Exclusive: Marc Andreessen’s family plans to build a ‘visionary’ subdivision near the proposed California Forever utopia city

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the real estate development plans of the family of venture capitalist Marc Andreessen in Solano County, California, near the proposed "California Forever" utopian city project.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Andreessen Family's Real Estate Plans

1. What are the real estate development plans of the Andreessen family in Solano County?

• The Andreessen family, through an LLC operated by Arrillaga-Andreessen's brother, has begun the planning process for a mixed-use development with over 1,000 homes in the Vacaville area of Solano County.
• The Arrillaga family, including Andreessen's father-in-law John Arrillaga Sr., co-owns at least three parcels of land totaling around 730 acres in the area near the proposed "California Forever" development.
• The Arrillaga family has been quietly acquiring this land in Solano County since the 1980s, seeing it as a long-term investment for their children.

2. How does the Andreessen family's development approach differ from the "California Forever" project?

• While the "California Forever" project has faced criticism and challenges in gaining local support and approvals, the Andreessen family's Vacaville development is making progress by working closely with the city to oversee the planning process.
• The Andreessen family's development is proposing a master-planned community with a mix of housing types and affordability levels, aiming to "fit seamlessly into existing residential neighborhoods."
• The Andreessen family is seen as a long-term investor in the area, unlike the "California Forever" project which has been criticized for being led by outsiders.

[02] The History of the Arrillaga Family's Land Acquisitions

1. How did the Arrillaga family acquire the land in Solano County?

• In the 1980s, John Arrillaga Sr. and his business partner Richard Peery began quietly acquiring thousands of acres of cheap agricultural land in the Bay Area, including the 730 acres in Solano County.
• Arrillaga Sr. and Peery foresaw the growth of Silicon Valley and built the "bones" of the region by erecting empty office buildings, waiting for tech companies to move in and expand.
• The Solano County land was transferred to Arrillaga Sr.'s children in 1998 and then to the A&P Children Investments LLC in 2006, which is operated by Peery and Arrillaga Jr.

2. How does the Arrillaga family's land acquisition strategy compare to the "California Forever" project?

• Both the Arrillaga family and the "California Forever" project targeted cheap agricultural land and operated largely in secrecy, with the goal of establishing new developments before obvious demand existed.
• Andreessen, who is married to Arrillaga-Andreessen, has said he often sought advice from his father-in-law Arrillaga Sr., suggesting a connection between the two real estate strategies.

[03] The Reaction to the Andreessen Family's Development Plans

1. How have local residents and officials responded to the Andreessen family's development plans?

• While the Andreessen family's development in Vacaville is making progress, it has still faced some residual anger from the controversy surrounding the "California Forever" project.
• At a city council meeting, some residents expressed caution about approving more development, citing concerns about the "magical city over by Rio Vista" (referring to "California Forever").
• However, the Vacaville community development director noted that the A&P Children Investments development plans had been in the works before the "California Forever" project was announced, and the city is working closely with the developers.

2. What factors may contribute to the Andreessen family's development having an easier time gaining approval compared to "California Forever"?

• The Andreessen family is seen as a long-term investor in the area, unlike the "California Forever" project which has been criticized for being led by outsiders.
• Vacaville is described as a "beautiful area" with high demand for housing, which may make the Andreessen family's development more palatable to local residents and officials.
• The Andreessen family's development is taking a more collaborative approach with the city, providing funding to oversee the planning process, compared to the confrontational approach of the "California Forever" project.