivals, rallies, and community service events such as a park clean-up. Please click here for details on how you and your family can get involved with this year’s event on August 5th.
by John M. Zukoski on July 28, 2008 | 3 Comments | Topics: Development · Local Issues · Parks
Here are a few quick updates for residents of Dublin:
- Tri-Valley Views – the Pleasanton Weekly will be starting a new bi-monthly publication called Tri-Valley Views. The first issue will be published in Sep-08 with advertisements and editorial content. Every issue of Tri-Valley Views will have stories and columns specifically about our great hometown of Dublin. This is terrific news given that most of our area newspapers have very few stories about Dublin.
- Starbucks – the Seattle-based coffee giant recently announced that they will be closing 600 stores throughout the United States. The good news is that none of the three Dublin locations will be closed. Please click here for a complete list of the U.S. Starbucks locations being closed this summer.
- Passatempo Park – as mentioned in yesterday’s entry, the 5-acre Passatempo Park will be constructed next to Kolb Elementary school as part of the Sorrento East community. The City of Dublin will most likely start the design for Passatempo Park once the models at Sorrento East are open so that prospective buyers will have the opportunity to provide input into the process.
Please check back for more details regarding Tri-Valley Views and Passatempo Park.
by John M. Zukoski on July 27, 2008 | 21 Comments | Topics: Development · Parks
As mentioned in previous entries, Toll Brothers sold the Sorrento East project to Regent Properties. With the transition from Toll Brothers to Regent Properties (and the presence of earth-moving equipment close to Gleason Drive), there has been a great deal of interest in what Sorrento East will look like. The elevations and other details of the new development are still being worked out. However, there are a few items that we know for sure:
- The ongoing grading and street improvements are being conducted to prepare the site for the construction of Kolb Elementary school.
- Sorrento East will be built on 71 acres.
- Kolb Elementary will be built on the eastern portion of the parcel across from Fallon Sports Park. Kolb Elementary is expected to open in 2010.
- Dublin is planning to have the 5-acre Passatempo Park in Sorrento East right next to Kolb Elementary school.
- Regent Properties has increased the planned number of units at Sorrento East from 694 to 900. Although this is a sizable increase in the number of units, it is within the approved density guidelines and Regent has indicated that they are planning to have more detached homes than Sorrento West will have at build-out.
- The break-down between condos, townhouses, and single family residences is still being determined.
- The architecture and amenities of Sorrento East will be very similar to Sorrento West except that Sorrento East will have more of a Tuscan feel.
The Sorrento East project is still in the planning stages and will require approval by the Dublin Planning Commission and City Council before Regent Properties can begin construction. Around Dublin will provide additional details as soon as they become available.
by John M. Zukoski on July 25, 2008 | No Comments | Topics: Opinions
Dublin saw another exponential increase in home sales this week with a 60% jump in the number of homes sold as compared to last week. This week’s big jump was due to robust new home sales (including 9 at Elan and 3 at Silvera Ranch). With that said, the impressive number of new homes sold at Elan contributed to the dip in the average home sale price this week (to $509K from $626K).
The housing bill that was recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives could provide a boost to the real estate market (if passed by the Senate and signed by the President). Specifically, the proposed $15B in housing tax breaks would provide a strong stimulus for buyers that are “on the fence” about buying a new home.
by John M. Zukoski on July 23, 2008 | 4 Comments | Topics: Local Businesses
Around Dublin has selected Golden Dublin Optometry to be featured in this installment of our ongoing Best of Dublin, CA series. Conveniently located in the heart of Dublin Ulferts Center, Golden Dublin Optometry provides superior vision care using the latest diagnostic technologies six days a week (closed on Wednesdays). Led by owner Dr. Linh Vo Dang, the friendly and highly trained eyewear consultants at Golden Dublin Optometry help customers choose the right frames much in the same way a personal shopper would at a jewelry store. In fact, the personal eyewear shoppers and the exquisitely designed displays that showcase Golden Dublin’s wide selection of name brand eyeglasses and sunglasses are precisely the details Dr. Dang put into her stores to help create an upscale shopping experience – without the attitude – for her patients and customers.
