Groundbreaking in 2028? Napa County learns about California’s housing plans near Skyline Park
The equestrian area of Skyline Park in 2022, in a portion of the park that Napa County has proposed for future construction of affordable housing to meet state-mandated goals.
Napa County officials say the state hopes to see affordable housing begin construction on 5.26 acres carved out from Skyline Wilderness Park as soon as the middle of 2028.
California, under a program initiated in 2019 by Gov. Gavin Newsom, is making what it considers surplus state land available for housing. Included is a flat area along Imola Avenue that previously belonged to Skyline Park.
County officials recently talked with state officials about the planned affordable housing project and revealed what they learned. They said the state is reviewing and scoring three proposals.
The project could include 60 to 80 housing units, all meeting affordable criteria. That’s fewer than the 100 or so previously mentioned as possible. County officials said the density will be lower than for most affordable housing projects.
“Napa County will be engaged in the project on the periphery, with key decisions being made by the state,” county spokesperson Linda Weinreich said in an email.
In September, the state would like to reach a three-year lease option with a developer and complete an environmental review. Then the developer would try to align financing.
“The critical path for development is project financing and requires the award of state tax credits to proceed beyond concept,” Weinreich said.
By early 2028, Napa County could review the development plans, with the permits to be issued by the state Department of General Services.
“In support of the project, the county will assist with coordinating with local utilities, providing affordable housing project financing and performing plan review/inspection,” Weinreich said.
Napa County initially opposed having part of Skyline Park detached for housing. But the state insisted and, since it owns the land, can permit housing there without county approval.
Given that, the county Board of Supervisors in 2023 reluctantly included the Skyline site on the list of potential affordable housing sites in the county general plan. That could give the county credit toward its state mandate to make room for 106 housing units in its rural areas by 2031.
“It’s hard to stomach any housing going there,” Supervisor Joelle Gallagher said in 2023. “That isn’t anything I support, that I want. But I think the state has taken that out of our hands. … We just either get the credits or we don’t.”
Skyline Park was once part of the Napa State Hospital lands. The state leased the Skyline land to the county in 1980 to become a park and recently sold most of the park to the county.
But the state refused to sell the 5.26 acres targeted for housing to the county to remain in the park, and lists the land as surplus and belonging to the Department of State Hospitals.