Silicon Valley's ambitious plan, backed by billionaires, to transform 60,000 acres into a "city of yesterday" has hit a significant delay, pushing the project back by at least two years. On July 22, California Forever announced that their "East Solano Plan" would not be on the November ballot as initially planned. Instead, the $900 million project will undergo a comprehensive environmental impact review and develop a detailed agreement with county supervisors.
California Democratic State Senator John Garamendi told The New York Times, “The California Forever pipe dream is in a permanent deep freeze.”
First revealed in August 2023, after years of secretive land acquisitions near San Francisco, the 60,000-acre East Solano Plan aims to create one of the most walkable and sustainable towns in the United States. California Forever’s website features concept art of picturesque pedestrian squares and solar farms, promising to create hundreds of thousands of jobs and introduce innovative design, construction, and governance methods. Led by former Goldman Sachs trader Jan Sramek, the project is backed by venture capitalists like LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs.
However, the plan faced immediate opposition from local residents, environmentalists, and politicians. By November 2023, it was revealed that California Forever's parent company had previously sued a group of locals for $510 billion for antitrust violations after they refused to sell their land, although they later agreed to sell for $18,000 per acre. State representatives also raised security concerns due to the proposed city's proximity to Travis Air Force Base.
Last month, the Solano Land Trust formally opposed the project, citing potential adverse effects on the region's water resources, air quality, traffic, farmland, and natural environment. The land trust also accused California Forever of misleading the public by downplaying the quality of the farmland. They highlighted that the area includes some of the state's most water-efficient farmland and sensitive habitats for rare and endangered species.
In this week’s announcement, Sramek mentioned a recent poll by California Forever indicating that 65% of East Solano residents support the development for its promise of good-paying jobs, affordable housing, and clean energy. However, most voters also want a full environmental impact report before proceeding.
Sramek previously told Popular Science, “The idea of building a new community and economic opportunity in eastern Solano seemed impossible on the surface. But after spending a lot of time learning about the community, which I now call home, I became convinced that with thoughtful design, the right long-term patient investors, and strong partnerships, we can create a new community.”