Jabara files records request challenging Yountville Commons costs, process
Gary Jabara, owner of The Estate Yountville, has submitted a California Public Records Act request to Town of Yountville attorney Gary Bell seeking information regarding the Yountville Commons project. Sent on April 1, the request covers all materials related to the project, from vendor agreements to staff reports, resolutions and administrative approvals, including emails, text messages and documents from filesharing and document management systems.
On April 2, Jabara held a by-invitation meeting to outline what he described as the “fiscal imprudence of the town’s current self-construction model” and to discuss alternative approaches. He pointed to legally viable and financially responsible methods commonly used by other California cities to meet housing goals.
According to Jabara, the proposed project’s estimated costs are $610,000 to $762,000 per unit. In comparison, experienced nonprofit affordable housing developers in the North Bay typically build similar housing for $400,000 to $500,000 per unit. These projects often utilize federal low-income housing tax credits, state grant and other funding sources that were not pursued for this development, he said.
Jabara, who has extensive experience in real estate development and investment in 48 states as well as projects in a few other countries, is using this legal process to highlight what he views as significant financial risks in the town’s plan to rely solely on its own revenues. He also raised concerns about the procurement process, alleging that some consultants were hired without competitive bidding and that certain sub-threshold agreements have expanded significantly, one reportedly increasing by more than 831% of its original value.
His letter states that this is “an opportunity to reset a process that was poorly designed from the beginning, to consult meaningfully with the community and its major employers and to pursue a strategy that delivers housing without jeopardizing the town’s fiscal stability.”
The town has 10 days to respond to the records request. If additional time is needed, it must notify Jabarra and provide a reason for the extension, which cannot exceed an additional 14 days.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated from a previous version that stated Gary Jabara has extensive experience developing properties globally.
