California Forever

California Forever is a controversial planned city proposed by a group of Silicon Valley investors, aiming to build a new urban community in Solano County, California. The project, backed by Flannery Associates, seeks to create a walkable, sustainable city on 55,000 acres of farmland between San Francisco and Sacramento. Marketed as a solution to California’s housing crisis, it envisions affordable homes, green energy, and public transit, drawing inspiration from European-style urbanism. However, the project has faced political opposition, environmental concerns, and skepticism from local residents about its impact on agriculture and water supply. While still in early stages, California Forever reflects the tensions between tech-driven urban planning and local governance in high-cost, restrictive development markets.

California Forever is intended to be a new city, not just a district, but it is still in the early planning stages and faces significant challenges. Proposed by Flannery Associates, it aims to develop a self-sustaining, walkable urban community on 55,000 acres of farmland in Solano County, California, between San Francisco and Sacramento.

California Forever seeks to create a brand-new urban settlement from scratch, with housing, businesses, public transit, and green energy infrastructure. However, it has not yet secured zoning approvals or widespread local support, and its feasibility remains uncertain. If realized, it could be one of the largest new city developments in the U.S.

Strengths:

• Well-Funded Vision – The project has major financial backing from Silicon Valley billionaires, giving it resources that most speculative cities lack.
• Proximity to the Bay Area – Unlike remote ghost cities, California Forever is near San Francisco and Sacramento, making it theoretically viable if executed well.
• Political Engagement is Underway – The project has shifted from secrecy to public engagement and a ballot measure, showing some early steps toward real-world progress.

Challenges:

• It’s Not a City Yet – Unlike other planned cities, California Forever is still just land—there is no infrastructure, no residents, and no official approval to build.
• Huge Political & Legal Hurdles – The plan faces intense local opposition, water rights issues, and zoning restrictions that could block it entirely.
• No Clear Economic Anchor – Unlike Shenzhen or even King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), California Forever has no specific industry or financial driver, relying instead on vague promises of "good urbanism."
• Past Silicon Valley Urban Projects Have Flopped – Similar billionaire-led urban experiments, like Sidewalk Labs in Toronto, failed due to regulatory hurdles and lack of local buy-in.