Dr. Dang has lived in Dublin with her husband since 2003. They love Dublin for its vibrant communities and family-friendly atmosphere. Recognizing the business opportunities from family foot traffic drawn by the fantastic assortment of restaurants like Koi Garden, they decided to open her practice at the Ulferts Center in Dublin. To distinguish their optometry office from others, Dr. Dang has secured exclusive distribution agreements with Bvlgari, Cartier, and Tag Heuer and made hassle-free rebate claim filing part of Golden Dublin’s standard of care. In an effort to make 20/20 vision accessible and affordable, Dr. Dang has worked hard to extend her services to MediCal and Medicare patients, as well as to patients from a wide variety of private vision care insurance plans. The next time you have dim sum at Koi Garden, please stop by and check out Around Dublin’s favorite neighborhood optometrist.
Golden Dublin Optometry
4288 Dublin Boulevard
Suite 114
Dublin, CA 94568
(925) 828-2002
by John M. Zukoski on July 22, 2008 | 14 Comments | Topics: Polls · Sustainability
The Planning Commission met tonight to cover two main topics. The first was to recommend that the City Council approve D.R. Horton’s request for a 2.5 year extension to build out the Metropolitan condominium development at the East Dublin BART station transit village.
The second topic was to review and approve The Green on Park Place as currently proposed by the developer (Blake Hunt Ventures). Here is a selection of the many interesting items that were covered:
- The Green will have photovoltaic solar panels on the roofs of the buildings. The developer is also striving to achieve at least a Silver LEED certification. The Green could potentially be the first retail shopping center in all of California to be LEED compliant.
- The model for The Green had giant green leaves attached to the outside walls of the Whole Foods building (seen when driving northbound on Hacienda from the I-580 off ramps).
- There will be an impressive public art structure right in front of Whole Foods. The details are to be determined.
- The Green will have an impressive array of fully-grown trees – including poplar, cypress, and olive trees. The olive trees will be approximately 50-years old and will be sprayed with a special substance that will prevent them from fruiting.
- Traffic will flow in between the various retail buildings (including directly through the center Green). The developer would like to do this to provide a “vibrancy” throughout the center.
- The developer also requested to have the option to increase the amount of restaurant space and reduce the amount of retail space. This is just to have more flexibility in marketing to prospective tenants.
The next major step for The Green on Park Place will be to receive City Council feedback and approval on the developer’s current proposal. Please keep checking back for more details related to The Green on Park Place.
Please let me know if you have any questions/comments related to The Green on Park Place.
by John M. Zukoski on July 19, 2008 | 11 Comments | Topics: Development
For the folks living in the Dublin Ranch Villages, you may have noticed that there has been a great deal of activity from earth-moving equipment where the Promenade will soon be built. In fact, if you’d been away for the past few weeks, you may not have recognized the strip of land bordered by Central and Dublin Blvd. (bisected by Finnian Way) given that Toll Brothers has completely relocated their construction trailers (over to the Sorrento sales parking lot area), fences have been torn down, and the ground has been completely cleaned up and leveled.
Around Dublin’s speculation is that the work being conducted at the site of the future Promenade may be grading in preparation for the laying of foundation. It could be that the developer is doing as much work as possible before the plans for the Promenade are approved by the City of Dublin so that once approval is granted, they will be able to start the construction process as soon as possible (i.e., hit the ground running).
This could be a very exciting sign given that breaking ground at the Promenade would be a huge boon for the residents and homeowners in the Dublin Ranch Villages and it would also be a signal of the developer’s strong confidence in Dublin’s economic prospects.
by John M. Zukoski on July 18, 2008 | No Comments | Topics: Opinions
Pop the bubbly, Dublin sold 15 homes this week at an average price of $626K – representing a weekly volume increase of nearly 100% and a 33% average price increase. Understandably, some of the price increase was due to the fact that we had 2 $1M+ home sales and no below market rate (BMR) home sales close this week. However, the volume increase and overall price increase was very encouraging.
Of the 15 new homes that sold, we had 3 new home sales (2 at Elan and 1 at Sonata) and 12 existing home sales.
Please check out this story regarding a business “incubator” located here in Dublin. This is exactly what we need to spark a flurry of new jobs and the subsequent strong demand for homes.
