The multi-use, gated adult community project, located at the southern end of Fairview Avenue and Vineyard Parkway, will include 1,100 55+ active adult homes as well as an additional 127 custom home lots.
Sitting on nearly 500 acres, The Vineyards involves a collaboration of the City of Brentwood, Shea Homes and the California State Park Service. Together, these organizations are working to provide such amenities as an amphitheatre, parks, retail space, a possible winery and/or tasting rooms, and a state-of-the-art events center.
Brentwood Mayor Bob Taylor sees The Vineyards project as an occasion to put Brentwood on the map.
"This is a huge undertaking that could have marvelous results for Brentwood," said Taylor of the estimated five- to seven-year project. "It is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the city."
Possible projects on the drawing boards include the amphitheatre, which would be used to showcase local talent and community productions.
"We see this as an informal type of amphitheatre a la Wente, not the Concord Pavilion," said Brentwood City Manager Donna Landeros. "I think were looking at around an 800- to 900-seat facility."
Another component of the project is the event center, which is earmarked for myriad functions, including weddings, conferences and city events.
"I think the event center is the thing that will draw the most people," said Howard Sword, Community Development Director for the City of Brentwood. "It's very sophisticated."
The development of the winery and/or tasting rooms is one of the most exciting components of the project and also one of the trickiest.
"This aspect is still wide open," said Landeros. "Whether we have a full-on winery with crushing capabilities etc., and/or some smaller tasting rooms designed as a cooperative approach for the area's small vineyards, we just don't know yet. There is so much to consider."
Local community greens or parks, modeled after Brentwood's City Park, will also be included. At this point officials are still considering where the parks will be, as well as how many. It is believed that some smaller parks will sit inside the gates of the development, with larger, public parks on the perimeters.
And then there is the California State Parks' involvement, which includes the restoration of the John Marsh House and the possible preservation of some American Indian remains also on the property. This arm of the project is still in the very early stages of development.
"We don't yet know what will happen with the John Marsh House, whether it will be restored or preserved - which are two different projects," said Craig Broznan, Brentwood's Parks and Recreation Director. "There are also three distinct groups of native American bones on the property, too. These will all be worked on with the state parks department as well. There is lots to do."
Over the next few months, as grapevines and olive trees take root over the 40-plus acres surrounding the project, residents can watch the development take shape.
"This is a very upscale, unique project that I think is really going to be a destination location for Brentwood," said Sword. "It's very exciting."
Broznan agrees this is a once-in-a-lifetime project. "One rarely gets the opportunity in their career to work on a project of this size and vision," he said. "We are just having so much fun."
The public is invited to attend a public hearing on the project at the Brentwood Community Center on March 20 at 7 p.m.
The forum is designed to give residents the opportunity to learn more about the Trilogy at The Vineyards development, and to ask questions.
For further information, call the City of Brentwood at 516-5400.
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