Quality lifestyles with city comforts
As recently as 10 years ago, some of today’s “most livable” cities in California might not have received a second thought from longtime residents of the Bay Area. Now, from the edges of the Bay Area in Solano County to east Sacramento County and Merced — just 40 miles from Yosemite National Park — those communities are among the most sought after for new homes and enhanced lifestyles.
Residents and investors have breathed new life into the areas, rebuilding and reviving historic gems, creating new gathering places or economic centers and planting opportunities for people looking to put down roots with homeownership in Central and Northern California.
The historic, the rural and the metropolitan beneath Yosemite
Frank Quintero moved to Merced more than 30 years ago and has seen longtime and newer residents embrace the growing improvements to their historic city.
An hour or two exploring the city reveals that Merced features “the best of both worlds, where an urban community still retains that rural sense,” said Quintero, economic development director for the city of Merced. “From downtown through the entire community, Merced is undergoing a renaissance,” he added.
Like Quintero, Merced Mayor Mike Murphy shares a history with Merced. His hometown since childhood, Murphy attended school here before earning degrees from Brigham Young University and Georgetown University Law. After launching a career in Silicon Valley corporate law, he and his family chose to return to Merced nearly a decade ago.
In his 2020 State of the City Address, Murphy celebrated the city’s growth into an ideal place to live, work, learn and do business. Murphy himself runs his law practice out of downtown Merced.
“Our community got even stronger when UC Merced added its downtown center,” he said. “In August, UC Merced will achieve its major milestone of educating 10,000 students at a time with the completion of its 2020 Project.”
The development of the youngest of the UC campuses — combined with growing programs and new facilities planned for the 16,000-student Merced College — brings thousands of jobs and prosperity along with an educated, skilled workforce to California’s heartland.
“There’s something going on in every corner, whether it’s new construction, cultural enhancements or new parks,” said Quintero.
Those cultural enhancements include a two-part downtown comprised of historic Main Street (formerly 17th Street) and UC Merced’s new
downtown center on 18th Street.
“The Merced Civic Center separates the two and the anchors of downtown are the theaters, a gallery, and fantastic mom-andpop restaurants,” said Quintero.
Among arts offerings are the restored Merced Theatre and the Mainzer Theatre, which is under complete redesign to incorporate a bar and restaurant along with its 1930s Art Deco aspects.
“Then there’s the MOAT (Merced Open Air Theater) in Applegate Park,” said Quintero. “A combination of public and private funds is allowing major updates and beautification at the MOAT before the 2020 concert series starts in August.”
Other planned improvements include the revamping of Merced Mall and the addition of the Gateway Marketplace, a blended-use gathering place on 77 acres.
“The Gateway Marketplace will have retail, dining and multifamily residential,” said Quintero. “We’re working on including an entertainment center there; it will serve as a welcoming travel oasis for people driving to and from Yosemite.”
Merced is a worthwhile stop for many reasons. Among them are exceptional new-home communities with spacious, contemporary homes from such builders as Stonefield Home and K. Hovnanian Homes, priced from the low $300,000 range.
As Mayor Murphy puts it, “Merced is a city on the rise.”
Prosperity on the Bay Area periphery
Speaking of cities going up in rankings, just outside one edge of the Bay Area in an area some may even consider part of the Bay Area, the city of Vacaville is also experiencing a renaissance along with new prosperity and recognized livability.
“For a number of consecutive years, we’ve been named one of the Top 10 most livable small cities in the United States (Smartasset.com),” said Melyssa Laughlin, president and CEO of Visit Vacaville, a nonprofit association that provides and promotes community and visitor information, events and services within Vacaville.
The reasons, she believes, become obvious when passersby take the bait and allow the famed Nut Tree sign visible from Interstate 80 to lure them on an excursion.
“Our location is amazing,” she said. “We’re right between San Francisco and Sacramento and we’re only 20 minutes from Napa.”
Meanwhile, Vacaville has maintained its small-town feel, even while growing to a population of 103,000, according to Laughlin.
“You have all the amenities you need, like the dining, schools, outdoor activities, a huge biotech, medical, and aviation presence, right here in this quaint city,” she said. “It’s a cool juxtaposition between the old hometown where you always run into someone you know and a thriving urban reality.”
Sitting just next door to the Suisun Valley, and halfway between Lake Berryessa and the Delta, Vacaville is ideal for adventures outside, from a rustic wine tasting experience in nearby Suisun Valley Wine Country, trail walking and bike riding or “agriventure” outings.
“On the weekends, people really get back to nature here in Vacaville, where we blend agritourism and outdoor adventure,” explained Laughlin. “You might work in the city and then come home and get to feel grounded by nature in quieter experiences at amazing farms; you can pick fruits and vegetables, and eat lunch on a farm or even spend an afternoon on an alpaca farm.”
Complementing the outdoor adventures is a growing culture featuring the arts and diverse dining experiences, with terrific restaurants, historical attractions and theaters, not to mention exceptional shopping at the Nut Tree or the Vacaville Premium Outlets.
Each of these features contribute to a Vacaville that still reflects its past as an agricultural center while leaning to the future with a population that spans generations. Both longtime residents and newcomers are enjoying the buildout of masterplanned communities with contemporary floor plans, smart home features, community centers and amenities that make home a special respite.
“When I first moved to Vacaville 12 years ago, I might have thought of the area as more of a quiet retirement area, but that has really changed,” said Laughlin. “More recently, so many people are moving here with young families and
it’s really adding to the makeup of our culture and our city.”
Luxury alongside foothills and lakes
An hour from Vacaville, those seeking a mixture of country, city and luxury in one place will enjoy the city of Folsom. East of Sacramento amid nature and upscale amenities, Folsom provides all that and more.
“The Folsom area offers a terrific array of amenities that make for a wonderful quality of life,” said Michelle Velky, vice president of sales and marketing for Lennar Sacramento. “Situated 90 minutes to Lake Tahoe, the city is surrounded by foothills and nearby Folsom Lake.”
With bountiful recreational, educational and
cultural opportunities within easy proximity of Sacramento, residents enjoy daytrips and easy getaways without days of planning.
“Plus, there’s the new Palladio mall, which offers terrific options for retail and dining,” said Velky. “People also value the great health care and excellent schools, including Folsom Lake College.”
The comprehensive and long-planned community of Folsom Ranch is enjoying its well-received debut.
“We have a fantastic variety of luxury floor plans that are a big draw in Folsom and Folsom Ranch,” said Velky. She noted that among the offerings are multigenerational living options that provide lifestyle flexibility for buyers of all ages.
Sitting on the 3,520acre Folsom Plan area,
at buildout Folsom Ranch will encompass more than 11,000 residential units; seven new schools; a town center; commercial space; employment centers and recreational amenities including a system of parks and trails.
A full third of the Folsom Ranch plan accounts for preserved open space. That means that, while Lake Tahoe is a short drive away and Folsom Lake is just on the other side of Highway 50, residents can enjoy abundant nature in their own backyards. Hundreds of acres of oak woodlands, meandering natural creeks, historic sites, and sensitive habitat and wildlife will be accessible by more than 30 miles of interconnected hiking and biking trails.