The Central Valley offers more than just affordable living

New communities “Over the Altamont” are fast becoming popular places to live, work, play and belong. And Bay Area residents — whether young families with babies on board or “boomers” wanting to pocket some cash for retirement — are paying attention!

“We’re building sustainable communities — not just suburbs,” said Mike Ammann, president and CEO of the San Joaquin Partnership, a non-profit economic development corporation that helps business locate to San Joaquin County — including the cities of Tracy, Lathrop, Lodi and Manteca.

“We invite people to take a holistic look at what we have out here,” said Ammann. “Not only is there affordable housing, but we work with businesses to locate to what we

call the ‘Greater Silicon Valley.’ We want to reduce the social and environmental costs of a long daily commute by bringing high-tech and other business here.” Bang for the Buck

Affordable — and ample — space is a primary draw for homebuyers who feel the financial squeeze of purchasing in the Bay Area. According to a recent report by the California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.), high home prices and lack of inventory in San Francisco are causing people to look further afield.

“As home prices continue their upward trend … Bay Area buyers who were previously seeking homes in areas adjacent to San Francisco, such as Solano and Sonoma counties, now are looking even further in Sacramento, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin counties,” said C.A.R. President Pat “Ziggy” Zicarelli.

Shelley Burcham, economic development manager for the City of Tracy, said home prices are skyrocketing even in neighboring Livermore, where today’s median price for a house is $700,000 — up 8.5 percent over 2015.

“At Standard Pacific Homes’ new Primrose development in Tracy you can buy a brand new 2,200 square-foot home in the mid $500,000 range,” said Burcham, with similar opportunities at Integral Communities’ Tracy Hills new 5,500-home development off I-580. “Tracy is experiencing a tremendous growth in new development, not only new home expansion, but jobs, recreation and an $80 million investment in downtown by the city.” Commuter-Friendly

With more than one million passengers per year riding the Alamont Corridor Express (ACE) commuter trains that run from Stockton to San Jose (with 10 stops including Tracy, Manteca and Lathrop), facilitating transportation options for San Joaquin County residents remains a top priority.

“We are unique in having such a large commuter base, with people spending up to two hours getting to work in Silicon Valley,” said Burcham. In addition to ACE, the region has an extensive network of buses and shuttles to cut residents’ travel time. Businesses have options too. Goods can be shipped via Union Pacific Intermodal railway, cargo carrier out of Stockton Metropolitan Airport or on waterway through the Port of Stockton.

“Our goal is to reduce commute time for our residents, and also to reach out to companies such as Google, Lockheed Martin and Apple to set up satellite operations here,” said Burcham. “We want to help companies help employees to be more productive, to be able to spend more time with their families, but also to commute to the Mother Ship when they have to.” Lathrop — and River Islands

Population 20,000, Lathrop is centrally located within a 30-minute commute of Tracy, Manteca, Stockton, Lodi, Modesto, Livermore and Pleasanton and is about 70 miles east of San Francisco.

“Lathrop has been able to balance quality living with quality growth,” said Rebecca Willis, the city’s community development director.

Like other “Greater Silicon Valley” communities, Lathrop is not only family-friendly, with high-performing schools and homes that families can afford, its workforce has attracted many industry innovators, such as Tesla, Ghirardelli Chocolates and CBC Steel.

On the banks of the San Joaquin River and at the hub of three major freeways, River Islands boasts “a community at home with the river.”

“At River Islands in Lathrop, homes are in the $400,000 to $500,000 price range, which is less than half of comparable houses in the Bay Area,” said Susan Dell’Osso, project director of River Island at Lathrop. “In this phase of the development, River Islands features nine lakes. People can live right on the lake and have their own boat dock. There’s also a community boathouse where people gather to socialize or take out kayaks and rowboats — it’s very appealing to live near the water.”

Dell’Osso emphasizes that young families and active retirees who choose River Islands and other new delta communities love the outdoor amenities.

“Fishing, boating, hiking, biking — it’s all right here in our back yard,” said Dell’Osso. “And, since we’re centrally located, you can get to Yosemite, Tahoe or San Francisco all within a couple of hours.” Lodi Living

Foodies living “Over the Alamont” don’t have to travel to Livermore or Napa for a taste of Pinot or Sauvignon — or some farm-to-fork restaurant picks.

