The largest proposed housing and community development in California history. California Forever and its subsidiary Flannery Associates LLC secretly purchased 52,000-55,000+ acres of Solano County farmland between 2017 and 2023, spending over $800 million, with the goal of building a new city of up to 400,000 residents midway between San Francisco and Sacramento. Backers include Marc Andreessen, Reid Hoffman, Laurene Powell Jobs, Patrick and John Collison (Stripe), Michael Moritz, and the firm Andreessen Horowitz. CEO: Jan Sramek (former Goldman Sachs trader). The project was revealed publicly by the New York Times in August 2023 when the secretive purchases became impossible to conceal. The primary obstacle is the Solano County General Plan, which explicitly prohibits all new housing and development outside existing city limits. California Forever's original strategy was to amend the General Plan via a November 2024 ballot measure. When it became clear the ballot measure would fail, it was withdrawn in July 2024. The company pivoted to an annexation strategy: working with Suisun City, the only supportive local government, to annex approximately 22,900 acres into the city's boundaries — bypassing the need for countywide voter approval. The Suisun City Council voted 4-1 in June 2025 to proceed with a reimbursement agreement under which the company pays the city's costs, and California Forever submitted its annexation application in October 2025. The application covers 22,873 acres; the city's November 12, 2025 notice of preparation for an EIR describes about 65,217 homes for 150,000 residents in the first 20 years and about 173,913 homes for 400,000 residents at full buildout. As of October 2026 the state's CEQA database lists no draft EIR for the project. The Solano County LAFCO, which California Local describes as controlled by appointees of the county, must ultimately approve the annexation and has asked Suisun City to pause the process. Best case groundbreaking: end of 2027. The project also involves the Solano Foundry (advanced manufacturing park) and a shipyard on land already designated for industrial use near Collinsville. In January 2026 California Forever signed what it called the largest construction labor agreement in history with the Napa/Solano Building Trades Council and Northern California Carpenters Union. KQED's voter guide says Suisun City's November 3, 2026 mayoral election "is seen as a referendum on the megadevelopment itself."
| Date | Event | What the record shows |
|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2017 | Flannery Associates Begins Secret Land Acquisition | Flannery Associates LLC — a Delaware-registered company with no public officers or investors — begins quietly purchasing farmland parcels in Solano County. The secretive acquisition strategy is designed to prevent landowners from coordinating to raise prices. Over the following six years, Flannery acquires over 52,000 acres, spending more than $800 million. (Date approximate) Local News Matters: https://localnewsmatters.org/2023/09/03/california-forever-firm-behind-mysterious-land-acquisitions-in-solano-launches-website/ |
| August 25, 2023 | New York Times Reveals Project — California Forever Website Launches | The New York Times reports on the mysterious Solano County land acquisitions, revealing the investor group: Marc Andreessen, Reid Hoffman, Laurene Powell Jobs, Patrick and John Collison, Michael Moritz, and Andreessen Horowitz. California Forever launches its public website simultaneously. Governor Newsom says he was told "about five minutes before" his staff. Local News Matters: https://localnewsmatters.org/2023/09/03/california-forever-firm-behind-mysterious-land-acquisitions-in-solano-launches-website/ |
| November 1, 2023 | First Town Hall — CEO Heckled, Called "Shill" and "Smooth Talker" | Jan Sramek holds the first public town hall for Solano County residents. Attendees shout him down as a "shill" and "smooth talker," alleging a secretive land grab. The contentious meeting signals the community trust deficit the project will spend the next two years trying to repair. (Date approximate) Fortune: https://fortune.com/2023/11/30/california-forever-tech-city-heckle-billionaires-central-valley-flannery-associates/amp |
| February 1, 2024 | Ballot Initiative Filed for November 2024 | California Forever files paperwork to qualify a ballot initiative for the November 2024 Solano County election. The initiative would amend the county's General Plan to allow development on California Forever's land, establishing a new Community Services District. Extensive community concerns about water supply, Travis AFB proximity, and agricultural land loss dominate early coverage. (Date approximate) CalMatters: https://calmatters.org/economy/2024/02/california-forever-promises/ |
