It’s going to be a BIG weekend for River Islands on May 18th, and we hope to see YOU there!

Not only will there be FOUR new neighborhoods for you to explore, there’s also going to be fantastic sweet and savory snacks for you to enjoy (brought to you by local food trucks) while you’re busy picking out your dream home.

Here’s the scoop on the new River Islands neighborhoods:

Watermark by Richmond American Homes

These stunning brand-new models are part of Richmond American’s new Season™ Collection which offers homes within reach to homebuyers with plenty of options for customization. Floorplans range from 1,710 – 2630 sq. ft. and 3 to 6 bedrooms. These homes are a great option for the first time homeowner so you’ll definitely want to stop by for a tour!

Haven by Anthem United

Haven’s gorgeous brand-new model homes are a follow-up to Anthem United’s successful Reflections project which is located right next door. Floorplans range from 2,244 – 3,250 sq. ft. and 3 to 6 bedrooms. These homes will have a contemporary feel and are definitely going to be a fan favorite!

Latitude II by Van Daele Homes

Van Daele Homes gave their Latitude models a fabulous makeover in celebration of their new neighborhood, Latitude II, which will feature the same beautiful floorplans but on larger lots in a different section of River Islands. The redone models should not be missed! Floorplans range from 1,813 to 2,584 sq. ft. and 3 to 5 bedrooms.

Newport by Kiper Homes

Kiper Homes will be previewing their Newport neighborhood which will be opening later this summer. Newport will offer brand-new floorplans in an unbelievable lakeside location. The majority of Newport’s homes will be on the lakefront with a shared dock for every two homes!

You don’t want to miss this amazing opportunity to discover what’s new and exciting at River Islands! Visit River Islands between 11 AM and 4 PM on Saturday, May 18th to see these new neighborhoods and enjoy something tasty from one of our local food trucks! For more updates on our Grand Opening please join our Facebook event page HERE. We’ll see you there!

On Saturday, April 6, members of the Tri Valley and San Joaquin Valley Regional Rail Authority held an information session at the new Fire Station 35 to unveil plans for the Valley Link Rail Project. This new rail system will establish a critical connection between the San Joaquin Valley, Tri-Valley, and Bay Area, providing commuters fast and reliable service through one of the region’s most heavily travelled and congested corridors. Board members Veronica Vargas (Tracy), Paul Akinjo (Lathrop), and Bernice Tingle (Mountain House) presented River Islands residents with the approved Valley Link Project plan, and were on hand to answer questions.

From 2013-2016, the number of commuters from San Joaquin County increased by 27% and in 2017, it was averaged that over 5,000 hours collectively are spent in traffic in an average day, with a large percentage occurring along I-580. Given the pace of new home construction in San Joaquin Valley and Tri-Valley, and overall job growth numbers in the region, we expect these numbers to keep increasing. Currently, ACE offers roundtrip service to the Bay Area only four times per day.

That is where Valley Link comes in. The Northern California Megaregion Rail Connection is a common-sense solution to our region’s traffic challenges because it will provide a direct connection between ACE and BART, and will utilize the existing historic Transcontinental right-of-way through Altamont Pass that had been deeded to Alameda County from Southern Pacific Railroad in the 1980s. Because a land purchase is not required, resulting in dramatically reduced project costs compared to other alternatives, Valley Link Rail will significantly expand train service from existing ACE service areas to the BART Dublin/Pleasanton station, and will be rolled out in two phases. The project is currently at the end of the design stage, with an anticipated operational date of phase one within the next four to seven years and a possible groundbreaking of 2019-2020.

This is very exciting for River Islands residents in particular, because the project’s first phase includes a station in our community! The first phase is ambitious and includes the following:

  • Greenville ACE Station bumpout/expansion
  • Isobel Station
  • Mountain House
  • Downtown Tracy
  • River Islands
  • North Lathrop

Phase two will further expand service into Stockton from the ACE North Lathrop Station to the existing ACE and Amtrak Stockton Station.

What this means for River Islands:

  • An accessible and convenient option for commuting residents to travel to/from the Bay Area by train
  • Station location will be off I-205 in the business park
  • A transit village that will include retail
  • Two separate parking areas, one each for residents and non-residents to prevent unwanted traffic through the community

Operations and service goals:

  • Valley Link trains will provide service daily from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with increased service frequency during peak hours of 5:00 to 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays
  • Project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 260 metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year by 2040, to operate on renewable energy sources, and to promote equity to disadvantaged communities
  • Valley Link will strive to become a reliable, safe, and attractive alternative to car commuting, with Wi-Fi throughout, clean trains and stations, bathrooms, onsite security, and shuttle service to/from trains and job sites
  • Future considerations will include a system of unifying ticket sales between Valley Link, ACE, and BART; hiring conductors; and the possibility of an “honor system”

For more information about Valley Link Rail, as well as detailed information about what has currently been approved by the board of directors, please visit https://www.valleylinkrail.com/.

