San Diego’s Complete Communities Advances with City Council Approval
December 7, 2020
On November 9, 2020, the San Diego City Council approved two primary components of the Complete Communities program, a package of development incentives designed to strengthen community development and improve housing affordability and quality of life. Housing Solutions and Mobility Choices are complementary planning strategies designed to incentivize development near transit while connecting San Diegans to convenient and safe transit options. KMA was engaged to evaluate the financial feasibility and fiscal impacts of implementing the two components.
Imperial Beach – Opening of the Hampton Inn & Suites
August 5, 2020
The City of Imperial Beach welcomed a new hotel on June 15, 2020 as the greatly anticipated 100-room "Beach Modern" Hampton Inn opened on a prominent site on State Route 75 at the entrance to the City’s downtown and beachfront communities. The final phase of the 4.75-acre Breakwater Town Center, the four-story Hilton-branded hotel located at 771 Palm Avenue includes a pool, fitness and business centers, free wi-fi and a breakfast/lounge area.
Advised by KMA, Escondido Adopts a Community Facility District (CFD)
July 31, 2020
The City of Escondido, in an ongoing effort to address projected budget shortfalls, adopted a resolution to form a Citywide Services Community Facilities District (CFD) on May 13, 2020. The goal of the CFD is to ensure that new residential developments do not negatively impact the City's General Fund.
KMA's Julie Romey Joins CAL-ALHFA Board
June 22, 2020
Julie Romey, a Senior Principal in KMA's Los Angeles office, has joined the CAL-ALHFA Board of Directors. CAL-ALHFA (California Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities) is a non-profit organization with a broad based membership including both public and private agencies which develop, finance, and administer programs to address affordable housing throughout the State of California.
Vallco Town Center Wins Legal Battle
May 8, 2020
By Kimberly Heaton
On Wednesday May 6th, a Santa Clara Superior Judge upheld the City of Cupertino's September 2018 approval of the Vallco Town Center, concluding the project proposed by Sand Hill Property Company is in conformance with SB 35 guidelines and therefore eligible to proceed. SB 35 is part of a landmark package of housing bills enacted in 2017 to address the affordable housing shortage in California. SB 35 facilitates the expedited development of eligible projects, and the court ruling allows the redevelopment of the former Vallco Mall to move forward.
Sunnyvale's Cityline Enters New Phase of Development
March 17, 2020
By Kimberly Heaton
A critical economic development goal for the City of Sunnyvale has been to transform the partially built Sunnyvale Town Center, now called Cityline, into a dynamic and unique downtown core. Recent updates in the news reveal the transformation has hit exciting milestones. Phase 1 of the mixed-use project is nearing completion; substantial retail has been completed with additional tenant announcements last week (Ulta Beauty, Kids Care Dental & Orthodontics and Xfinity will be joining anchors Whole Foods and AMC theaters, along with restaurants Pacific Catch and Urban Plates).
Compromise in San Diego Results in Major Updates to Inclusionary Housing Policy
December 18, 2019
By Kimberly Heaton
On December 10, 2019 the City of San Diego approved with a veto-proof margin proposed Amendments to the City's existing Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. Championed by Council President Georgette Gomez, the new policy will require developers to include affordable units in their market-rate housing projects or pay a higher in-lieu fee for the City to build them off-site. KMA was hired by the San Diego Housing Commission to assess the economic feasibility of the updated policy.
Surf's Up in Palm Desert
November 19, 2019
By Kimberly Heaton
The Palm Desert City Council approved a $200 million artificial wave resort project on November 18th, DSRT SURF, which will feature a 5.5-acre wave lagoon with unique waves powered by the “Wavegarden Cove”. Phase one of the project will be built on nearly 18 acres at the Desert Willow Golf Resort; other components will include a 4-story hotel, cabanas, restaurants, a sand beach area, sports courts, and a stage/amphitheater. A second phase will include for-sale residential villas.
Kaiser Permanente Thrive HQ to Rise at 2100 Telegraph Ave
July 22, 2019
By Kimberly Heaton
On July 9, 2019 the Oakland City Council unanimously approved Kaiser Permanente’s proposed project, a consolidated headquarters in Oakland’s Uptown neighborhood that was previously announced on June 17. The massive 28-story office building to rise at 2100 Telegraph will encompass 1.5 million square feet- making it the largest office building in Oakland.
Keyser Marston was the City’s real estate advisor for the City-owned parcel at 2100 Telegraph, which was the last parcel needed by Developer Lane Partners to assemble the project site, as a block of adjacent parcels was previously acquired.
San Diego's Horton Plaza Makeover - "The Campus at Horton"
July 15, 2019
By Kimberly Heaton
Major changes are soon to be underway at Downtown San Diego’s famed -- but in recent years increasingly vacant -- Horton Plaza regional mall. After unanimous approval from the San Diego City Council on May 20th, new ownership is moving forward with an ambitious plan to renovate the center and create a vibrant mixed-use use tech hub “The Campus at Horton”.
