Development
by Around Dublin Team on July 22, 2011 | 
53 Comments | Topics: Development · Opinions · Restaurants
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse recently filed an application to open at the new Fallon Gateway shopping center in Dublin, CA. According to Dublin’s Economic Development Director Linda Smith-Maurer, the latest BJ’s will open next to the Target currently under construction. BJ’s hopes to have construction completed by as early as February 2012. The Target in East Dublin remains on track to finish in October 2011.
BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse had previously considered two other locations in Dublin. One potential site was next to the former Mervyn’s building, and the other was adjacent to Dublin Toyota. BJ’s imminent arrival promises to be a huge boost for Fallon Gateway and should attract other restaurants and retailers to the highly-anticipated shopping center.
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by John M. Zukoski on July 21, 2011 | 8 Comments | Topics: Development · Local Issues · Opinions
Contra Costa County planners recently approved the application for the 771-acre New Farm project in the Tassajara Valley located along Camino Tassajara, east of the City of San Ramon and Town of Danville, and northeast of the City of Dublin. New Farm developer FT Land, LLC is paying $345K to have a firm prepare the requisite Environmental Impact Report to help determine whether the project can move forward. If approved by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, FT Land, LLC will build 177 luxury estate homes on one-acre lots complete with olive orchards, 10 apartment units to house the farm workers who will maintain the olive trees, a cemetery located roughly one mile from the Silvera Ranch and Wallis Ranch communities in Dublin, a fire training facility, and a religious worship center. FT Land, LLC is proposing to truck in water from Fresno for New Farm’s future residents and to build a local sewage processing plant to discharge the treated sewage waste into the olive groves.
The New Farm project has already retained the services of the well-connected Tom Koch as its spokesperson. Prior to his involvement with the New Farm project, Koch was the project manager for Shapell Homes’ Gale Ranch master-planned development in the Dougherty Valley. According to Koch, New Farm’s lead owner and Jordanian land speculator Samir Kawar has also offered to build a staging area off Finley Road and to carve out additional trails to Mount Diablo. Kawar’s apparent generosity may be an olive branch to help assuage the concerns of the Save Mount Diablo organization, New Farm’s most ardent critic.
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by Around Dublin Team on July 20, 2011 | 24 Comments | Topics: Development · Local Businesses · Local Issues · Opinions
Local residents Judy and Leon Fenton of Pleasanton, CA recently submitted the following letter to the Around Dublin Blog in response to the article titled “Walmart’s Potential Grocery Store Expansion Draws Criticism from Pleasanton Residents.” Contrary to the Fentons’ allegations, the anti-Walmart email form was created by the non-profit group OurPleasanton and is hosted by CitizenSpeak.org, a free email advocacy service. The Fentons also noted that a store opening in their Pleasanton neighborhood should be of no concern to Dublin residents. The Around Dublin Blog respectfully disagrees with the Fentons’ narrow world view, since the City of Pleasanton does not live in a bubble. The outcome of Walmart’s bid for the space formerly occupied by Nob Hill Foods will help shape the future of the Santa Rita/Tassajara Road Grocery Corridor and impact residents in both Dublin and Pleasanton. The Around Dublin Blog, nevertheless, appreciates the passion the Fentons feel toward Walmart and would like to share the text of their letter, so readers can see both sides of this controversial issue.
We have been waiting expectantly for over a year now for a market to replace Nob Hill. It was so nice having a smaller market within walking distance for quick shopping and we were very disappointed when it closed. Trader Joe’s, 99 Market and Fresh & Easy are nearby but not within walking distance. Besides they are specialty markets, not grocery stores and their prices are generally higher. So we must get in the car and drive half-way across town to do our shopping.
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by John M. Zukoski on July 19, 2011 | 27 Comments | Topics: Development
The former 24-acre site of the Arroyo Vista housing project across from Camp Parks at 6700 Dougherty Road in Dublin, CA has been reduced to rubble. The complete demolition washed away years of property neglect and criminal antics that had hindered Dublin’s ascent as a premier city in the Bay Area. Arroyo Vista’s former residents were all provided with opportunities to move into newer and better maintained homes such as the apartments at The Groves in the Villages at Dublin Ranch.
With the 180 below-market subsidized housing to be built and operated by Eden Housing and the 198 market-rate housing to be constructed and sold by KB Homes, the reborn Arroyo Vista promises to be a model for new mixed-income communities to come. Of the 180 below-market apartments, 50 will be set aside for seniors. The community will also feature a 3,200-square-foot community room for residents. KB Homes and Eden Housing will be building their respective projects concurrently.
