In an ambitious move that has stirred a mix of hope and disenchantment, "California Forever," an initiative backed by a group of heavy-hitting billionaires, is kick-starting a contentious bid to carve a new city out of the bucolic expanses of Solano County. At the helm lies Jan Sramek, the 36-year-old ex-Goldman Sachs trader turned dreamer-in-chief, who has managed to enroll the likes of Laurene Powell Jobs and Reid Hoffman in his grand plan to erect a new urban center from the ground up. According to SFist, the project proposes to initially shelter 50,000 residents and promises to create a minimum of 15,000 jobs.
What began in secrecy has now stepped into the public arena, with Sramek and his cohorts needing to gather approximately 13,500 signatures to officially earn their spot on the November ballot. The initiative seeks to sidestep the county's Orderly Growth ordinance in hopes to plant their urban seed west of Rio Vista. But selling the vision is proving to be a hard sell as locals and politicians alike remain wary. Lurking in the shadows is a legal tangle involving a $515 million lawsuit filed by the developers against landowners - a move that Congressman John Garamendi has openly condemned as "despicable," as reported by SFist.
Questions of viability and ecological impact are at the forefront of many critics' minds. Despite Sramek's reassurance that the billionaire backers are "not at all perturbed" by the backlash, groups such as the Sierra Club and whistleblower politicians continue to voice concerns. Urbanists argue that the last thing needed is to further divert investment from existing towns. Moreover, "California Forever's" grandiose promises, which include a massive 700-acre park and contributions to the county's infrastructure, have yet to quell fears of an unreasonable endeavor.
However, further details unveiled by Sramek might prove to be a magnetic blueprint for some. He envisions a sustainable community, rich with walkable neighborhoods and accessible amenities, in stark contrast with the isolated model of Northern California's Mountain House. Jan Sramek told ABC News, "I'm going to make this happen no matter what." Facing public scrutiny, the "California Forever" group has also pledged to contribute $200 million towards the enhancement of other county downtowns and an additional $50,000 in down payment assistance for 6,000 families.
The proposed city's objective is not merely to expand the housing market, but to also provide a necessary lift to the strained housing inventory of California. Optimists like artist Radhika Lynette see the endeavor as a fulfillment of a need for sustainability, commending the vision of a "walkable element" as she told ABC News. But the initiative, christened the East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy Initiative, now stands at a critical juncture, faced with the task of transforming its skeptics into advocates, as it thrusts forward to a November verdict.
