River Islands at Lathrop

Planned community on the San Joaquin River

River Islands at Lathrop is a planned community on a 4,800-acre (7.5 sq mi; 1,900 ha) site in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in Lathrop, California, United States.[1] As of 2024, approximately 3,500 homes of the Second-phase of 4,284 houses had been built.[2]

## Plan

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The developer is the Cambay Group of Walnut Creek, California which is an American subsidiary of Somerston Holdings Limited of the United Kingdom.[3] Plans call for the completion of 15,000 homes, a town center, business parks, and recreational areas over a 25-year development period.[3] In 2011, the developers stated construction of homes would not begin until late 2013 or early 2014 at the earliest."[1]

In October 2011, Banta Elementary School District approved the purchase of a 30-acre site within River Islands in Lathrop for construction of a k-8 charter school.[4] The 450-student technology school was proposed to open in August 2013 with an eventual expansion for a high school and college.[5]

In 2018, the Tri-Valley–San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority indicated its plan to run trains to River Islands as the Valley Link service's initial terminus.[6]

## History

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The project was initially proposed in 1996 as a "mega resort" called Gold Rush City with theme parks, golf courses and private homes.[7] After substantial criticism about building within a flood plain, the plan was changed to a planned community surrounded by wide levees.[7] these levees go by "Super levees", the district protecting part of Manteca, Lathrop east of the San Joaquín River, French Camp, and Stockton's Weston Ranch neighborhood is working toward a $270 million solution to upgrade to 200-year protection level as early as 2030.[8] Since being proposed in 2001, the development has been delayed several years due to lawsuits, concerns about flooding, environmental impact issues and a downturn in the housing market.[7][9] To address the issues of flooding, plans call for 18 miles (29 km) of 300-foot-wide (91 m) levees to surround the community.[10] In 2003, Cambay Group settled lawsuits by the Sierra Club by establishing an $8.2 million trust for the protection of local farmland.[7] In 2009, the development company stated that construction would be further delayed because of the downturn in the housing market.[3]

## Average Costs

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In 2024, The average home in River islands is looking at about $850,000 at base prices.

## Citations

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1. ^ a b Wyatt, Dennis (May 6, 2011). "The bridge to the future - River Islands bridge work starts in July". Manteca Bulletin. River Islands at Lathrop. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
2. ^ Campbell, Jason (20 March 2018). "River Islands prepares to build 1,180 more homes". Manteca Bulletin. Archived from the original on 20 March 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
3. ^ a b c Dennis Wyatt, "River Islands eyes 2011 start date," Manteca Bulletin, August 26 2009
4. ^ Rizzo, Denise Ellen (October 15, 2011). "Banta trustees approve tech charter". Tracy Press. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
5. ^ [1]. Tracy Press, Sep 22, 2011.
6. ^ Wyatt, Dennis (23 June 2018). "VALLEY'S 1ST TRANSIT VILLAGE?". Mantecca Bulletin. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
7. ^ a b c d "River Islands project delayed 1 year," Anna Kaplan, Stockton Record, October 11 2007
8. ^ "RIVER ISLANDS : WHAT 200-YEAR FLOOD PROTECTION LOOKS LIKE". mantecabulletin.com. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
9. ^ Davis Read, "Lathrop OKs River Islands," Tracy Press, January 29 2003
10. ^ Cheryl Winkelman, "Developer fattens up levees, blends them in," Tri-Valley Herald, March 1, 2007

## External links

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* http://www.riverislands.com/

37°47′25″N 121°18′43″W﻿ / ﻿37.7902°N 121.3119°W﻿ / 37.7902; -121.3119