Demolition work is set to begin at the Tierra de Rosas development in Santa Rosa’s Roseland neighborhood after the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors authorized the county’s Community Development Commission to execute contracts to begin demolitions at the site.
The demolition phase will include the installation of infrastructure for the Tierra de Rosas project and will play a critical role in the Casa Roseland Project, the affordable housing portion of the development, county officials said in a news release.
“This progress toward the development of the Roseland Village project, which was born out of a community vision, marks a breakthrough in our collaborative response to the historical disinvestment that Roseland has endured,” said Supervisor Chris Coursey, chair of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, in a statement. “The project will not only provide much-needed affordable and market-rate housing, it also will revitalize the existing community hub and serve as a catalyst for invigorating economic growth in the area.”
“This progress toward the development of the Roseland Village project … marks a breakthrough in our collaborative response to the historical disinvestment that Roseland has endured.” Supervisor Chris Coursey
The Community Development Commission awarded a $315,000 contract through a bid process to Resource Environmental Inc. to demolish the former Dollar Tree store and the Wind Toys buildings located in the former Roseland Village Shopping Center. Resource Environmental Inc. is scheduled to begin the demolition process on or around Nov. 23.
Mitote Food Park, a popular and lively community hub, will remain in operation in its current location at the Tierra De Rosas site during the first two phases of the three-phase project. The Community Development Commission and operator of Mitote are in early discussions about the feasibility and potential cost of relocating Mitote when phase three construction commences, which will include a one-acre public plaza and green space for the Roseland community.
In September, the Sonoma County Community Development Commission reported to the Board of Supervisors that it had secured funding to begin phased construction of Tierra de Rosas. The project previously had a funding gap of more than $18 million.
The total project cost for Tierra De Rosas is estimated at $40.5 million, and $37.5 million has been secured from a variety of sources, county officials said.
The $18 million gap was narrowed by the board providing one-time funding of $7.68 million, Chair Coursey committing another $2 million from Third District infrastructure funds, and the Community Development Commission receiving a $2 million matching grant from Ag and Open Space. An additional $3 million was secured by state Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Damon Connelly during state budget allocations.
The planned Tierra de Rosas infrastructure component is critical to the development of the Casa Roseland project as the infrastructure must be built before or concurrently with the housing units, county officials said.
Casa Roseland will comprise 75 affordable housing units for households with incomes between 30 percent and 60 percent of the area’s median income. To qualify, a family of four would have to make $71,280 or less, according to the county.