Archive for 2010
by Around Dublin Team on March 5, 2010 | 
1 Comment | Topics: Announcements · Profiles
As one of the oldest animal welfare organizations in the United States, the East Bay SPCA has been concerned with animal welfare for over 135 years. It has been providing shelter, health care, and adoption services for unwanted animals since 1874. The East Bay SPCA is committed to finding homes for adoptable cats and dogs, providing affordable veterinary and spay/neuter services, and educating the public on responsible pet ownership. It serves Alameda and Contra Costa Counties and operates two Adoption and Education Centers, two Spay/Neuter Surgery Centers, and a full-service Veterinary Clinic. The East Bay SPCA’s facility on Gleason Drive in Dublin, CA, houses both an Adoption Center and a Spay/Neuter Center. Many wonderful animals are currently waiting for the right home in the Dublin facility.
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by Around Dublin Team on March 4, 2010 | 10 Comments | Topics: Development
On February 10, 2010, Regent Properties unveiled the new site plan for Phase II of Sorrento at Dublin Ranch to current residents at the Sorrento Clubhouse in Dublin, CA. Commonly known as Sorrento East, the second phase of the Sorrento project is approved for 694 homes similar to the 432 homes in the first phase currently being built and sold by Toll Brothers. Regent Properties is processing an Amendment to the approvals that will reduce the overall unit count by 113 to 581 homes, increase the number of neighborhoods from five to six, and provide better parking. The parking ratio for all the detached homes in Sorrento East will be at least 3 spaces per unit. Certain elevations in select neighborhoods will even offer private driveways. Three of the six communities will feature “lifestyle yard spaces” that range in size from 200 square feet up to 730 square feet. All homes will be either two stories or three stories, but no master bedroom will be on the third floor.
Neighborhoods 6, 7, and 8 will be the three Sorrento East communities with “lifestyle yard spaces.” The 102 detached homes in Neighborhood 6 are located in the Northwestern corner of Sorrento East. Ranging from 2,275 square feet to 2,920 square feet in size, these homes will offer yard spaces from 200 square feet up to 730 square feet. Neighborhood 7 will be to the East of Neighborhood 6 and to the North of the future Kolb Elementary School. The 95 detached homes in Neighborhood 7 range from 1,695 square feet to 2,860 square feet in size, and they offer yard spaces from 300 square feet up to 500 square feet. Bisected by the pedestrian corridor that includes the bridge connecting Sorrento East and Sorrento West over Grafton Street, Neighborhood 8 will be to the South of Neighborhood 6 and to the West of the park. Neighborhood 8 will have 138 detached homes ranging from 1,610 square feet to 2,105 square feet in size. These homes will also feature yard spaces from 240 square feet up to 340 square feet.
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by Around Dublin Team on March 3, 2010 | No Comments | Topics: Announcements · Things To Do
Art IS Education is an annual showcase of youth arts learning in Alameda County in March during National Arts Education month. It is an opportunity for students to share with their community what they are learning in and through the arts. In honor of the 10-year anniversary, the Alameda County Arts Commission, in partnership with the Alameda Office of Education, has coordinated featured events within each of the five districts of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors.
The Bankhead Theater is host to a special evening, Champions for The Arts: A Celebration of Our Regional Arts Heroes, honoring community art heroes and showcasing music, performing and visual arts by students from Livermore, Pleasanton and Fremont. Shakespeare’s Associates’ Board Chair, Dr. Philip Manwell, will be honored as part of this celebration. Dr. Manwell is being recognized for his significant contributions to the arts in the community.
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by John M. Zukoski on March 2, 2010 | 5 Comments | Topics: Development
Land owners in the unincorporated area of the Tassajara Valley have submitted a proposal to build a new community just north of Dublin in what will soon be part of San Ramon. Spread over 771 acres, the proposed community is tentatively being referred to as “New Farm” and would have roughly 150 single family homes on estate-sized lots and roughly 30 condos or townhomes. Developers have also proposed to build a cemetery, a religious worship center, and a fire training facility. The new cemetery, currently known as the Corrie Creekside Cemetery, would be located approximately two miles from Silvera Ranch and one mile from the future Wallis Ranch project in Dublin.
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by John M. Zukoski on February 28, 2010 | No Comments | Topics: City Hall · Sustainability
The City of Dublin, CA, recently joined the CaliforniaFIRST program to assist in financing energy projects for private property owners. Coordinated by California Communities and launching in Summer 2010, the CaliforniaFIRST program will provide residential and commercial property owners with a lower-cost option to finance renewable energy, energy efficiency, and water efficiency improvements on their properties. Dublin property owners can borrow $5K to $75K for projects over a 5 to 20 year period. Property owners will be able to repay the loan through a parcel-specific assessment on their property tax bills. California Communities will issue bonds to provide the financing for these projects.
Qualified residents can benefit from the CaliforniaFIRST program in many ways. CaliforniaFIRST will likely offer property owners a lower financing rate than they otherwise would get through private financing companies. Additionally, payment for the CaliforniaFIRST loans will be collected along with the property tax, so property owners will enjoy the convenience of making semi-annual payments for their energy efficiency projects. The CaliforniaFIRST financing program is also unique in that assessment obligation transfers with the sale of the property, so the loan does not have to be paid in full as part of the property sale process. In fact, CaliforniaFIRST will assess a 5% prepayment penalty to discourage property owners from paying back their loans early.
