Suisun City’s downtown has a new landlord, and it comes with a serious bankroll. California Forever, the billionaire-backed development group known for its ambitious Solano County plans, just finalized a deal to take over three key downtown properties. The $1.5 million agreement includes 707 Main St., the historic Lawler House, and the old Suisun Harbor Theatre. Both those landmarks have been boarded up since the early 2010s.
City leaders are framing this as a lifeline. The area has dealt with empty storefronts, homelessness, and safety issues for years, and public dollars haven’t solved it. The city will lease back the two parking lots for $1 a year, so public parking stays put. California Forever says no existing downtown businesses will be displaced, and their obligations for this project are locked in even if their larger city proposal in the county doesn’t move forward.
The community is split. Some see a movie theater reopening and foot traffic returning. Others see gentrification knocking on the door. The planning commission could review the project as soon as late 2027 or early 2028. Whether this becomes a comeback story or a cautionary tale is still up in the air. Do you think private billionaires should be the ones rescuing California downtowns?
About the Author
Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.
