Construction Complete on $100 Million Dublin Project

By Paul Napolitano

Construction is complete on the Safeway-anchored retail center at The Shops at Waterford in Dublin.

The retail project was designed by San Diego-based SGPA Architecture and Planning for developer Shea Properties of Aliso Viejo.

Located at Tassajara Road and Dublin Boulevard, the $100 million mixed-use complex combines neighborhood retail shopping with Waterford Place—a 390-unit apartment complex.

The general contractor for the Safeway store was Sacramento-based SD Deacon. San Jose-based South Bay Construction was the general contractor for the retail shops, while the GC for the apartments was San Diego-based Wermer's General Contractors. Construction on the project began in spring 2001.

“This project is considered extremely dense given its suburban location,” said designer David Janes, a principal with SGPA. “The high density helped create a more urban atmosphere as we were able to plan the project in a way that features traditional main-street retail with enlarged sidewalk and plaza areas for a variety of outdoor activities and events.”

Three project-planning districts include The Shops, Waterford Place and an avenue in the middle—with residential and retail uses sharing a main street environment.

Located at Tassajara Road and Dublin Boulevard in Dublin, the The Shops at Waterford includes Waterford Place—a 390-unit apartment complex.

The four-story Waterford Place complex was designed by Architects Orange. It is classified as a wrap project, where the apartment buildings wrap around the parking structure and conceal it from the street. Apartment architects generally agree that a wrap is the most cost-effective building type when dealing with a density of 50-55 units per acre.

“The beauty of the wrap product is that it is less expensive to build than a podium (in which units are built on top of parking) and is more convenient,” said Jack Selman, senior partner at Orange-based Architects Orange. “You can park on the same level that you live.”

Selman said apartment units are built on the ground in a wrap configuration. “The parking garage can be built concurrently with the apartments, saving several months of construction time,” he added. “And there are no waterproofing issues like a podium where buildings are on top of a parking structure.”

Selman said Architects Orange completed one of the first wrap projects in California about four years ago. The original wrap concept was developed in Texas. “More than 50 percent of projects are going to a wrap design in the suburban markets in California,” Selman said.

He added that the concept is just “proving itself” in the state. “There are a lot of nuances in the design of these projects—trash collection, mail delivery, move-in logistics, elevator and stairway connections,” Selman said. “But you will see many more.”

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