A brand-new Napa neighborhood complete with street signs, sidewalks, crosswalks, a park and freshly planted trees has popped up in the middle of the former Napa Pipe complex south of the city.
A sales office for three model homes, located on Goldenstar Way, now welcomes visitors daily to the development.
And just a few “blocks” away, pre-construction at Napa’s first Costco store has begun.
The former Napa Pipe industrial complex has been closed for two decades. Yet today, potential residents, or simply curious locals, can drive past a new roundabout on Kaiser Road, onto new city streets and the future home to more than 900 houses, parks, stores and, of course, Costco.
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Napa Costco and RiverSound home construction is underway at the former Napa Pipe complex. Home prices in this phase start at $1.2 million.
Welcome to RiverSound.
Costco: coming soon
“Costco Wholesale. BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS,” reads a sign posted on a newly installed chain-link fence at the future membership store on Riversound Way.
“CONSTRUCTION AREA,” a second sign announces. “Costco deliveries,” reads a hand-printed sign with a red arrow.
Within the fenced area, earth has been smoothed out, or graded, in preparation for construction at Costco.
According to documents sent by Costco Wholesale Corp. to the city, the Costco store is supposed to open in October.
On Monday, construction trailers, equipment, vehicles, storage units and debris collection boxes were visible on site. A construction staffer at the site declined to comment on the progress. Costco said it does not comment on new stores that are more than three months from opening.
According to the website for MG2, the company that designs Costco warehouses, “it takes just 110 days from the time construction begins to the moment doors open to their members.”
The Costco is said to include the same services found in most others: a food court, optical shop, hearing aids, a bakery, pharmacy, photo center, tire store and other amenities. According to building permits, the store will feature gasoline pumps and 10 electric-vehicle charging stations.
Shoppers can get to the Costco via Kaiser Road and then turn left at a newly installed roundabout onto the former Syar Way (renamed Riversound Way). Customers will also be able to visit Costco through a new street connected to Anselmo Court, which is almost directly across the street from the Meritage Resort and Spa property.
New homes in south Napa
Over Mother’s Day weekend, a sales center and three model homes opened at 324 Goldenstar Way as part of the first phase of the Patina at Riversound home development. The office looks toward the Napa River and a five-story-high seawall crane that is being preserved as nod to Napa Pipe's industrial history.
The Napa Costco will open in October. The warehouse store will be open daily, and is currently hiring for some 300 jobs.
The detached single-family homes, ranging from 2,340 to 3,173 square feet and four to five bedrooms, are priced from $982,990 to more than $1.29 million, according to sales documents. These model homes are located on lots ranging from about 2,849 to 3,235 square feet. Some of the models offer an optional third floor and outdoor balcony.
Views from the three model homes look down onto a brand-new city park, with picnic benches, a barbecue grill, garbage cans and walkways.
The “front yard” space of the Patina homes is minimal. Garages are accessed via a shared alley. Instead of backyards found in traditional single-family homes, these model homes feature a small courtyard or entry space.
Temporary street signs have been installed at RiverSound. At least eight other new streets are planned for the community, including Horseshoe Bend Drive, Hideaway Drive, Clear Stream Avenue, Currant Drive, Splittail Way, Yarrow Way, Sagebrush Drive and Coral Bell Drive.
RiverSound is owned by Napa Redevelopment Partners. Catellus Development Corp. of Oakland is the development manager for the project. Brookfield Residential of San Ramon is developing single-family homes at the site.
RiverSound will offer more than just million-dollar homes. Other types of residences, such as townhouses and apartments, are also planned.
Costco has purchased its Napa Pipe parcel for $5 million and the entire Napa Pipe redevelopment project has a brand new name: RiverSound. But when could Costco actually open?
“With Costco under construction and Brookfield welcoming prospective homebuyers to Patina, their first neighborhood, the vision of RiverSound is becoming reality,” said Sean Whiskeman, senior vice president of development for Catellus. “We are excited that the promises of a Costco and much-needed housing are being delivered to the residents of Napa.”
“We opened our model homes for the first time last weekend and the feedback thus far has been great,” said Michele Joy, Brookfield's vice president of sales and marketing. “Home buyers love the contemporary designs and want to be a part of this exciting new community.”
In December, Costco purchased its designated 16-acre parcel at the former Napa Pipe industrial site. The sale price was $5 million, according to the transfer tax paid for that deed. A second deed of sale — for “Parcel 3” at the same location — was recorded on April 29. Transfer tax of that deed indicates a second sale price of $2.7 million.