Nestled in the heart of the River Islands community, The Boathouse restaurant is a local hot spot for everyone in Lathrop. In fact, it was recently voted for Best Outdoor Dining for the Manteca/Ripon Bulletin 2019 Readers Choice Awards! From the relaxing atmosphere with twinkling lights along the water to the delicious handcrafted cocktails, you’ll want to pull up a seat at the table. Don’t forget to bring your appetite, either! Whether you’re in the mood for the fan favorite and perfectly seasoned Herbed Tortilla Caesar Wrap for lunch or one of the famous Certified Angus Jack Daniels burgers for dinner, your taste buds will thank you either way. Did we mention they also have a full bar? At The Boathouse, you’ll not only find a great spot to grab a bite, but also a meeting place for friends and families who are looking for a relaxing place to gather. The fine ingredients and exceptional customer service are just cherries on top of the cake! The Boathouse team loves to make their guests feel at home and welcomed while they unwind on the water’s edge deck overlooking one of the many lakes in River Islands. Have a large party planned and need a spot to host a special occasion? Don’t worry! They’ve got that covered! Book your next event or celebration at The Boathouse restaurant. They have plenty of room to cover large parties, so be sure to reserve your spot on their calendar today! The fun doesn’t stop at the food either, because they also have full-size bocce ball courts and a volleyball court for some friendly competition! If either of those doesn’t tickle your fancy, be sure to check out the boat rentals while your dinner cooks away on the grill! From paddleboards to kayaks, they’ve got a little something for everyone to enjoy. For your next date night or happy hour drinks after a long day of work, they’ll have a seat saved just for you! For more information on the menu or party accommodations, visit the River Islands Boathouse website here, The Boathouse restaurant. We hope to see you soon at The Boathouse at River Islands!

The Boathouse at River Islands

980 Lakeside Dr

Lathrop, CA 95330

(209) 932-9986

events@boathouseri.com

What’s on the horizon for River Islands? New neighborhoods, public facilities, recreational amenities and a River Islands mobile app are all just around the corner this spring and summer season for our residents. You could say we’re a little excited, but that would definitely be an understatement.

River Islands at Lathrop is in celebration mode, with the upcoming Grand Openings of four new neighborhoods. Here’s a rundown of the upcoming new additions to River Islands for spring/summer 2019:

  • Latitude II, a continuation of the popular Latitude series. Van Daele Homes is refreshing its original model complex to sell the new neighborhood. Now selling in preview from Latitude I.
  • Watermark by Richmond American Homes. All new plans, currently in presales from the sales office at Sandpointe. The homes range in size from 1,710 – 2,630 square feet, and starting prices are set in the low $400,000s.
  • Haven, an all-new collection of beautifully designed homes from Anthem United, the builders of Reflections. Smaller than the Reflections homes, the Haven neighborhood will offer four floorplans with sophisticated, contemporary architecture.
  • Bridgeport, the next edition in luxury homes from Van Daele Homes. Three of the Summer House models are available for touring, and a new fourth model is being offered. A whole new set of models is being built on a lake, with the Grand Opening tentatively scheduled for mid-July. Now preselling from Summer House.

Each new neighborhood coming to River Islands will offer energy-efficient features, various outdoor living spaces, and plenty of room for extended family and guests. We can’t wait for these neighborhoods to open and show you around! Latitude II, Watermark and Haven will be opening in May so make sure you are signed up to get updates of our plans for River Islands through our monthly newsletter, The Currents. Just scroll down the page for the sign up form!

Alongside the Grand Opening of new neighborhoods, we’re happy to announce the opening of River Islands Fire Station 35 this past month! River Islands and the Lathrop-Manteca Fire District have worked closely together to design, build and equip one of the finest fire stations in Northern California. The long-awaited addition of this fire station will help improve response times for our community to keep our neighborhoods safe. The Fire Station also has a dedicated community meeting room specifically designed and built for clubs, civic organizations and groups like the Neighborhood Watch to meet.

At Islanders Field, the field is set, the seats are in, and the scoreboard is ready to be lighted. The 500-seat stadium, with food service from The Boathouse, is going to host baseball almost every weekend from the time of its opening until the end of the year. Please watch the River Islands Facebook Page or go to MyRiverIslands.com for more information about Opening Day. And of course, we will post an update on the blog! We can’t wait to see our residents get an opportunity to have some fun with our new baseball diamond and to catch a weekend game. Let’s PLAY BALL!

If baseball isn’t your sport of choice, our neighborhood soccer club, River Islands Futbol Club, is also gearing up for the 2019 season. Get those soccer balls and cleats ready to hit the ground running! Every player regardless of age and level of ability is welcome to join. Recreational Leagues and Competitive League play will begin at the River Islands Soccer Academy Fields, adjacent to Islanders Field, this spring. Presented by John Doyle Soccer Camps, league sign ups will begin online May 1st at www.RiverIslandsFC.com.

With so much activity happening in the Town Center area of River Islands, it stands to reason that the Welcome Center would relocate to be in the center of it all. In April, the entire Welcome Center—porch and all—will take to the road and move to the corner of Somerston Parkway and River Islands Parkway. This move reflects our commitment to creating new neighborhoods and community facilities in and around our future Town Center. And the space that it leaves behind will be turned into a Community gathering area! During the move and the set-up of the Welcome Center, business will go on as usual from a trailer on the new site. The space is small, but our Welcome Center specialists, Jamie Koski and Tiana Gatan, will be on hand to answer questions and hand out Tour Guides of the new neighborhoods and attractions coming our way! The Welcome Center phone number remains the same: 209-808-5168.

As if that wasn’t enough to get excited about, there’s more! River Islands strives to stay at the forefront of bringing new technology home to our residents, and one of the ways we’re doing just that is by launching our very own River Islands community mobile app. With our new mobile app, you’ll find driving directions to the neighborhoods and the Welcome Center, our community blog, event calendar, information about our schools, as well as information on the neighborhood amenities. Talk about a one-stop-shop! The mobile app will have everything you need to know about River Islands and the community we all know and love.

With all of this at your fingertips, what’s not to love about River Islands? With a location that is roughly equidistant to San Francisco, the Silicon Valley and Sacramento, you can live here and be everywhere. Discover our community today to see how truly special living at River Islands can be for you and your family!