Update: July 9, 2025
On July 8, 2025, the Santa Rosa City Council voted to repurchase a portion of the Mendocino District property that would otherwise have been part of the project. As a result, it is unclear how and if Mendocino District will proceed as planned.
Greenbelt Alliance is excited to endorse the Mendocino District development in Santa Rosa, a transformative project set to bring vibrant, mixed-use housing in the heart of downtown Santa Rosa. Developed by Cornerstone Downtown, this master-planned neighborhood will include two 24-story towers with a podium base. With nearly 900 residential units, the project will be renovating the current underutilized office building and parking lot. 15% of the homes, or 129 units, will be designated as affordable housing.
The Mendocino District is in line with Greenbelt Alliance’s climate SMART—Sustainable, Mixed, Affordable, Resilient, Transit-Oriented—development criteria in several ways.
Mixed-Use Development
There will be new green spaces between the buildings and a promenade accessible to all downtown visitors. Moreover, to ensure an integration with community needs, the ground level of the buildings will provide a grocery store, co-working space, and music venue/non-profit. The podium level would further include a day-care center with additional open space.
Connection to Transit
The project provides an ample number of affordable homes while being besides many public transit stops. This includes the Santa Rosa Downtown station for the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit and 2 bus stops that provide access to 10 bus lines.
While the project is situated to promote public transit, developers also recognize the need for parking and will include 529 parking stalls.
Climate Resilience
It is also worth noting that the project is resilient to both wildfire and flood risks. The Mendocino District exists outside of the 100-year flood zone map and its central location in the city drastically lowers its risk of wildfire.
According to GreenTRIP—a free online tool created by Transform that models traffic and greenhouse gas impacts of residential projects in California—the Mendocino District project development will result in:
- 16,292 fewer miles driven every day compared to the Sonoma County average.
- 57% fewer GHG impacts every day compared to the Sonoma County average.
- 82% less parking use every day compared to the Sonoma County average.
Greenbelt Alliance believes the Mendocino project will provide much-needed SMART, high-density housing in Santa Rosa, and we are proud to give this project an endorsement! We hope its approval will inspire cities in Sonoma County and around the Bay Area to be audacious and redouble their efforts to grow in more sustainable ways.
Greenbelt Alliance’s Climate SMART—Sustainable, Mixed, Affordable, Resilient, Transit-Oriented— Development Endorsement Program goals call for fully protecting the Bay Area’s greenbelt, directing growth within existing communities, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and accomplishing both in a way that equitably benefits all Bay Area residents. Our Endorsement Program supports projects that advance the right kind of development in the right places. By promoting climate SMART development, we can create thriving, resilient neighborhoods with ready access to transit and housing choices for all of the Bay Area’s people. Find out more about our Endorsement Program here. Feel free to contact our team for more information and support.
