Royal Vista

When the owners of a struggling golf course decided to close after more than 50 years, developers hoped to reinvent the area as a significant new neighborhood of badly-needed single- and multi-family homes, townhomes, and open space.

Fueled by rumors and misinformation, opposition in the unincorporated area was immediate. Accustomed to green fairways, nearby residents were upset by any proposed changes and insisted that the course remain intact. A group launched a legal challenge. Local homeowner groups refused to meet. And then COVID hit.

In the face of these headwinds, Dolphin launched a campaign to educate the community, local businesses, and the County. We built and promoted a website with up-to-date project information, met with business groups, sent mailings to residents, and pivoted to no-contact, live-streamed meetings. Since the surrounding community was itself diverse, everything was released in English, Spanish, Korean, and Chinese versions. Lines of communication slowly opened.

After intense, consistent outreach, Dolphin assembled strong support from businesses, the school district, elected officials, housing advocates, and over 200 individuals. The effort ultimately pushed the project through to County approval.