Oxnard Approves New Home Developments

The City of Oxnard has approved the last of three new developments to begin construction within the next five years.

The three developments will bring almost 2,000 homes to the city. The largest of the developments will be the Wagon Wheel Redevelopment area, which covers 65 acres between Oxnard Boulevard and Ventura Road. The Vineyard-Ventura Homes and Ventura Townhomes project, as well as the Courtyard at Mandalay, were approved earlier in the month.

The Courtyard at Mandalay is a 116 condo development on eight acres. The project will replace the shopping center located at Hemlock Street and South Victoria Avenue. Construction is to begin within the next five years due to the tightened credit market. The project is being developed by William Tucker.

The Vineyard is made up of two projects. Vineyard-Ventura Homes is a single-family home development with a projected 201 homes on 25 acres. The Vineyard-Ventura Townhomes development will be built on 9.6 acres, consisting of 143 two and three-story townhomes. The Vineyard is being developed by the Casden Properties.

The Wagon Wheel area on Oxnard Boulevard will be getting a total makeover. The old Wagon Wheel Restaurant, Motel and the Mobile Home Park as well as an old ice rink and other buildings will be razed to make way for the approved plan to build 1,500 dwellings. The structures will be a mix of row houses and condos. The makeover will include 50,000 square feet of mixed-use commercial buildings as well. Also being considered is the construction of two high-rise apartment buildings, but that will be decided at a later date.

Of the 1,500 dwellings to be built, about 225 of these will be built as affordable housing, with an approximate 118 of these for very low-income families. The current residents in the Wagon Wheel Mobil Park will be given priority for the affordable housing.

Oxnard Village Investment LLC will be building the project and hopes to begin demolition within the next three to six months. The first homes to be built will be rental housing. Rental housing in the area is strong and vacancies are low. It is hoped that because the rental market is strong, rents are increasing and that the low vacancy factor will attract investors to the project.

Dave and Patricia