Jan Sramek's California Forever Project Targets 400,000 Residents Amidst Annexation Talks

Jan Sramek's ambitious "California Forever" project, aiming to build a new city for up to 400,000 people in Solano County, north of San Francisco, continues to evolve its strategy amidst ongoing local scrutiny. The initiative, backed by prominent Silicon Valley investors, seeks to address California's acute housing shortage by creating a walkable, sustainable urban center. Kevin A. Bryan, commenting on the project, stated in a recent tweet, "> Housing expensive in cities because too few cities - land is dirt cheap (2k for 1/4 acre all over N Am)," highlighting the core economic rationale behind such large-scale developments.

The project, founded by Sramek in 2017, secretly acquired over 50,000 acres of agricultural land in Solano County for an estimated $900 million through its subsidiary, Flannery Associates. This stealth approach was reportedly to prevent land speculation, with funding primarily from U.S. investors including Michael Moritz, Laurene Powell Jobs, Reid Hoffman, and Marc Andreessen. The proposed development, known as the East Solano Plan, envisions a city roughly two-thirds the size of San Francisco, complete with residential homes, a solar farm, public parks, and even a potential shipbuilding facility.

Initial plans for the new city faced significant opposition from local residents and officials, who raised concerns about water supply, infrastructure, and the impact on Travis Air Force Base. A ballot initiative proposed for November 2024, which would have rezoned the agricultural land for urban development, was withdrawn in July 2024 after polling indicated strong public disapproval. Critics argued the project lacked detailed plans for essential services and represented an unwelcome intrusion by wealthy outsiders.

Following the withdrawal of the ballot measure, California Forever has shifted its approach, now exploring potential annexation agreements with existing cities in Solano County. Suisun City and Rio Vista have begun investigating the possibility of expanding their municipal boundaries to incorporate portions of the California Forever land. This strategy could allow the project to proceed without a county-wide voter referendum, instead requiring approval from local city councils and regional planning agencies.

The project continues to navigate a complex regulatory landscape, with environmental impact reports and development agreements currently in progress. While Sramek maintains that the new city is crucial for California's future growth and housing needs, local stakeholders remain divided on the long-term implications for the region. The outcome of these annexation talks will be pivotal in determining the future of this ambitious new city.