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Developers pitch market‑rate housing to Oroville council as city signals openness to talks
Summary
A group of homebuilders and advisors presented a plan for market‑rate and mixed‑income neighborhoods in Oroville, telling council members they have teams and financing concepts to bring thousands of units. Council members encouraged follow‑up briefings and staff engagement to explore feasibility and infrastructure needs.
A team of developers and municipal advisors on Tuesday told the OROVILLE CITY COUNCIL they are preparing proposals to build market‑rate and mixed‑income housing in and around the city and asked for opportunities to present formal project plans in coming meetings.
Representatives on behalf of developer Kevin Avila — including Vladimir Caslanka (developer), Amberlynn Avila (local team member), Dmitry Simonov (municipal advisor), and civil‑engineering representatives — described prior work across Northern California and said they have a formula they believe can be adapted to Orovilleʼs utility, infrastructure and affordability constraints.
Terry Dubose, speaking on behalf of Congressman Doug LaMalfa, expressed support for the effort and said the congressmanʼs office would assist "where appropriate" with federal agencies. In council dialogue, councilmembers praised the pitch and asked the team to return with formal presentations and more detailed site‑specific plans.
Developer representatives said their approach would aim to provide a range of housing types so neighborhoods include entry‑level homes, first‑time buyer options and additional market segments in one community. In his remarks, Vladimir said that the team had reviewed local affordability measures and that “about 28% of Butte County residents can afford to buy a home,” and added that the first‑time buyer market shows higher potential. Amberlynn referenced the teamʼs market analyses and said the Myers report shows a pool of local renters who could be converted to homeowners; she said “over 8,000 people in Butte County who are living in apartments who … are approved and can afford a house.”
Councilmembers urged the developers to include infrastructure‑funding approaches that keep utility and street costs affordable for buyers; Dmitry Simonov, a registered municipal advisor, said financing mechanisms exist to reduce the infrastructure burden on homeowners and that the city and developers can collaborate on those approaches.
No formal vote or approval was requested; council members directed staff to schedule a follow‑up presentation. City staff and council said they welcomed early coordination, noting annexation, infrastructure capacity, wetland constraints and phasing would be central to any future proposals.