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by John M. Zukoski on February 27, 2010 | No Comments | Topics: Announcements · Things To Do
As Bay Area schools cope with ongoing budget cuts — forcing, in part, larger class-sizes and the elimination of key curriculum — Galileo Learning’s creative summer enrichment programs have emerged as an integral part of the educational equation. By spurring creativity, innovation and collaboration through hands-on art, science and outdoor activities, Galileo Learning picks up where cash-strapped schools leave off, delivering a quality educational experience that extends learning beyond the school year. The Oakland-based operator of Camp Galileo (Pre-K through 5th graders) and Galileo Summer Quest (5th through 8th graders) at 26 Bay Area sites is bridging the educational gap by offering high-quality curriculum delivered by extraordinary staff, while also providing early-bird discounts to families who enroll by March 1, 2010.
“Amidst the severe budget constraints at schools today, Galileo Learning is more dedicated than ever to providing a quality summer enrichment program that inspires children to discover their passions,” remarked Glen Tripp, Galileo Learning founder and CEO. “Our highly qualified staff of educators delivers an engaging art, science and outdoor curriculum that not only bridges the gap, but also nurtures a love of learning.”
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by John M. Zukoski on February 25, 2010 | 32 Comments | Topics: City Hall · Opinions
The City of Dublin, CA, recently conducted a survey amongst 400 likely voters to gauge their support for a new city tax. The survey questions were prefaced by the fact that Sacramento borrowed $2M from the City this year to bridge the State budget deficit; however, what the survey did not mention is that the City of Dublin was able to get all $2M back from the California Communities Prop 1A financing program. In exchange, California Communities gets the interest that the State would have paid to Dublin for the $2M loan.
The survey found that residents are most concerned about losing police and fire services as a result of budget cuts. The respondents noted that if a new temporary City tax were approved, fire stations, police services, and emergency response operations should be first in line to receive the extra money. Most residents noted that they are largely unaware of the many steps taken by the City of Dublin to balance the budget, the impact the state seizure of local funds had on City operations, and the choices the City will face without a new City tax. “Residents don’t see us taking cuts internally,” Councilmember Kasie Hildenbrand said to Robert Jordan of Contra Costa Times. In the same article, Councilmember Hildenbrand warns that “the cutbacks may become much more apparent.”
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by Eric Haggin on February 24, 2010 | No Comments | Topics: Opinions
Short sales in real estate are becoming more common here in Dublin, CA, and the entire East Bay. Of the 255 Dublin homes listed as active or pending as of February 8, 2010, 133 are short sales. Basically, if you bought a home between the years 2003 and 2008, you very likely owe more on your loans than the home is currently worth. Being “upside down” on the loan alone will not have a substantive impact on you credit rating, if you continue to live in the home and keep paying your mortgage.
The situation can get a little sticky, if you want to sell. When the current market value of your home is less than the total of your loan balance and the expenses incurred during a sale, you can avoid damage to your credit rating by paying off the difference yourself. In reality most sellers do not have a large pile of cash just sitting around for such an occasion. If you have to sell, you may need to do a short sale.
Before we continue, let’s go back to when you first tried to buy the home you are now attempting to sell. Your lender loaned you the money to buy the home, and you promised the lender to pay the loan back. If you stop paying your mortgage for any reason, your lender has the right to take your home by initiating the foreclosure process. Four to five a months later, the foreclosed home will be put up for sale at a courthouse auction. If no one buys the home at the auction, the title of the home goes to the lender and the property becomes an REO, or Real Estate Owned by the bank. The REO home will be listed on the MLS by a Realtor working for the bank and sold to a new buyer. A foreclosure is devastating to your credit rating and does not always relieve you of the obligation to pay the lender back.
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by John M. Zukoski on February 22, 2010 | 22 Comments | Topics: Parks · Things To Do
The Dublin City Council voted unanimously to “conceptually support” a Dublin Farmers’ Market that will launch in Spring 2011. The new Farmers’ Market will be held on Friday evenings from 4PM to 8PM at Emerald Glen Park on the Gleason Drive side. The Dublin Farmers’ Market will be distinct from other farmers’ markets in that it will feature live music and other forms of entertainment to augment the parade of organic fruits, farm-fresh vegetables, kettle corn, baked goodies, and other farmers’ market staples. The goal is to merge some of the current city programs in Dublin like the Summer Concert Series and movie nights with the new Friday night Farmers’ Market. Local businesses and restaurants at The Shops at Waterford may also benefit from the increased foot traffic, once the new Farmers’ Market becomes a destination spot in Dublin. “I’m very excited as I can just walk over to purchase fresh fruits from local farmers and use it for our toppings,” said Jonathan Rim, the owner of Blush Organic Frozen Yogurt.
Council’s support was bolstered by the more than 97% of survey respondents who voted in favor of a farmers’ market in Dublin. More than 900 residents participated in the survey, and most of them voted for the potential market location closest to their home. Most of the people living west of Silvergate, for example, voted to have the market at the future Dublin Historic Park. Residents living in central Dublin, on the other hand, voted to have the market at Dublin Place (the Target shopping center), while most of the folks in east Dublin voted to have the Farmers’ Market at Emerald Glen Park. Based on the survey results, the Historic Park was top choice for Dublin’s new Farmers’ Market, and Emerald Glen Park was the second most popular choice. As for the preferred time slot, Saturday and Sunday came in first and second, respectively. Friday was a distant third place.
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