AvalonBay Communities to start construction on 456-unit residential project at Bishop Ranch
A major residential addition is moving forward at Bishop Ranch, the large-scale redevelopment of Chevron’s former headquarters in the San Francisco Bay Area, as the site continues its transition into a mixed-use destination.
AvalonBay Communities, a publicly traded apartment REIT, is preparing to break ground later this month on a 456-unit apartment development after acquiring a vacant 5.7-acre property at 6200 Bollinger Canyon Road in San Ramon. Public records show the land was purchased from Sunset Development Co. for approximately $30.5 million.
According to AvalonBay, the project — to be known as Avalon San Ramon — will feature two residential buildings connected by a breezeway. The Arlington, Virginia-based company expects the first residents to move in by late 2027. Planned amenities include a fitness center, swimming pool, resident work lounge, clubhouse, rooftop deck and a dedicated WAG Pet Spa.
The apartment project is part of the broader Bishop Ranch redevelopment plan, which envisions the addition of thousands of homes — ultimately reaching about 8,000 units — along with retail space and a hotel. Sunset Development, which owns and manages the property, aims to transform the former office park into what it describes as “the best suburban downtown in America.”
The shift toward mixed-use projects reflects broader national trends, as demand for housing continues to grow amid a surplus of office space created by remote work patterns following the COVID-19 pandemic.
San Ramon, located roughly 35 miles east of San Francisco, is required under California state housing mandates to plan for more than 5,000 new housing units by 2031.
‘15-minute lifestyle’
Several additional residential developments are already underway at Bishop Ranch. These include SummerHill Homes’ City Village townhouse community, which will bring 404 units over the coming years, and the Canopy project, which proposes replacing 761,000 square feet of office space with 255 single-family townhomes and a five-story apartment building containing 157 units.
Earlier this year, local officials approved the first fully affordable housing project within Bishop Ranch — a 200-unit complex for seniors and families at 2453 Camino Ramon. The 2.2-acre site was donated by Sunset Development to nonprofit builder Eden Housing.
Bishop Ranch is also home to Belmont Village, a senior living community that was completed in 2019.
For decades, the campus served as Chevron’s global headquarters. The energy company sold the property in 2022 as part of its strategy to reduce its California footprint and expand operations in Houston.
Sunset Development is led by the Mehran family, which has owned Bishop Ranch since acquiring it from Western Electric in 1978. The long-term redevelopment strategy focuses on creating a “15-minute lifestyle,” where residents can easily access housing, offices, shopping, dining and entertainment within a walkable environment.
“This project highlights our shared commitment to delivering high-quality housing that supports the broader vision of Bishop Ranch as a vibrant, walkable and connected community,” said Alex Mehran Jr., president and chief executive of Sunset Development.
Source: Original reporting by Rachel Scheier, CoStar News.