| March 29, 2024 | Judge Denies Landowners Motion to Dismiss Price-Fixing Lawsuit | U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley in Sacramento denies an attempt by remaining Solano County landowners to dismiss Flannery's price-fixing lawsuit. The judge cites messages between property owners as evidence of coordination to resist land purchases. Some owners have already settled with Flannery; the lawsuit continues against those who have not. Governing: https://www.governing.com/management-and-administration/california-forever-planning-group-wins-big-against-farmers |
| July 23, 2024 | Ballot Measure Withdrawn — Company Announces Annexation Alternative | California Forever withdraws its November 2024 ballot measure after concluding it lacks sufficient voter support. CEO Jan Sramek and the Solano County Board of Supervisors chair issue a joint statement promising an environmental review process. Sramek vows to bring the measure back for voter consideration in 2026. The withdrawal signals the original county-wide democratic path is closed. Fortune: https://fortune.com/2024/07/23/california-forever-solano-city-on-hold-billionaire-backers-locals |
| March 1, 2025 | Suisun City Reaches Out — Annexation Strategy Begins | Suisun City officials reach out to California Forever with a proposal to annex a portion of its 52,000+ acre holdings into the city. The annexation route would incorporate California Forever's land into Suisun City, bypassing the county General Plan prohibition and the need for countywide voter approval. California Forever simultaneously expands its project vision to include the Solano Foundry manufacturing park and a shipyard. (Date approximate) California Local: https://californialocal.com/localnews/statewide/ca/article/show/554033-california-forever-gains-momentum/ |
| June 10, 2025 | County Asks Suisun City To Halt Talks | The Solano County Board of Supervisors votes 5-0 to send the Suisun City Council a letter before its vote on an agreement to explore annexation. The council then votes 4-1 to proceed. California Local: https://californialocal.com/localnews/statewide/ca/article/show/599005-a-deep-dive-into-the-suisun-city-and-california-forever-project/ |
| October 14, 2025 | California Forever Submits Annexation Application | California Forever submits its final annexation application to Suisun City. The council had approved exploring the proposal in June, with the company paying the city's costs; city staff now review the application, and an environmental review follows. CBS Sacramento: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/sacramento/news/california-forever-submits-final-application-for-solano-county-city/ |
| November 12, 2025 | City Begins Environmental Review | Suisun City files a notice of preparation for a draft EIR on the Suisun Expansion Project: annexation of 22,873 acres, with about 173,913 homes and 400,000 residents at full buildout. CEQAnet: https://ceqanet.lci.ca.gov/2025110452 |
| January 21, 2026 | Largest Construction Labor Agreement in History Signed | California Forever announces it has signed what it calls the largest construction labor agreement in history with the Napa/Solano Building Trades Council and the Northern California Carpenters Union, securing organized labor's support for the project. A Bay Area Council Economic Institute report published the same day outlines the project's projected economic impact. California Local: https://californialocal.com/localnews/statewide/ca/article/show/554033-california-forever-gains-momentum/ |
| March 1, 2026 | EIR In Preparation — LAFCO Asked to Pause, County Opposition Continues | A draft Environmental Impact Report is being prepared by Suisun City, and the city is expected to complete initial annexation and EIR processing by the end of 2026. The Solano County LAFCO — controlled by county supervisor appointees who oppose the project — asks Suisun City to pause its annexation process so the county can catch up. Best case for formal LAFCO petition submission: end of 2026. Best case for LAFCO approval: mid-2028. Best case for groundbreaking: end of 2027 or later. (Date approximate) California Local: https://californialocal.com/localnews/statewide/ca/article/show/599005-a-deep-dive-into-the-suisun-city-and-california-forever-project/ |
Rating 3 of 5. Multiple sources, including at least one primary record. Corrections: https://whokilledthebuilding.com/corrections.