Rosalind Evans
The Californian group, Flannery Associates, involved in a colossal $800m venture, has introduced a new website featuring conceptual designs.
For years, some of Silicon Valley’s most influential figures have discreetly amassed farmlands in northern California. Their ambitious goal? To construct an ideal city spanning 55,000 acres in Solano County.
Recently, Flannery Associates, the principal team behind this vision, has gone live with a dedicated website, offering a glimpse into their envisioned future — neighbourhoods adorned with Mediterranean-inspired homes, with pedestrian and cyclist-friendly streets.
The initiative’s public revelation emerges amid increasing scrutiny directed toward the once-veiled objectives of this Silicon Valley-backed consortium.
Up until the previous week, the identity of those behind the significant land acquisitions in south-eastern Solano County, situated approximately 60 miles from San Francisco, remained a mystery. The purchased terrain predominantly lies between Fairfield, known for housing 120,000 citizens and landmarks such as the Anheuser-Busch Co brewery and Jelly Belly factory, extending to the modest city of Rio Vista.
Accumulatively, the team’s investments reached close to $1bn, positioning them as the county’s foremost land proprietor, including areas adjacent to the nation’s busiest air force base. Such covert land procurement caught the attention of both the US military and the FBI.
Recently, the New York Times disclosed that Flannery Associates was supported by a league of notable Silicon Valley investors, envisioning a city powered by renewable energy sources, offering ample job opportunities, and a blend of urban living with efficient public transit.
At the forefront of this project is Jan Sramek, a 36-year-old former Goldman Sachs trader. Among the backers are LinkedIn co-founder, Reid Hoffman; venture capitalist Michael Moritz; Emerson Collective’s Laurene Powell Jobs; investor Marc Andreessen; Stripe co-founders, Patrick and John Collison; along with entrepreneurs Daniel Gross and Nat Friedman, as detailed by the Times.
The revelations intensified public debate. Flannery Associates, having recently initiated dialogue with local authorities and inhabitants, faced legal contention over claims of “illegal price-fixing conspiracy” with land sellers.
Local State Senator Bill Dodd voiced concerns, highlighting the investment group’s secretive acquisitions and the absence of transparent communication with the community.
This week, the consortium unveiled its aspirations through a new platform, illustrations, and a brand identity — California Forever. Serving as the parent company of Flannery Associates, California Forever is spearheaded by Sramek, who has recently settled in the county.
California Forever’s mission statement emphasizes the necessity for extensive land acquisition to cultivate a “holistic, sustainable community” and defends its initial confidentiality to avert impulsive land speculations.
Emphasizing their commitment, the group has committed to long-term consultations with the local populace, aiming for a harmonious integration of community needs, employment opportunities, renewable energy hubs, and preserved natural spaces.
Their concept involves crafting a city filled with diverse housing options, proximal amenities, and expansive green spaces. These illustrations capture houses neighbouring parks, water bodies for recreational activities, and maintenance crews for solar facilities.
However, their ambitious undertaking seeks approval through genuine collaboration with locals, ensuring that designs resonate with the community’s ethos. Recent surveys have been dispatched to gauge the populace’s sentiments about this venture.
In response to the concerns, California Forever’s spokesperson, Brian Brokaw, expressed gratitude towards elected representatives and affirmed their unwavering commitment to Solano County’s prosperity.
However, this ambitious project has not been exempt from skepticism. Local figures like Congressman John Garamendi have rebuked the group’s secretive operations. Fairfield’s Mayor Catherine Moy intends to confer with Garamendi and other county supervisors to devise a protective strategy against the project. The mayor, deeply rooted in the community’s sentiments, has strongly criticized Flannery Associates, emphasizing the region’s deep connection to its lands. She also noted the unifying sentiment against the project, “Flannery’s actions have united us — citizens, environmentalists, developers, and politicians — standing together against Flannery’s vision.”
The grand vision of a 55,000-acre dream city, backed by some of Silicon Valley’s most influential names, is a testament to the limitless ambitions of tech giants. While Flannery Associates and their partners see a sustainable future in California Forever, the initiative has also spotlighted the complex relationship between grand designs and local sentiments. Whether this dream city becomes a utopian reality or remains a contested blueprint, the unfolding narrative serves as a reflection of the broader challenges of urban development in the 21st century.
