Trusted Advisors in Public-Private Real Estate Development

Featured Projects

Palm Desert - Paseo Hotel

Palm Desert’s new Paseo Hotel, a 150-room luxury boutique hotel operating under the Autograph Collection by Marriott brand, opened in May 2018.   Developed by West River Development, the 3-story hotel includes an array of public amenities, including a full-service spa, pool and patio bar, coffee shop, and an adjoining restaurant / bar “AC3”.  The spacious outdoor area also features a firepit, along with a stage and lawn for concerts, weddings and other special events. 

Del Mar Specific Plan SP17-001

On behalf of the City of Del Mar, Keyser Marston Associates, along with Maurice Robinson & Associates, prepared an economic impact and fiscal analysis for a 16.6-acre site located on the coastal bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in the northwestern portion of the City.   The KMA analysis evaluated two potential development scenarios:

Infrastructure Finance - EIFDs, IFDs, IRFDs

KMA has extensive experience in preparing financing plans for public improvements and unmatched experience in preparing Infrastructure Financing District (IFD) financing plans.  KMA  prepared the financing plans for the following formed districts: City of West Sacramento EIFD No. 1; City of San Diego Otay Mesa EIFD, Mission Rock WIFD, Treasure Island IRFD, Historic Core Pier 70 EWIFD, Rincon Hill IFD; and Legoland IFD.  

What's New

CALED Webinar Training - 2020 ACE Program

August 5, 2020

Three KMA Principals - Debbie Kern, Julie Romey and Kevin Engstrom - will share their economic development expertise while instructing an accredited course called Real Estate Development and Reuse.  This-all day virtual training webinar is part of CALED's Accredited California Economic Developer (ACE) program, which is a certification program offered through a partnership between CALED; the California Academy for Economic Development; CSU Fresno; and the University Business Center. &nb

Advised by KMA, Escondido Adopts a Community Facility District (CFD)

July 31, 2020

The City of Escondido, in an ongoing effort to address projected budget shortfalls, adopted a resolution to form a Citywide Services Community Facilities District (CFD) on May 13, 2020.  The goal of the CFD is to ensure that new residential developments do not negatively impact the City's General Fund.

KMA's Julie Romey Joins CAL-ALHFA Board

June 22, 2020

Julie Romey, a Senior Principal in KMA's Los Angeles office, has joined the CAL-ALHFA Board of Directors.   CAL-ALHFA (California Association of Local Housing Finance Authorities) is a non-profit organization with a broad based membership including both public and private agencies which develop, finance, and administer programs to address affordable housing throughout the State of California.

Vallco Town Center Wins Legal Battle

May 8, 2020
By Kimberly Heaton

On Wednesday May 6th, a Santa Clara Superior Judge upheld the City of Cupertino's September 2018 approval of the Vallco Town Center, concluding the project proposed by Sand Hill Property Company is in conformance with SB 35 guidelines and therefore eligible to proceed.  SB 35 is part of a landmark package of housing bills enacted in 2017 to address the affordable housing shortage in California.  SB 35 facilitates the expedited development of eligible projects, and the court ruling allows the redevelopment of the former Vallco Mall to move forward.  

Sunnyvale's Cityline Enters New Phase of Development

March 17, 2020
By Kimberly Heaton

A critical economic development goal for the City of Sunnyvale has been to transform the partially built Sunnyvale Town Center, now called Cityline, into a dynamic and unique downtown core. Recent updates in the news reveal the transformation has hit exciting milestones.  Phase 1 of the mixed-use project is nearing completion; substantial retail has been completed with additional tenant announcements last week (Ulta Beauty, Kids Care Dental & Orthodontics and Xfinity will be joining anchors Whole Foods and AMC theaters, along with restaurants Pacific Catch and Urban Plates). 

Compromise in San Diego Results in Major Updates to Inclusionary Housing Policy

December 18, 2019
By Kimberly Heaton

On December 10, 2019 the City of San Diego approved with a veto-proof margin proposed Amendments to the City's existing Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.  Championed by Council President Georgette Gomez, the new policy will require developers to include affordable units in their market-rate housing projects or pay a higher in-lieu fee for the City to build them off-site.  KMA was hired by the San Diego Housing Commission to assess the economic feasibility of the updated policy.

Surf's Up in Palm Desert

November 19, 2019
By Kimberly Heaton

The Palm Desert City Council approved a $200 million artificial wave resort project on November 18th, DSRT SURF, which will feature a 5.5-acre wave lagoon with unique waves powered by the “Wavegarden Cove”.  Phase one of the project will be built on nearly 18 acres at the Desert Willow Golf Resort; other components will include a 4-story hotel, cabanas, restaurants, a sand beach area, sports courts, and a stage/amphitheater.  A second phase will include for-sale residential villas.

Career Opportunities in KMA's Berkeley Office

August 27, 2019
By Jessica Franklin

KMA's Berkeley office is hiring!   Depending upon the candidate's qualifications, we are seeking to hire either a Land Use Economics INTERN / ANALYST or Land Use Economics SENIOR ANALYST / ASSOCIATE.  

Detailed descriptions of each position and how to apply can be viewed in the PDF document linked below.   No phone calls, please. 
PDF icon 0819_KMA_Employment Opportunity.pdf

Kaiser Permanente Thrive HQ to Rise at 2100 Telegraph Ave

July 22, 2019
By Kimberly Heaton

On July 9, 2019 the Oakland City Council unanimously approved Kaiser Permanente’s proposed project, a consolidated headquarters in Oakland’s Uptown neighborhood that was previously announced on June 17.  The massive 28-story office building to rise at 2100 Telegraph will encompass 1.5 million square feet- making it the largest office building in Oakland.   

Keyser Marston was the City’s real estate advisor for the City-owned parcel at 2100 Telegraph, which was the last parcel needed by Developer Lane Partners to assemble the project site, as a block of adjacent parcels was previously acquired. 

San Diego's Horton Plaza Makeover - "The Campus at Horton"

July 15, 2019
By Kimberly Heaton

Major changes are soon to be underway at Downtown San Diego’s famed -- but in recent years increasingly vacant -- Horton Plaza regional mall.  After unanimous approval from the San Diego City Council on May 20th, new ownership is moving forward with an ambitious plan to renovate the center and create a vibrant mixed-use use tech hub “The Campus at Horton”.