St. Anton Partners Breaks Ground on New Hacienda Apartment Project

By Nicole Zaro Stahl, Hacienda Network Staff Writer

Veteran Developers Kick Off First Pleasanton Project on West Las Positas Boulevard

Construction is underway at Anton Hacienda, a 168-unit apartment community at 5729 W. Las Positas Boulevard, reports Ardie Zahedani, Vice President of Development for St. Anton Partners, the Sacramento-based project owner.

While the privately held, multi family developer has nearly 2,000 units in progress throughout the Bay Area, including a recently built, fully leased community in San Ramon, Anton Hacienda represents its first Pleasanton activity. The 5.6-acre infill site, which has secondary access from Stoneridge Drive, behind the ValleyCare Medical Center, was ranked as one of the most desirable locations for high-density housing, according to a recent community survey.

"It's exciting to embark on this project in Pleasanton, the first of what we hope will be many in the city," Zahedani comments. St. Anton's 17 years of experience in the Northern California development arena shaped its approach to the project design, placing a strong emphasis on collaboration among local stakeholders.

"We have a sequenced approach to community development, and it starts with community engagement. Our neighbors across West Las Positas asked for architectural consistency, which is why we chose Mission-style architecture for Anton Hacienda." Another important consideration, both to the city and the neighborhood, was a three-story limit on the height of street-facing buildings, to maximize coverage from the existing tree canopy. The buildings that face the creek at the back of the site will be four stories high.

Several themes came into focus during site design: safe and secure pedestrian circulation and transit access, generous open space, and an abundance of amenities. These criteria translate into features like the complex's own bus stop; front lawns, parks, and trail connections; and a resort-like cabana, pool, and spa. The developer's familiarity with the tastes of today's renters is also reflected in the presence of a dog wash and a dog run, a gym and yoga facility, and a business center.

The apartment mix includes 64 one-bedroom, 88 two-bedroom, and 16 three-bedroom units, ranging in size from roughly 750 to 1,250 square feet. Twenty percent of the units will be available at below-market rental rates for lower-income tenants. Each unit is equipped with washer and dryer, master bath with soaking tub, private balcony or patio, and extra storage. "Our communities are designed for long-term residents looking for a luxurious and comfortable place to live with cutting-edge amenities," Zahedani notes.

From a sustainability perspective, Anton Hacienda will be one of the greenest projects in the region, scoring more than 130 points from Build It Green, the Bay Area nonprofit that promotes green building practices. Specific measures include a solar-powered community building, LED lighting, water conservation, and electric vehicle charging stations. In keeping with its good-neighbor policy, the developer also collaborated with officials at the adjacent ValleyCare facility to construct a new driveway for easy access to the center.

St. Anton's construction arm will build the new residences in a single phase with occupancy slated for April 2015. Detailed drawings, model floor plans, and an interest list will be available as the project approaches completion at antonhacienda.com.

Photo: These renderings depict the entrance to the finished project as well as its impressive courtyard. (Courtesy of St. Anton Partners)

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