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Bakersfield Residents Weigh Impact of New Housing and Retail Projects
Residents review plans for housing and retail projects across multiple areas of the city.
How we reported this
A 378-unit master-planned community by Froehlich Development was approved for northwest Bakersfield on vacant land west of Renfro Road at Brimhall Road, prompting local residents to examine how the project fits with surrounding neighborhoods.
These developments arrive alongside other large housing and retail proposals, giving community members concrete projects to evaluate for impacts on daily life, traffic and services in their areas.
Northwest Developments
Bakersfield Commons, a 20-year mixed-use project in the northwest at Coffee Road and Brimhall Road, is planned in three phases to integrate residential, commercial, and retail spaces with a main street design. Residents near Renfro Road and Brimhall Road have followed the Froehlich Development approval and the phased Bakersfield Commons plans as they consider effects on open land and local access.
Southeast and Southwest Projects
Southeast Bakersfield plans include two major rental housing projects-Mulberry Village (760 units) and Mayflower Ranch (850 units)-plus an 110,000-square-foot shopping center with the area's first grocery store. In southwest Bakersfield near White Lane and Buena Vista Road, multiple retail developments are active, including Belcourt neighborhood retail with operational Starbucks and gyms, and Stockdale River Village with near-finished AutoZone and McDonald's. Community members in these corridors have noted the mix of new housing units and retail anchors when discussing neighborhood changes.
Seven Oaks Apartment Complex
Park Center at Seven Oaks, a 520-unit apartment complex by Presidio Capital Partners and Bolthouse Properties, is the largest multifamily development in Kern County history, with preleasing starting in spring 2026 and occupancy expected by late summer 2026. Residents have weighed the size of this project against existing housing stock while tracking the timeline for preleasing and move-ins.
City planning records show the locations and unit counts for each project. Community members can review the full approvals and site plans through the city’s public planning portal to understand timelines and requirements for each development.