Vacancy Map

Urban Chat created a map highlighting vacancies in Petaluma’s urban core. The map pinpoints empty commercial and industrial parcels within a half‑mile of Petaluma Boulevard North and Washington Street; each parcel is color‑coded by vacancy type.

Click on the map markers to see photos and get more information about each vacant property.

Brownfield Brownfield: Vacant property with prior industrial or commercial use that is contaminated or suspected for environmental contaminants.
Undeveloped: Vacant lots, environmental status unknown.
Commercial storefront: Storefront that has been vacant for at least 6 months while other parts of the building are in use.
Developed: Property where the entire building has been vacant for at least 6 months.
Surface area parking: Unofficial parking lot or parking area, environmental status unknown.
Red-tagged: Property tagged by the City as unsafe.

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Take a deep dive into the history of vacancies in Petaluma

Urban Chat created a map highlighting vacancies in Petaluma's urban core. Many parcels on the map are within the Central Petaluma Specific Plan Area, which covers almost 400 acres in the heart of the city, including a portion of downtown and several commercial or industrial properties between the Petaluma River and Lakeville Highway.

Recognizing the area's importance, in 1996 the City began to develop a vision to revitalize this part of the city, and after many meetings and forums to gather community input, the Central Petaluma Specific Plan was adopted in 2003. The CPSP was intended to direct new growth into this area to support downtown businesses and create new shopping, recreational, and entertainment opportunities for residents. The CPSP envisioned measured growth and the creation of an attractive area suitable for walking, biking, and other outdoor uses.

A similar process was repeated in 2013 with the development of the Station Area Master Plan, which was intended to catalyze development in the area surrounding the downtown SMART station. Again, the City found that mixed-use development with new infrastructure, public spaces, and walkability between the transit stations and downtown was key to revitalization.

Unfortunately, despite the City's good intentions, neither of these plans has been achieved. The vacant and underutilized properties that were a problem before 1996 remain a problem now.

Fresh approaches to this persistent problem are needed now!

(Return to The Vacancy Project page here.)

Property Heatmap