“There are 85 wineries in the Lodi region,” said Adam Brucker, business development manager for Lodi, a city of 63,000 residents. “More hotels are in the works to accommodate the increase in tourism due to the wine industry — and such events as the Amgen Bike Tour that came through Lodi this month.”

Brucker reports that Lodi lost 400 jobs when General Mills closed last December, but that Bond Manufacturing out of Antioch purchased the millionsquare-foot site and is marketing the space with Colliers International real estate. In addition, Lodi scored a big success with the recent addition of Cepheid, a cutting-edge manufacturer of medical diagnostic tools.

“We want to attract higher-paying jobs to the region to reduce vehicle miles and attract new residents,” said Brucker, adding that new home development is rebounding after a lull during the recession.

FCB Homes’ Rose Gate, named after Lodi’s official flower, features 230 homes in the high $300,000 to mid-$600,000 range — which buys 2,000 to 3,800 square feet square feet of living space. Reynolds Ranch, a 220-acre mixed-use development in the heart of Lodi’s wine country, will feature market-rate apartments — and a 142-resident senior living facility. Focus on Learning

Mountain House, about 15 miles east of Livermore and 5 miles outside of Tracy, has developed a special sense of community over the past 10 years, with four elementary and one high school serving its population of roughly 10,000 (median age 31, according to suburbanstats.com) and a town center in the planning stages.

“Mountain House is a special place in the Central Valley,” said Ben Forbert, principal of top-ranked Mountain House High School, which graduates its first class this summer. “Families that have moved here all came here for a reason … the opportunity for children to live, learn, and grow in a safe environment that encourages them to do their best …”

While Central Valley communities report high-performing schools across the board, River Islands’ kindergarten through 8th grade Technology Academy won special kudos last year from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson for its top ranking on state tests.

“The superintendent came to the school personally to congratulate everyone on their amazing work,” said Dell’Osso.

Ammann said that the region is not so different from the Bay Area with regard to higher education.

“High school grads or adults pursuing ongoing education close to home, don’t have to look far,” said Ammann. “With UC Merced, Cal State Stanislaus, University of the Pacific — as well as an extensive community college system — we look very much like the Bay Area.” Suited to Seniors

Retirees are also eyeing San Joaquin Valley communities for affordability, a relaxed lifestyle, or to be closer to children and grandchildren.

“Whether you are a young family looking to upgrade, or a retiree looking for something a little smaller, we have the perfect plan,” said Cheyenne Oliveira, director of marketing at Stonefield Home Los Banos. “The main attraction of these communities is the price points. A buyer can get the same house here for a quarter of the cost of homes in the Bay Area.”

Oliveira said she personally enjoys the small-town feel and the slower pace of life in Los Banos, compared to the Bay Area.

“Los Banos has plenty of amenities and attractions within the city limits and is just a short drive to the beach or the mountains,” she said.

Homebuilder Del Webb caters specifically to the active retiree, according to Ammann, with new communities in Willow Shores and Oakwood Shores in Manteca, and Woodbridge in Lathrop.

“Del Webb is building active retirement communities in Arizona and all over the U.S.,” said Ammann. “It makes it attractive for seniors to relocate closer to their kids and grandkids.”

Similarly DeNova Homes’ The Cottages at Diablo Grande in Patterson, a town 27 miles southeast of Tracy and the “The Apricot Capital of the World,” offers a golf course community for old and young alike.

“The Cottages is located in 33,000 beautiful acres of rolling hills with exceptional views and a lifestyle some only dream of — at a price many can afford,” said Linda Hebert, who markets properties for DeNova Homes.

Delta Destinations

Whether it’s River Islands, Patterson or another Delta development, Dell’Osso understands the importance of building “a destination community.”

“… We want people to imagine living here, sending their kids to neighborhood schools, riding their bikes to the parks or sailing on one of our lakes — all attributes of a lifestyle where people can live, work, play, learn, explore and belong,” said Dell’Osso.

And all attributes that are enticing Bay Area residents to look “Over the Altamont” budgetfriendly homes and a slice of life “on the river.”