Mare Island Latest: Southern Land Company Brought Aboard

VALLEJO, CA — Vallejo City Manager Greg Nyhoff called it an "exciting time for Vallejo" with the announcement this week that an award-winning company has been brought aboard for the transformation of Mare Island into a master-planned community. The Nimitz Group, which is in a public-private partnership with the city of Vallejo for the redevelopment of Mare Island, announced Wednesday that as the project enters Phase 2, Southern Land Company has been selected to assist with the long-term planning, development and management of the long-envisioned project.

"We are excited to work with Southern Land Company to make our vision for Mare Island a reality," according to a statement from The Nimitz Group, which owns 800 acres on Mare Island and in November, acquired the former Mare Island Naval Shipyard.

"They have one of the best reputations in the development industry for creating unique, walkable communities that promote the well-being of their residents and the larger area," The Nimitz Group said of Southern Land Company. "We believe that with Southern Land Company we will be able to establish Mare Island as a sustainable, self-sufficient community that includes current and future residents, long-term employers, vibrant natural open space and exciting entertainment options."

Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Southern Land Company was founded in 1986 and since then, has received awards such as "50 Best Master Planned Communities in the US" for its Westhaven community, and "Excellence in Development Award" from the Urban Land Institute of Nashville.

Vallejo Mayor Bob Sampayan said redevelopment of such a large area is complex, so the "city is thrilled to see The Nimitz Group partnering with an award-winning developer."

"It shows they are committed to doing what’s right for Mare Island and we look forward to working with Southern Land Company to realize the island’s full potential," Sampayan said.

Over the next few months, The Nimitz Group — a joint venture between Nashville investor Gaylon Lawrence Jr., Depiction Wines-owner Sebastian Lane, and local winemaker and Savage & Cooke Distillery-owner Dave Phinney — says it will work closely with Southern Land Company and the city to conduct due diligence and research to refine the development plans for Mare Island.

The three entities over the next few months will also recruit more key people for the project team and begin long-term planning to support the future vision for Mare Island, according to a joint news release.

The Nimitz Group already hired architect HOK for the master-planning process, and HOK will now work in concert with Southern Land Company on the long-term planning and design, according to the news release.

"This is the natural evolution of mega-projects such as these and speaks to the continuity and foresight of this phased approach," Nyhoff said on behalf of the city. "Bringing in Southern Land Company's experience and resources will help to build a resilient and equitable future for the community."

Southern Land Company Founder Tim Downey called the Mare Island project a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"... We are excited to work with the city of Vallejo and the community to implement the long-term vision for Mare Island," Downey said. "As we begin this process, we look forward to sitting down with the businesses, residents and community to get their thoughts on what they see in Mare Island’s future."

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