Project Background Information
Project Overview
Property Acquisition and Initial Planning Work: 2005-2015
The City purchased the 3 North Street site in the 2000's with the intent to redevelop the property. The economic downturn and subsequent dissolution of Redevelopment Agencies by the State of California stalled work on the project. (Read more about the history of the site here.)
In 2015, City Council authorized $1.57 million in funding to begin envisioning the adaptive reuse/redevelopment of the property as part of the City's Capital Improvement Program. The goal of the project was to serve as a permanent home for the Healdsburg Farmers' Market and a community events facility.
Concept Design: 2015-2016
In the summer of 2015, the City retained the services of TLCD Architecture of Santa Rosa with local representation from Alan Cohen Architect to lead the design process. As part of the design process the City completed environmental testing of the site with the firm EBA Engineering out of Santa Rosa in the fall and early winter of 2015-2016. Finally, in late 2016 the City added Andrea Cochran Landscape Architects out of San Francisco to the design team to assist with site design.
The first step in moving this project forward was developing concepts based on City Council's direction in 2015. This process involved a number of different design approaches and significant public input. The concept design process was completed in August of 2016 when City Council provided direction and moved the project into the schematic design stage.
Schematic Design: 2016-2017
The project schematic design stage concluded on May 15, 2017 when City Council approved the schematic design and ordered the project to enter the funding development stage and design review/CEQA process.
Final Design: 2017-2021
On August 16, 2021, City Council approved the final design for the project. The final design process required additional time due to a community conversation regarding the site being used for affordable housing, along with delays due to the Tubbs Fire, Kincade Fire, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Construction Drawings, Design Review, Environmental Review, Building Permit: 2021-2023
The design team, led by TLCD Architecture in Santa Rosa, moved forward with the development of construction drawings and specifications for the design review, environmental review, and building permit process. On March 10, 2023, the Planning Commission unanimously approved the design review and certain entitlements. On April 17, 2023, the City Council unanimously approved the environmental review and remaining entitlements. In September, 2023 the project received its conditional building permit approval allowing the project to move into the bidding stage.
Foley Family Foundation Naming Partner Pledge
On January 13, 2020, the City received a pledge from the Foley Family Foundation to fund the project in an amount of up to $7,000,000. On Monday, April 19, 2021, City Council approved a Memo of Understanding between the City and the Foley Family Charitable Foundation assigning naming rights for the project. In 2025, the Foley Family Charitable Foundation increased their contribution by $500,000 to help the City cover the overall project costs. Read more about the pledge and naming partner rights here.
Current Status
on December 18, 2023 City Council awarded a construction contract to Wright Contracting for the project. Construction began in March 2024 and with a completion date planned for winter 2025.