Contra Costa Times
From the article:
BRENTWOOD -- In a further boost to the city's rebounding housing market, a major builder plans to construct more than 400 homes in a residential subdivision that has been vacant and nearly empty since 2007.
The Palmilla subdivision near Central Boulevard and Griffith Lane was originally owned by Pinn Brothers and planned to feature 574 residential units, including a 108-unit apartment complex, before the project went into bankruptcy in 2008-2009. In November, William Lyon Homes purchased 112 lots from the 78-acre subdivision that was approved by the city in 2005, and plans are in the works for the builder to also construct an additional 296 homes.
"It became an eyesore. It is very exciting to see this finally coming to fruition with the newly constructed homes," said Brentwood Planning Commissioner John Fink. "It will add to the downtown environment."
After the Palmilla project went into default and construction was halted, the project sat idle until 2012, when Integral Communities purchased it from the bank. The current plans for Palmilla include 166 fewer housing units than what was originally approved, with no apartments, and Brentwood planner Jeff Zilm said this will mean affecting the surrounding neighborhood less.
"This has been a lot of work and a long, long history," said Kevin Fryer of Integral Communities. "We did sell the first 112 lots to William Lyon and are in contract to sell the balance of the property to William Lyon."