Wonderful leads visioning workshop for housing development

The Wonderful Company recently hosted a visioning workshop, inviting Shafter community members to give design input on its planned Lerdo Residential Project. "The project is meant to provide affordable housing options for young families wanting to build their lives in a safe and welcoming community like Shafter. I hope people will feel like they belong and are proud to live in Shafter, just as I have these past 40 years," explained John Guinn, executive vice resident and chief operating officer of Wonderful Real Estate Development.

The 600-acre project, located a mile east of downtown Shafter, will feature 3,000 to 4,000 homes, including single-family options at competitive prices, plus senior housing, condos and apartments. "It's too early to say for sure what the prices will be, but there will be a focus on affordability," Guinn noted.

He said hosting the workshop was essential to gather input from the community. "This project is different than typical residential projects because The Wonderful Company really considers what's important to people and families first. Only by meeting with and listening to the people we serve are we able to understand their challenges and create meaningful community investments like the Lerdo Residential Project." About 80 residents attended the event.

Led by the design and engagement team of Raimi + Associates, Salazar Architect and Place It!, the workshop encouraged residents to participate in creative exercises using model-making and storytelling to envision their ideal neighborhoods. Many of their ideas aligned with the design team's plans, which include green spaces, walking and biking paths, play areas, retail shops, public gathering spaces and diverse housing types.

The design team emphasized that the project would be "of Shafter, a continuation of Shafter and the future of Shafter." With Salazar Architect's expertise in Latino urbanism, Guinn commented, "Communities should reflect the people who live in them. Wonderful believes partners like Salazar Architect should bring their authentic perspective and play an important role in how we think about the new places we build."

Guinn highlighted the project as an extension of Wonderful's commitment to investing in the communities where it operates. "The Wonderful Company is committed to improving the lives of the people in the Central Valley, including Shafter. To date, Wonderful has invested $600 million in the region to improve access to education, health care, economic mobility and environmental sustainability. We do that by listening, learning and collaborating with communities, focusing on long-term investments. The Lerdo Residential Project is another opportunity for Wonderful to work with the Shafter community."

He anticipates that the project will create local jobs and ensure that more high-skilled opportunities are available in Shafter, similar to the roles at the Wonderful Industrial Park.

Despite California's housing challenges, Guinn believes Shafter is well-positioned to succeed. "Having affordable housing is a huge challenge today, especially in California. To have good quality of life, people need places to thrive, including schools, places of worship and health care services. All these needs take careful planning and an economy that supports them. Shafter is a great community that has proven it can work together to address these challenges."

Wonderful plans to break ground on the Lerdo Residential Project in two years, though the timeline could change. Guinn encourages residents to continue providing input as planning progresses. Those interested can contact Unique Lopez at 661-514-8618 or Unique.Lopez@wonderful.com.