FOLSOM MAGAZINE 2022-2023 EDITION

South of 50
Developments
{ By Bill Romanelli }
When Folsom residents voted
overwhelmingly to annex 3,500 acres
of land south of Highway 50, they
launched a vision for a beautiful,
thriving community that now, 18 years
later, is coming alive as Folsom Ranch.
The first new homes started
construction in 2018, and the first new
residents moved in the following year.
Today, more than 2,300 homes have
been built or are under construction,
millions of dollars of infrastructure
have been put in place, major health
care interests have planted flags in the
ground, a new elementary school has
opened, new retail is taking root, and
new parks and amenities are in the
pipeline for all Folsom residents to enjoy.
campus, including a 300-bed hospital,
while UC Davis is clearing land for 400,000
square feet of building space for wellness
and health care services.
• Retail. It’s too early to name names, but
between The Shops in the northern portion
of the Plan Area, Town Center “the jewel of
the plan area,” and Southpointe, residents
can expect a multiple of high-density retail
and mixed-use commercial space to come on
line in the next several months.
• Parks and Open Space. The 12-acre
Prospector Park, which will include a
children’s play area, lighted sports field, a dog
park, and sports courts (tennis, volleyball,
and basketball), will start construction before
the end of 2022. Overall plans call for 30
miles of trails and bike paths connecting the
neighborhood to more than 1,000 acres of
dedicated open space.
Photos courtesy of the Folsom Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s humbling and heartwarming to
see families enjoying the trails and a
community taking shape,” says Roberto
Aragon with Westland Capital Partners,
one of the principal developers of
Folsom Ranch. “The city’s vision is
coming to fruition.”
Just a snapshot of what’s happening in
Folsom Ranch right now includes:
• Housing. Ten neighborhoods are
in various stages of construction,
offering a full range of single and
multi-family housing opportunities.
• Health Care. Dignity Health is
moving forward with plans for a
530,000-square-foot medical
• Schools. Mangini Elementary welcomed
its first students last year and is already
nearing capacity. A second elementary
school (as yet unnamed) is slated to open in
time for the 2023-2024 school year.
• Senior Living. Regency at Folsom Ranch, a
55+ gated community, is already open and
selling, with 15 model homes ranging from
1,500-2,400 square feet, an 18,000-squarefoot
clubhouse and pool, and easy access to
shopping, dining, and recreation.
Progress on all these fronts will occur in
phases over the next couple years. Folsom’s
Community Development Director Pam Johns
says it’s a very exciting time.
“A well-organized group of landowners worked
together to create a dynamic community that
fits well with the rest of Folsom, and offer some
unique amenities, job centers, and gathering
places that everyone can appreciate,” Johns
says. As the vision becomes real, it also creates
new marketing opportunities for the city to
attract businesses, jobs, and residents.”
The South of 50 development is expected to be
ongoing for another 8-10 years. At full buildout,
Folsom Ranch will have more than 11,000
new homes and a population of more than
27,000. For more information, visit folsom.ca.us/
government/community-development/planningservices/folsom-plan-area.
2022-2023 // CHOOSEFOLSOM.COM 19