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by John M. Zukoski on July 13, 2011 | 30 Comments | Topics: Development · Local Issues
A group of concerned residents in Pleasanton, CA have come together to form a new organization called OurPleasanton in response to the potential expansion of Walmart. Walmart is hoping to open its Neighborhood Market in the former Nob Hill Foods location at 3112 Santa Rita Road in Pleasanton. The Arkansas-based retail giant has tried for years to expand its Pleasanton Discount Store into a Supercenter. By starting a grocery operation at another location close to its Discount Store at 4501 Rosewood Drive, Walmart could effectively achieve its objective of having a Supercenter in Pleasanton. OurPleasanton is circulating a flyer warning residents that “Walmart will be able to have a store by-right and bypass any public input” because the site was previously occupied by another grocery store. The group points to increased traffic congestion, around-the-clock store hours, and the proposed addition of a traffic light as reasons for Pleasanton’s City Council to require Walmart to submit an application for a Conditional Use Permit. An application for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) will necessarily trigger a public hearing and a potential Environmental Impact Review.
Serving families in Dublin, Pleasanton, and beyond, the Santa Rita/Tassajara Raod Grocery Corridor includes 99 Ranch, Trader Joe’s, Fresh & Easy, and two Safeways. By the end of 2011, Target will join the fray with a new store just off the Santa Rita/Tassajara Road Grocery Corridor at the Fallon Gateway. The outcome of OurPleasanton’s war against Walmart Neighborhood Market will have a meaningful impact in both Dublin and Pleasanton.
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by John M. Zukoski on July 6, 2011 | 1 Comment | Topics: Development
The East Bay Muslim Community Center (MCC) placed its three-acre parcel in Dublin, CA on the market after securing a longer-term lease on a property in Pleasanton, CA. The Dublin parcel is located at the corner of Brannigan Street and Gleason Drive near Springfield Montessori, Fallon School, and the Sonata community by Lennar Homes. The MCC-East Bay is now hoping to sell the land to Lennar Homes.
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by John M. Zukoski on June 28, 2011 | 4 Comments | Topics: Development · Retail
With the grand opening of Sprouts Farmers Market in Dublin, CA on Wednesday, June 29th at 7:00AM, the cost of healthy living in Alameda County as well as Contra Costa County is about to come down – way down. For years Sprouts has earned a reputation for selling right-from-the-earth foods at down-to-earth prices. Known for its “old-fashioned” customer service, Sprouts is staffed with the friendliest associates who will greet customers with a smile and personally guide shoppers to any product in the store. This relationship-driven approach to running a grocery store is how founder Henry Boney turned his first fruit stand in 1943 into the beloved regional retailer Sprouts Farmers Market is today.
The huge selection of natural and organic foods at Sprouts Farmers Market often sells for 30% or more below the conventional stores. Sprouts is challenging the conventional thinking that healthy living is a specialty market reserved for the well-to-do. Since its humble beginning, Sprouts has always believed that healthier eating should never have to cost more. “We want to be the grocery store where moms and families are stepping into eating healthier,” shared Sprouts spokesperson and certified nutritionist Janet Little. “Sprouts is not just a niche store, we are a destination.”
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by John M. Zukoski on June 23, 2011 | 7 Comments | Topics: Development · Parks
After nearly a decade of waiting, the dream of having a state-of-the-art Recreation and Aquatic Complex at Emerald Glen Park in Dublin, CA will soon become reality. The design phase of the Emerald Glen Recreation and Aquatic Complex is set to kick-start again in July 2011. Construction at the site of the complex is scheduled to begin in October 2012 and to be completed in September 2014. The grand opening celebration will most likely be held shortly thereafter to take advantage of the beautiful weather leading into fall.
Phase I of the complex will house a 6,675-square-foot leisure and instructional pool, as well as a 25-meter by 25-yard competition pool. The complex will also include a 35,895-square-foot facility featuring a gym, fitness center, game room & teen center, group exercise & dance studio, special events room, juice bar, and locker rooms.
Design planning work for Phase I of the complex began in 2008 with a community workshop to gather feedback for the design plans held in January 2009; however, the project was placed on hold in 2009 due to a drop in new home construction, as Dublin and the rest of the country braced for the economic downturn. The City of Dublin receives funding to build parks from impact fees collected from developers on new construction projects.
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by John M. Zukoski on June 13, 2011 | 3 Comments | Topics: Development · Restaurants
Vito’s Express, soon to be the newest restaurant at Grafton Station, recently announced that the opening has been tentatively set for August. Vito’s Express had initially hoped to open in early June. “We’ve had a slight delay similar to most restaurants that are getting their facility ready,” said co-owner Scott Bolin. Once open, Vito’s Express will occupy the highly visible 1,500-square-foot pad that is closest to westbound I-580. The Grafton Station location will be the flagship restaurant of Vito’s Express chain.
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